Contact:  John Johnson 
517.332.5046 or [email protected]
 
EAST LANSING, Mich.  – Oct. 26 –  The Michigan High School Athletic Association and Ford Field have agreed to a two-year extension of their contract to have the Association’s Football Finals take place at the 65,000-seat facility in downtown Detroit through the 2011 season.

Ford Field has been the home for the MHSAA Football Finals since 2005, and last year’s attendance of 66,160 was the highest for the two-day, eight-game event since the playoffs began their five-week, eight-division format in 1999.
 
“Our priority has always been to keep the Football Finals at Ford Field,” said John E. “Jack” Roberts, Executive Director of the MHSAA.  “We know that teams and fans appreciate having ideal conditions in which to play for and watch an MHSAA championship, and we appreciate Ford Field’s willingness in a tough economy to agree to a contract extension under the terms of the current agreement.”
 
“As an organization, we are strongly committed to supporting youth football in our community and throughout the state of Michigan,” said Tom Lewand, President of Ford Field and the Detroit Lions.  “Ford Field is proud to have been home to the high school football finals since 2005 and we’re thrilled to continue this tremendous partnership with the MHSAA, its teams and their fans.”
 
The MHSAA Football Finals take place annually on Thanksgiving weekend.  This year’s dates are Nov. 27-28.  The Finals are scheduled for Nov. 26-27 in 2010; and Nov. 25-26 in 2011. 

Tickets for this year’s MHSAA Football Finals at Ford Field can be purchased for $10 beginning in mid-November at the Ford Field Box Office; and sales will take place at participating schools the week of the event.  Tickets will also be sold on the day of the games at the Ford Field Box Office, located at the corner of Brush and Adams Streets.  Parking for this year’s games will be available at the Ford Field Parking Deck, Lot 4 and Lot 5 for $6.  Visit the parking maps at mhsaa.com or fordfield.com for other suggested parking locations near Ford Field. 

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,600 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition.  No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools.  Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.

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