High School SportsFriday, November 6
Gillette Stadium won't host this year's high school football state championships
The Springfield Morning News team
If you follow high school football, the finish line just moved. The MIAA announced Monday that Gillette Stadium won't host this year's state championships, ending a run that began in 2007. The association says it was informed late last week and thanked the Patriots for nearly two decades of hosting.
The Gillette decision came days before the playoffs began
- Nov. 2MIAA announces Gillette Stadium won't host this year's football state championships.
- Nov. 5High school football state playoffs get underway.
- Early Dec.Football state championship games had been scheduled to be played in the first week of December.
- Dec. 6The Patriots have a home game at Gillette Stadium.
Sources: Western Mass News, Daily Hampshire Gazette
- Reason given: Revolution playoff schedule and Patriots home game
- Today's playoff games: Belchertown vs. Norwell, Easthampton vs. Saint Bernard's
- New site: none named yet by the MIAA
MassLive reports that all eight title games are without a venue. The MIAA says it will "work diligently to secure host sites." Chicopee coach Alex Efstratios told Western Mass News the timing was wrong: "you don't make a decision last minute right before the playoffs start." He's a Springfield College alum, and he'd love to see the games there.
8state title games without a venue
Gillette had hosted the championships since 2007. As of Thursday, the MIAA hadn't said where they'll be played.
Sources: Western Mass News, Daily Hampshire Gazette, MassLive.com
Sources: Western Mass News, Daily Hampshire Gazette, WWLP, MassLive.com