WIAA selects three venues for state football championships

Contests will take place on Dec. 7.

After voting not to renew its contract with the Tacoma Dome in May, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has selected three venues to host the 2019 WIAA Football State Championships.

The WIAA Executive Board voted on Sept. 23 to hold the six championship games on Dec. 7 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Harry E. Lang Stadium in Lakewood and Mt. Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma.

All games will be scheduled as doubleheaders with the first contest kicking off at noon followed by a 4 p.m. start for the second. Mt. Tahoma Stadium will host the 1B and 4A championships, Sparks Stadium will host the 3A and 2A championships and Harry E. Lang Stadium will host the 2B and 1A championships.

A ticket purchased at any location will provide valid entry for all three sites.

“The mission of the WIAA staff and Executive Board was to find three locations that were close in proximity to each other and could handle the needs of a WIAA State Championship,” said WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman in a press release. “We are grateful for each of the site managers who made these great stadiums available as we believe they will provide a terrific atmosphere for the biggest games of the year.”

The board added that if two schools from similar geographic areas in central or eastern Washington advance to a championship game, they may have the option to play the game locally at a mutually agreed upon site pending WIAA approval. If agreement from the three parties cannot be reached, the game will be played as originally scheduled.

The Tacoma Dome hosted the WIAA Gridiron Classic since the 1995 season, however rising rental fees and a revised seating configuration led to the Executive Board’s decision to move in a different direction at its May meeting. The WIAA will continue to host the Mat Classic wrestling tournament and Hardwood Classic basketball events at the Tacoma Dome, according to a press release issued in May.