The National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Greater Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee have agreed in principle for the NCAA Division I Football Championship to remain in Chattanooga for 2008 and 2009.
The agreement must be approved by the NCAA Championships Cabinet before being finalized.
The Championships would be played at Finley Stadium Davenport Field on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 and Friday, Dec. 18, 2009.
The Sports Committee (host organization) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (host institution) only sought a two-year agreement until the NCAA and its member institutions determine if there will be an expansion of the NCAA Division I Football Playoffs beginning in 2010 and exactly how it will be structured.
The Sports Committee wants to ensure that the current timing for the Championship remains and future dates do not fall on Christmas or Christmas Eve before seeking a longer agreement, officials said.
“It is great to know that we have this game, our signature event, for the next two years and will have hosted the championship for 13 years when this contract expires,” said Sports Committee President Merrill Eckstein.
Sports Committee Board Chairman Doug Dyer added, “I am very pleased that we reached this agreement for two more years. This is a great event for our city, our economy, and our university.”
Chattanooga has hosted the NCAA Division I (formerly I-AA) Football Championship since 1997. The estimated economic impact the event has on Chattanooga averages $1.8 million per year in direct visitor spending.