2025 Champions
Congratulations to Johnson C. Smith, the 2025 CIAA Football Champions. We’ll see everyone back in Durham in 2026!
Tailgating
Secure your tailgate package today for the 2025 CIAA Football Championship. Tailgating spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. A valid game ticket is required for entry into the tailgating area.
Book Your Stay
Durham County Memorial Stadium
Durham County Memorial Stadium is proud to host the 2025 CIAA Football Championship! Originally built in 1958 and renovated in 2010, the 8,500 seat historic stadium has been home to a multitude of competitions and championships throughout the years.
Address
750 Stadium Drive, Durham, NC 27704
Experience the Bull City
While you’re here, we invite you to explore our locally owned businesses, our award-winning dining scene and our rich history and culture. We have partnered with local Black-Owned businesses in Durham to help create the ultimate championship weekend experience.
Read below for a full list of participating businesses and a schedule of events throughout the weekend, as well as the designated businesses for each team after the game.
East Durham Sweet Shoppe
Address: 2022 Angier Ave, Durham, NC 27703
Special Offer: Signature/limited edition CIAA treats with participating team colors and fan boxes for VIPs.
Primrose Bar & Lounge
Address: 111 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Special Offer: Game Day Punch, Champion's Pour and Flag on the Play Drink Specials. **Johnson C. Smith Postgame Spot**
The Pickleback 2
Address: 711 Rigsbee Ave, Durham, NC 27701
Special Offer: Drink and Food Specials. **Johnson C. Smith Postgame Spot*
West End Billiards & West End Social
Address: 601 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Special Offer: Specials on Durham Brewery beers. **Virginia Union Postgame Spot**
Middle of May Thrift
Address: 304 S Driver St Suite 102, Durham, NC 27703
Special Offer: 20% off the whole store
Proximity Brewing Company
Address: 491 S Driver St., Durham, NC 27703
Special Offer: $5 Hayti Haze, Proud Shoes, Courtyard Cream Ale and Return of the Chabo beer pints on Friday (11/14) and Saturday (11/15).
We previously were partnering with and a weekend shared a schedule of events for Missy Lane’s Assembly Room. We are sad to announce as of Thursday, November 13, they have closed. Please reach out to them on Instagram if you have any questions.
Other ways to explore the Bull City:
Championship Sponsors
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The CIAA and Durham
Welcome to Durham — the Bull City, the City of Champions. The CIAA Football Championship was first held in Durham in 2000 and has been held in the Bull City twelve times, most recently in 2016. After seven years in Salem, Virginia, we are excited for the Championship to return to Durham.
North Carolina Central University, then North Carolina College at Durham, joined the CIAA in 1928, where they competed until 1970. After competing elsewhere from 1970-80, NCCU rejoined the CIAA up until when they moved to become a Division I school in 2010. During their time in the CIAA, NCCU won the CIAA Football Championship a total of eight times.
Durham is a central location for the CIAA, with seven of it’s member institutions in North Carolina and eleven within a four hour drive of Durham. Additionally, Today, CIAA member institution Shaw University plays all of their home games at Durham County Memorial Stadium, which they have done since 2022.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram.
About the Durham Sports Commission
The Durham Sports Commission is the proud host the CIAA Football Championship. The Durham Sports Commission is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events.
The vision of the DSC is to engage the Durham community in supporting and promoting the sports spirit that exists both historically and presently, by increasing the capacity of local sporting events to host events with strong participation rates, and by working with national event owners to recruit sporting events that provide positive community impact.
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