Chattanooga to remain title-game host through ’24

The TSSAA football Bluecross Bowl state championship games will remain in Chattanooga for the next two years.

But it will cost a little more for fans to attend.

The state high school association’s Board of Control unanimously approved Chattanooga Sports’ proposal to keep the state championships, through the 2024 season, to coincide with the next TSSAA classification cycle. Chattanooga was the only city that placed a bid to host.

However, the Tennessee Titans have announced they are replacing Nissan Stadium’s natural grass field with a synthetic turf. Titans officials told The Tennessean that they would be interested in hosting the state’s championship games after an enclosed stadium is built.

No discussions were held between the Titans and TSSAA as the high school athletic association were already in talks with Chattanooga.

Chattanooga’s bid guarantees $250,000 to the TSSAA, as was already in place annually for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Any ticket sales over $300,000 is split evenly between the TSSAA and Chattanooga Sports.

Here is how the proposal affects fans: h Presale tickets will be $12 on Gofan. For Division II teams, that starts at 11:59 p.m. (ET) the Friday of the Division II semifinals and ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) the day before Thanksgiving. For Division I teams, that starts the Friday they qualify and ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) the day before the Bluecross championships begin. Previously, the price was $12 on Gofan the entire time.

h Gofan tickets increase to $15 a day after the presale period ends.

h Day of game cash sales will be $20. Cash sales were previously $15.

h Parking costs $15, up from $10.

What teams received in 2022

The TSSAA netted $172,155.70 after expenses from the 2022 Bluecross Bowl championship games from Chattanooga’s $250,000 guarantee. However, that was divided equally between the TSSAA and participating schools.

Schools received money based on the number of presale tickets sold.

Baylor, a private school in Chattanooga, sold 1,616 tickets and received $9,184.79. East Nashville sold the fewest with 115 tickets for $2,874.52.

HELEN COMER/THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL Nashville Christian takes the field before the Bluecross Bowl Division II-A Championship game against Friendship Christian at Finley Stadium, in Chattanooga on Dec. 1.