It was announced today by the NCAA that the MIAA, in partnership with the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation has been selected to host both the NCAA Division II Football and Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships.

“We are excited that the NCAA and the governing sports committees have recognized that Kansas City will provide a great experience for the student athletes, coaches and fans that will travel here over the next few years,” said Kansas City Sports Commission CEO Kathy Nelson. “The MIAA has the expertise, commitment and passion to host these Championships and we look forward to working with their staff on these events.”

Kansas City will host the NCAA Division II Football Championship beginning in 2014 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. and will continue to serve as host through the 2017 season. The hosting partners will also welcome the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships to Swope Park Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo. during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Prior to its move to Kansas City, the NCAA Division II Football Championship was played for the last 26 seasons at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. During those 26 seasons only the MIAA and Gulf South Conference have had teams appear in more than ten games with each having 12 participants. The MIAA has sent a team to seven of the last ten national championship games.

Kansas City will serve as the 15th host in the history of the Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championship. It will mark only the 11th time the games have been hosted outside of Florida, California and Texas in its 28 year history.

“We are thrilled that we can partner with the Kansas City Sports Commission to bring these Division II national championship events to Kansas City,” MIAA Commissioner Bob Boerigter said. “Our MIAA members are excited about the possibility of watching MIAA teams play for national championships in these outstanding venues and we are confident student athletes that participate here will have a first class national championship experience.”

The dates for the NCAA Division II Football Championship are Dec. 20, 2014; Dec. 19, 2015; Dec. 17, 2016 and Dec. 16, 2017.

The soccer championships will be Dec. 1-3, 2016 and Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2017.

“We really want to thank everyone who put in a bid,” said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president of championships and alliances. “The competitiveness of the bids made it extremely difficult for the sport committees to select sites as there just weren’t spots for all of the great bids we received. Ultimately the sites that were selected will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans the best experience possible.”

— MIAA Press Release —