KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NAIA announced on Monday that Grambling (La.) will become the new host of the NAIA Football National Championship at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium beginning in the 2019 season and run through the 2020 campaign.
The game, which is currently being held at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla., will move to Louisiana and will bring more than $1 million in impact to the region.
“The Grambling State University campus is synonymous with both football and academic achievement,” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. “We are grateful to add a host city with this incredibly rich legacy to our list of partners.”
The annual championship has been held in Daytona Beach since 2014 and will conclude its current contract upon the conclusion of the 2018 NAIA National Championship when Morningside (Iowa) and Benedictine (Kan.) square-off on December 15 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
“This selection is a major accomplishment for our area,” said Travis Napper, President and CEO of the Ruston-Lincoln CVB. “Each major event adds value for the citizens, businesses, and the students who call Lincoln Parish home.“
“We couldn’t be more excited about hosting NAIA and these amazing students,” said Mayor Edward Jones of the City of Grambling. “They will get to experience the town and culture that has produced hundreds of football legends.”
About National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 65,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $600 million in scholarships and compete in 26 national championships. www.naia.org | @NAIA
About Grambling State University
Grambling State University, located in Grambling Louisiana, is a historically black university founded in 1901. The University has been accredited by 13 accrediting associations and holds accreditations in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. The 590-acre campus offers 43 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Grambling State University is a member of the University of Louisiana System. For more information visit gram.edu.