The NCAA Division II National Championship game will be played this Saturday in Florence. It isn't just about football, it's a community event and has a huge economic impact on the Shoals area.
On Saturday, Grand Valley State University and Northwest Missouri State University will hit the gridiron. Thousands of spectators will fill Braly Stadium in Florence. As fans watch the action, game officials will be tallying up ticket sales.
"We'd love to fill it up," says Judy Keenum, Shoals National Championship Committee Game Day Coordinator.
So far, nearly 6,000 tickets have been sold. The stadium seats 12,000. Beyond revenue from ticket sales, Keenum says the game generates more than one million dollars for the Shoals area and that's a conservative estimate.
"It's very good for our economy," says Keenum. "People come here, stay in our hotels, visit our restaurants and purchase things from our stores."
For 24 years, the championship game has been played in Florence. Shawn Jones, chairman of the NCAA Division II Championship Committee, says Florence is a great host city because of the people and hospitality.
"The Shoals National Championship Committee and all the local police forces come together to help get these teams around town to all the events," says Jones. "The cooperation is amazing."
Jones adds that a lot of effort goes into making the championship game a community-wide event.
"I think it's much more than a game and that's a credit to the Shoals National Championship Committee and the NCAA for recognizing that in Division II we need to make this an event," explains Jones.
For the last several years, officials with Florence-Lauderdale Tourism say all the hotels in both Lauderdale County and Colbert County have sold out before the championship game.
On Saturday, Grand Valley State University and Northwest Missouri State University will hit the gridiron. Thousands of spectators will fill Braly Stadium in Florence. As fans watch the action, game officials will be tallying up ticket sales.
"We'd love to fill it up," says Judy Keenum, Shoals National Championship Committee Game Day Coordinator.
So far, nearly 6,000 tickets have been sold. The stadium seats 12,000. Beyond revenue from ticket sales, Keenum says the game generates more than one million dollars for the Shoals area and that's a conservative estimate.
"It's very good for our economy," says Keenum. "People come here, stay in our hotels, visit our restaurants and purchase things from our stores."
For 24 years, the championship game has been played in Florence. Shawn Jones, chairman of the NCAA Division II Championship Committee, says Florence is a great host city because of the people and hospitality.
"The Shoals National Championship Committee and all the local police forces come together to help get these teams around town to all the events," says Jones. "The cooperation is amazing."
Jones adds that a lot of effort goes into making the championship game a community-wide event.
"I think it's much more than a game and that's a credit to the Shoals National Championship Committee and the NCAA for recognizing that in Division II we need to make this an event," explains Jones.
For the last several years, officials with Florence-Lauderdale Tourism say all the hotels in both Lauderdale County and Colbert County have sold out before the championship game.
