The rumors are now fact. Thursday, the Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia High School Association announced that the Georgia high school football championships are returning to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons and the GHSA have entered into a three-year deal beginning with the 2023 high school football championships.
“We are excited to partner with GHSA to bring the football championships to Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” said Atlanta Falcons CEO and President Rich McKay. “Youth sports is, and has always been, a priority for the Atlanta Falcons,” McKay continues. “This announcement is a testament to the coordinated efforts of many and we are excited to continue to support and grow the sport we all love.”
“We could not be more thrilled to bring the GHSA Football Championships back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” said GHSA Executive Director Dr. Robin Hines. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Falcons and are especially thankful for Rich McKay, Tim Zulawski, Chris Millman and Amanda Dinkel for their commitment to high school athletics,” Hines continued. “Bringing the football championships back to MBS allows our student athletes to compete in the best venue anywhere and will provide an experience for our athletes and fans that will be second to none.”
The biggest change with the new contract is that the championships will be played mid-week, instead of the weekends to prevent any scheduling conflicts with the Falcons or Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United.
The Georgia Dome hosted the championships from 2008 through 2016. When it closed, the finals were moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium when it opened in 2017. However, that year, due to a snowstorm, the championship games were moved to high school stadiums. After the 2018 championships, the GHSA moved the finals Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
