Pac-12 moves 2020 Football Championship Game to Las Vegas

In a wise move that should bring more eyeballs and interest to the Conference, the Pac-12 today announced that the 2020 and 2021 host site for the Pac-12 Football Championship Game will be in Las Vegas at the new home of the Raiders, one of the National Football League’s most state-of-the-art venues.  The agreement with Las Vegas is in principle only for now, but is expected to be finalized in the near future.

Since 2014, the Pac-12 has been playing its prior championship games in Silicon Valley, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

“Our Pac-12 universities and entire Conference are thrilled to have our 2020 and 2021 football championship event take place in one of the most anticipated new venues in sports,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. “Highlighting and showcasing our programs on one of the biggest stages in a major destination market is a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes, universities and fans, and consistent with our mission to create the best possible experiences for student-athletes."

Serving as home of the Raiders, the 1.75-million-square-foot stadium will also provide the most start-of-the-art facilities for the champions of the Pac-12 North and South divisions as well as a full slate of surrounding entertainment options for fans in attendance.

Today’s announcement marks the second new event to be scheduled for the Las Vegas Stadium which is also set to host the 2020 Las Vegas Bowl, featuring a Pac-12 opponent against either a Big Ten or SEC opponent, after the event moves following the 2019 game.

With Las Vegas already hosting the 2020 Pac-12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, the 2020 and 2021 football title games will bring the Conference’s championship event to the city for the first time.  Since the Conference’s move of its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to Las Vegas, the events have drawn sensational crowds and set multiple attendance records.

Unlike Levi's stadium, the new venue is located in one of the most accessible and entertainment-centric cities, as fan entertainment both in and outside of the venue is set to provide for a fantastic experience for student-athletes and fans alike. Future locations for the Pac-12 Football Championship Game beyond 2021 will be determined and announced at a later date.

For this upcoming season, the 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will return to Levi’s Stadium for its sixth straight year.

“I want to thank the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium for what has been a fantastic five-year run and we look forward to what will be another exciting championship event in Santa Clara this year,” added Scott. “The 49ers and Levi's Stadium have been great partners in building our flagship football event and taking it to new heights."

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com