Courtesy of Durham Sports Commission
Durham, NC —The Durham Sports Commission (DSC), a leader in local sports-based initiatives and conduit for positive social and economic impact in Durham and the surrounding region, is excited to announce it has formally submitted a bid to host the 2025, 2026 and 2027 CIAA Football Championships once again at the Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
“We are thrilled not only for the opportunity to host such an amazing event, but also for others to experience what the City of Champions is all about,” said Kaila’Shea Menendez, Deputy Director of the Durham Sports Commission and potential Host Committee Executive Director. “Our team worked relentlessly to produce a competitive bid that showcases the vibrancy, energy, and sports culture in our city. Collaborating with the CIAA is always a pleasure, and we look forward to the opportunity to work alongside the conference office to host one-of-a-kind championships in the near future.”
One of the Durham Sports Commission’s key goals has been to transform Durham into a championship hub. Bidding on the upcoming CIAA Football Championships is the next step in the unrelenting pursuit of this goal and comes off the back of several other key milestones achieved in this vein. The DSC has successfully hosted the NAIA Football National Championship for three years in a row and just announced that the ACC Baseball Championship will be returning to Durham in 2025, 2027 and 2029 following 13 years of immense success. Other bids that have recently been won by the city are the 2025 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships and 2029 World University Games, proving Durham is more than capable of carrying on the legacy of the CIAA Football Championships for years to come.
“As retired Director of Athletics at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), I know better than most that the success of the university was built on the foundational greatness instilled as a CIAA member institution for over 70 years, over more than half of the university’s existence,” said Ingrid Wicker McCree, Ed.D., Board Chair at the Durham Sports Commission. “Just ten minutes from my previous home at NCCU, Durham County Memorial Stadium is the perfect backdrop for the pinnacle of many student-athletes’ careers and our Eagle community, new and old, will surely embrace this event, excitedly cheering on from the stands.”
If Durham is selected, the championships will be held at Durham County Memorial Stadium, home field to the CIAA’s Shaw Football. The tournament was previously held at this location from 2008-2012 and 2014-2015, drawing more than 10,000 fans in 2011, nearing a conference record at the time.
“The 8,500-seat multipurpose Durham County Memorial Stadium is the city’s premier sports venue and ideal place to hold the championship, especially given the recent major renovations including new synthetic grass pitch, video scoreboard, and sound system,” said Dr. Kimberly Sowell, Durham County Manager. “The stadium has continued to maintain its reputation as an all-star venue, just minutes from lodging, restaurants, and everything else Durham has to offer. The World University Games and other national governing bodies have already opted in on us, and we hope the CIAA will continue to do so as well.”
Durham is the ideal city to host the championship. The Triangle area is rich with several HBCUs in Shaw University, Saint Augustine’s University and North Carolina Central University. Additionally, Durham is centrally located to other CIAA institutions, three hours closer to CIAA headquarters than the championship’s previous home, and has a proven track record of success hosting this event with sellout crowds.
“As Mayor, this city is my workplace, my family, and my home,” said Mayor Leonardo “Leo” Williams. “Back in 2005, as a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Head Drum Major of the Sound Machine at North Carolina Central University, I experienced the exhilaration of victory as the Eagles claimed the CIAA Football Championship win amidst a roaring crowd of 10,580 at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. That same electrifying energy, fueled by the passion of the CIAA’s devoted fanbase and their commitment to excellence, is what I eagerly anticipate sharing with a new generation of Durham residents.”
The bid to host the 2025, 2026 and 2027 CIAA Football Championship game was due on Friday, March 15. The announcement of the winning city is slated for May 2024. For more information on this and other exciting Durham sporting events, please visit durhamncsports.com.