On Thursday, June 13, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced that they have selected Durham to host their 2025-2027 Football Championship. There were several other top-tier cities in the running to host the championships, including Charlotte, North Carolina and Salem, Virginia, making the win a bigger point of pride for the city and reinforcing Durham as a championship hub. This spirit of triumph is sure to translate to the atmosphere of the event as our Durham community comes together to cheer on the exceptional student-athletes striving towards victory.
Here’s what some of Durham’s leaders had to say about the big win for the city!
“As I like to say, ‘Durham is dope,’ and we look forward to welcoming the CIAA, along with fans and visitors alike, back for the return of this exciting event and to experience our city. We’re ready to ‘roll out the red carpet’ so to speak and can’t wait for everyone to be a part of our city’s rich culture, hospitality, and zeal for sports.”
“I am absolutely thrilled that we have the opportunity to host the CIAA Football Championship! The Durham Sports Commission team worked diligently on this bid to bring more CIAA events to Durham. This is a special victory for me as the CIAA was so instrumental in developing my career in college athletics. The opportunity for our youth in Durham to be exposed to the amazing universities of the CIA is invaluable, providing them with inspiration and a vision of what they can achieve in their future academic and athletic pursuits. ”
“There certainly is a buzzing level of support and excitement about Durham hosting the CIAA Football Championships. We are ready and eager to put on a world-class event, aligned with the CIAA’s strategic plan components of building value, championing character, increasing the public’s knowledge of the conference’s rich legacy. As a proud Elizabeth City State and North Carolina Central University alum, I am so very proud and very much looking forward to the City showing up and showing out in 2025 and beyond.”
“We are immensely proud to have won the bid to host the CIAA Football Championship in Durham. Our team put in many hours to craft a competitive bid, and I’m very honored to be the Host Committee Executive Director. We’re dedicated to showcasing our vibrant community here in Durham, while also celebrating diversity and creating an unforgettable experience for fans, spectators, and student-athletes.”
