The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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November 23, 2009

Frisco named finalist for future FCS title games

The NCAA notified Frisco officials Monday afternoon that the city is a finalist to possibly play host to the NCAA Division I Football Championship games following the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The NCAA did not release the names of other cities that may also be advancing in the effort to serve as host to the title game, previously known as the Division I-AA Football Championship.

Earlier media reports indicated that Spokane, Wash., Missoula, Mont., Little Rock, Ark., and Chattanooga, Tenn., the current NCAA championship site, also submitted bid proposals in October.

The Frisco bid is a joint effort between the City of Frisco, Hunt Sports Group, LLC, the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, the Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.

The Southland Conference, also based in Frisco, would serve as the host conference for the national championship that would be played at Pizza Hut Park, the city’s 23,500-seat multi-purpose stadium.

In addition, the Frisco bid effort was endorsed by numerous entities, including the U.S. Congressional delegation from North Texas, the area’s state legislators, and other Dallas-Fort Worth based collegiate sports organizations such as the AT&T; Cotton Bowl, the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame, the Big 12 Conference and Conference USA. DFW International Airport and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines also submitted letters of support for the championship endeavor.

“We’re very excited about Frisco being one step closer to being selected to host the NCAA Division I Football Championship,” Mayor Maher Maso said. “We’re very honored to be part of such an impressive team, which includes our partners at the Southland Conference, Pizza Hut Park and the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re also very honored to have received an endorsement letter from the North Texas delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives. Together, we’ll continue to work hand in hand to bring this sporting event to Frisco, benefiting the entire North Texas region.”

A contingent of Frisco city leaders and others involved in the bid process will attend this year’s championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 18, and it’s possible that a Frisco site visit from NCAA officials will occur in the near future. A final presentation will be made by Frisco officials before the NCAA Division I Football Committee in late February, and a final decision is expected shortly after that.

“We are honored to be part of the Frisco effort selected by the NCAA committee to advance in the process, and look forward to making the case for Frisco as the ideal location for the NCAA Championship,” Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett said.

“Whether it’s the state-of-the-art Pizza Hut Park, the unmatched national air service into our two major airports, our first-class hotels, or all the tremendous retail and entertainment options in Frisco and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, we believe our destination location can provide a wonderful and memorable championship experience for the competing teams and other visitors.”

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