Durham Sports Commission to Host 2021–2022 NAIA Football National Championships

The 2021 and 2022 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics football national championship games will be held in Durham, North Carolina, for the first time. The NAIA Senior Football Classic will also be part of the week’s events that will be hosted by the Durham Sports Commission.

The game will be played at Willie Bradshaw Field at Durham County Memorial Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium built in 1958 that has a seating capacity of 8,500 and has been the site of professional, collegiate and high school football events.

“On behalf of the Durham Sports Commission, we are humbled, honored and thankful to the NAIA for entrusting Durham with these special events,” said DSC Executive Director Marcus Manning. “We are looking forward to celebrating and promoting the NAIA, providing a great student-athlete experience and introducing Durham to the NAIA, their stakeholders and fans.”

Durham County has heavily invested in updating facilities recently. In addition to an upgraded press box and turf field at the stadium, the county expanded the concourse and improved the team spaces. Currently, it is the home of Tobacco Road Football Club and Northern High School Football.

“The Durham Sports Commission is both delighted and excited to be the host city for the NAIA National Football Championship,” said Dan Hill, board chair of the Durham Sports Commission. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are looking forward to welcoming the teams, their fans and the NAIA officials to Durham.”

The NAIA football championship starts with preliminary round play on November 20, November 27 and December 4 at campus sites. The 66th annual championship game will be December 18, 2021.

“Durham Sports Commission is an exceptional partner for the Football National Championship and Senior Football Classic,” said NAIA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Carr. “We are pleased to bring both events to the same venue, which has a proven track record of hosting special events that have an impact on Durham and the greater community.”