Alabama’s high school football championships are being affected by the College Football Playoffs expansions to twelve teams.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association has announced it’s removing the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium from the rotation to host the Super 7 high school football championships. The elimination of the two sites is because, in the future, both schools could be hosting playoff games.
“We are grateful to the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports and Auburn-Opelika Tourism for joining together to host our Super 7 since the rotation began in 2009,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs in a news release. “The experiences and memories provided for our member schools, the teams, their students, and communities have been immeasurable. We understand, however, the conflicts that will be unavoidable in the future based on the expanded CFA playoff structure and format.”
This year’s championships will be played at Progressive Stadium in Birmingham.
According to the AHSAA news release, “Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said their communities have enjoyed hosting the Super 7 Championships and understand the positive impact the games have had on their cities as well as the lasting experiences and memories that have been afforded the state’s high school student-athletes, their schools, and communities at the same time.”
“Hosting the Super 7 has been a tremendous honor for the City of Auburn,” said Anders. “The Super 7 serves as a pinnacle moment in the lives of many young students in Alabama. Our city has treated this hosting responsibility with the same level of professionalism that regular visitors to any local athletic event, conference, performance, or family gathering have come to expect. Our community has similarly served the teams, families, and other Super 7 visitors with a personal investment of time and effort that characterizes the Auburn Spirit.”
“The City of Tuscaloosa has proudly hosted many Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 7 State Football Championships since 2009, providing countless athletes, coaches, family members, and fans with an unforgettable football experience,” said Maddox. “Although Tuscaloosa and Auburn will no longer be able to host due to the expansion of the College Football Playoffs, we are grateful for our partnership with AHSAA and look forward to seeing the event thrive across other cities in Alabama.”
“The city of Opelika is honored to have been a part of the Super 7 for many years,” said Fuller. “The experiences had by the athletes, band members, students, cheerleaders, and fans are priceless. To be under the big lights in a grand stadium is something we all will remember for a lifetime. We are hopeful to one day be back at Jordan-Hare Stadium (for the Super 7).”
Last year’s seven championship games attracted over 43,000 fans to Bryant-Denny Stadium.
