NCAA inks three-year extension to keep FCS title game in Frisco, Texas

INDIANAPOLIS –The NCAA has agreed to a three-year extension with Frisco, Texas, for the Division I Football Championship title game to be held at FC Dallas Stadium and hosted by the Southland Conference, the city of Frisco and the Hunt Sports Group.

FC Dallas Stadium has hosted the previous two Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) championship games, in addition to this year’s title game on Jan. 5. The extension will keep the championship game in Frisco through 2016.

“The committee is excited to announce this extension,” said Charlie Cobb, chair of the Division I Football Committee and director of athletics at Appalachian State University. “The entire local community, including the Southland Conference, has really embraced and supported this event. When you combine that enthusiasm with the quality of the stadium, it makes Frisco an outstanding environment for the participating student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

This year’s championship game, featuring a rematch of last year’s title contest between North Dakota State University and Sam Houston State University, marks the second consecutive time it will be a sold-out FC Dallas Stadium, which holds more than 20,500 spectators. It will be only the second time since 1995 and 1996 that more than 20,000 people have attended the championship game in back-to-back years. At the end of the extension, Frisco will have hosted the title game more than any other city besides Chattanooga, Tenn., which hosted the event from 1997-2009. The game will also be carried live on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. ET.

“We are ecstatic the NCAA has extended its contract with Frisco to host the Division I Football Championship another three years,” said Maher Maso, Mayor of Frisco, Texas. “This game has a projected economic impact of more than $5.9 million on our regional economy. Not only that, the exposure Frisco receives from the game being televised to a national audience is invaluable. But finally, Frisco enjoys being the best host we can be to the players and their families, students and football fans in general. It’s a great event honoring true champions.”