GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association has signed a two-year extension to keep the Dodge FHSAA Football Finals state championship games at Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl through the 2010 season, the FHSAA Office announced today. The original agreement, which was finalized in April 2007, was a two-year contract for the 2007 and 2008 championships.

The Central Florida Sports Commission, the City of Orlando, Edgewater High School and Orange County Public Schools will continue to serve as co-hosts for the event. The announcement comes a month after Orlando welcomed the state championship for the first time.

“The FHSAA is pleased to announce that Orlando will remain the home of the Dodge FHSAA Football Finals through the 2010 season,” said John A. Stewart, executive director of the FHSAA. “Our first year at the Florida Citrus Bowl was a tremendous success, and working with the Central Florida Sports Commission, the City of Orlando, Edgewater High School and Orange County Public Schools has been an absolute pleasure.

“We have received nothing but positive feedback from the participating schools about their experience at the 2007 finals,” Stewart added. “And our football coaches advisory committee had nothing but praise for Orlando”.

"Orlando's central location is ideal for student-athletes and their families who are traveling to the Dodge FHSAA Football Finals," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "I hope this partnership will continue into the future after the completion of the renovated Citrus Bowl."

The two-weekend event features title games in all eight classifications. The 2007 championship held on December 7-8 and 14-15 attracted more than 55,000 spectators, the second-highest number in FHSAA history.

“The keys to our proposal were also the keys to our success in year one,” said John Saboor, president of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “Orlando’s statewide appeal, central location and the dedication of Team Orlando helped to create a wonderful, seamless experience for each state finalist. We are honored that the FHSAA has entrusted us with a long-term agreement for this showcase event.”

Team Orlando is a collection of community leaders that worked together to plan and execute the 2007 finals. The group included Sports Commission and city staff, athletic directors and band directors from around Orange County.

Of the 494 high schools that have committed to participate in the 2007 and 2008 FHSAA State Football Series, 337 of them, or 68 percent, are located within a three-hour drive of Orlando. The event was previously held at Miami’s Dolphin Stadium in 2005 and 2006.

The 2008 Dodge FHSAA Football Finals are scheduled for December 12, 13, 19 and 20. Two games will be played each day.

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of more than 700 middle and senior high schools, and sponsors postseason competitions to determine the official state high school champions in 28 different sports.

About the Central Florida Sports Commission
The Central Florida Sports Commission is a non-profit, private organization created to attract international, national and regional events and sports-related business and activities to Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, as well as the City of Orlando. The Sports Commission is the Central Florida area’s clearinghouse and first point of contact for sports and sports-related activities and is committed to developing the region’s sports product.


Contacts:
Jack Watford
Associate Executive Director, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org

Jason Maderer
Marketing Manager
Central Florida Sports Commission
(407) 648-4900 ext. 16/321-287-8275 (Cell)
jmaderer@orlandosports.org