Pac-12 announces deal to host Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium

Tickets to 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game go on sale to general public May 23

Walnut Creek, Calif. – The Pac-12 Conference will stage its annual Football Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. for the next three years, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. The first Pac-12 Football Championship Game will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, and will feature the Pac-12 North champion versus the Pac-12 South champion.

The move to a neutral site follows three years of playing the game at the home stadiums of one of its participants, and gives the Conference the opportunity to host its biggest game in a state-of-the-art stadium that promises to offer fans the best experience possible.

“Pac-12 football is among the deepest and best football conferences in the country,” said Scott. “Our Football Championship Game is important for selecting a team for the Rose Bowl and possibly the College Football Playoff, and we are thrilled to offer student-athletes and their fans the ultimate venue to culminate a successful season.”

Levi’s^® Stadium is scheduled to open for the 2014 football season as the new home for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The facility will serve as the site for Super Bowl L in 2016 and the annual Fight Hunger Bowl beginning this season, and will feature new and exciting ways for them to experience a live event.

“The Pac-12 has a tremendous following in the Bay Area, which makes Levi’s^® Stadium a fitting host for its marquee game,” said Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers. “We are excited to provide Pac-12 student-athletes, and their fans from across the region, an unparalleled experience for their Football Championship."

The growing importance of this game makes it a must-attend event for all Pac-12 football fans. Tickets for the 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game go on sale to season ticket holders and donors of each Pac-12 institution starting May 19 at 10 a.m. PT, and then will open to the general public beginning on May 23 at 10 a.m. PT. All tickets will be available on Pac-12.com/tickets.

Bringing the Pac-12 Football Championship to the heart of Silicon Valley provides the Conference a perfect platform to highlight our universities’ leadership in technology and innovation. As part of the championship game events, the Pac-12 is planning to host an innovation summit with leaders from its universities and titans of the technology industry.

“This is a positive move for our institutions and fan bases,” said Scott. The neutral site location will allow us to showcase the Conference, our member institutions and important initiatives on a big stage, as well as treat fans to multiple events during championship week, concluded Scott.”

Since its inception three years ago, Oregon, Stanford, and Arizona State have hosted the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, respectively, as the division winner with the best overall conference record.  Last year, Pac-12 North champion Stanford defeated Pac-12 South champion Arizona State 38-14 to earn a berth to the Rose Bowl.

About the 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship:

The 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will be played Friday, December 5, and will feature the Pac-12 North champion versus the Pac-12 South champion. The kickoff time is still to be determined and the game will be broadcast on FOX. For more information, go to pac-12.com/fcg.

About Levi’s Stadium:

Levi’s® Stadium will be the new home to the San Francisco 49ers, and will also serve as one of the world’s best outdoor sports and entertainment venues. It was designed by HNTB and is being built by Turner/Devcon for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. The $1.2 billion venue will have 1.85 million square feet, seat approximately 68,500 and will feature an expected 165 luxury suites and 8,500 club seats. It was designed to be a multi-purpose facility with the flexibility to host a wide range of events, including domestic and international soccer, college football, motocross, concerts and various civic events, and will be expandable for major events such as the Super Bowl. For more information, go to www.levisstadium.com