The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced that they will be moving the CIAA Football Championship from Durham, NC to Salem, VA. The CIAA is made up of 11 universities and one college that range from Pennsylvania to North Carolina and are headquartered in Charlotte, NC.
The championship game will be held at Salem Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 and will feature the top teams from the Northern and Southern Divisions. Attendance is estimated to be in excess of 4,000 and will attract visitors from all over to Virginia’s Blue Ridge. This is a considerable win for Salem, with the CIAA being known as a crown jewel within college sports, this will achieve national media exposure for the region.
Carey Harveycutter, Salem Director of Tourism and the Tournament Director stated, “We are most excited to have been selected to host the CIAA Football Championship, one of the top events in NCAA Division II. It would not have happened without the support of Roanoke City Mayor Sherman Lea and his enthusiasm for the game and conference.” According to Mayor Lea “It brings back fond memories when I played in the CIAA and having our area be selected for the championship is one of the proudest moments for me as Mayor. With Salem’s proven record for hosting championship sports, I couldn’t be more pleased for Virginia’s Blue Ridge in establishing a future with the CIAA.”
Salem is known as “Virginia’s Championship City” and is prepared to provide the most memorable championship experience. Salem hosts various NCAA Championship events such as the Stagg Bowl (Division III Football), Men’s Basketball, Baseball, Women’s Lacrosse, Softball, Volleyball, and were most recently awarded Men’s and Women’s Soccer at Roanoke College on December 2-3, 2016. Salem is noted for their hospitality in hosting sporting events, there is no doubt that the CIAA Football Championship will be a unique and extraordinary experience for all who participate and attend.
