Durham Approved to Host CIAA Football Championships

Charlotte, NC – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Board of Directors voted last week to approve Durham, NC, as the site of the CIAA Football Championship starting in 2025 through 2027. The championship will be hosted by the Durham County Sports Commission, with Durham County Memorial Stadium (DCMS) as the event’s selected venue.

The cities of Charlotte, NC, and Salem, VA, also submitted bids. The Board reviewed several factors in its decision to move to Durham, including facility use and staffing, team support, opportunities for community engagement, and the involvement of the local business community.

“Durham has a great history with this event, and we are immensely proud to once again be hosting the CIAA Football Championship in Durham,” said Marcus Manning, Executive Director of the Durham Sports Commission. We are dedicated to showcasing our vibrant community here in Durham while also celebrating diversity and creating an unforgettable experience for fans, spectators, and student-athletes.”

The football championship has been held at DCMS previously from 2008-2012 and 2014-2015, pulling in crowds of over 10,000 fans. The CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship is already hosted by the Durham Sports Commission at the same venue in accordance with a three-year agreement that commenced in 2023 and will run through 2025. CIAA-member Shaw University currently hosts its home football and soccer games at the venue.

Durham County Memorial Stadium is an all-star venue located just minutes from lodging, restaurants, and everything else that makes the City of Champions so unique. The facility can accommodate plenty of tailgating and cultivate the passionate atmosphere CIAA fanbases are known to bring. The Durham Sports Commission is committed to stewarding Durham’s passion for sports and bringing DCMS to life during the CIAA Football Championships, all the while helping to fulfill the CIAA’s vision for supporting student-athletes and uplifting community relationships.

Salem, VA, has been the home of the CIAA championship since 2017, and it is commended for its expertise and job well done, not only for hosting the CIAA championships for the past seven years but also for celebrating in 2023 hosting over 100 NA events.

The transition back to Durham provides an opportunity to grow the football championship further and highlight the CIAA’s mission, which includes Leadership, Legacy, and Community.

“The CIAA looks forward to returning to Durham County Memorial Stadium,” explained Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams.  “Our recent media rights partnership with HBCU Go gives us the opportunity to showcase our top teams in a centralized location, again where the football championship has thrived in the past.  The CIAA will have an opportunity to engage in the community beyond the game in a way that supports the mission of the conference.”