BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PARKERSBURG — The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) has selected Charleston as the site to host the state high school football championships beginning in 2024.

Charleston will host the annual championship for the next three years – 2024, 2025 and 2025. The games will be held at Laidley Field.

There is a mutual option for a fourth year.

Next season will also mark the first year for expanding the championship into four classifications. Those will be Class AAAA, AAA, AA and A. The games will be scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6 at noon and 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 at noon and 7 p.m.

“We are excited with the offer extended by the Charleston community to host the football championships at Laidley Field,” said C. David Price, WVSSAC executive director. “The local organizing group is committed to the student and fan experience as well as the financial success of the event.”

The Charleston proposal was submitted by a partnership of Kanawha County Schools, the Charleston Convention Center and Visitors Bureau and the City of Charleston.

Other cities that bid on the championship game weekend were Wheeling, Bluefield and a co-host rotating between Huntington and Morgantown, which would use the WVU and Marshall football stadiums. Charleston had hosted the games in the past. However, Wheeling has been hosting the event for the past 30 years.