CHARLOTTE, NC (September 3, 2025) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, is proud to announce that tickets are now available for the 2025 CIAA Football Championship, which will be held on Saturday, November 15, at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
This year’s championship game carries extra significance, as it marks the return of the CIAA’s football title game to Durham for the first time since 2015, as it was held in Salem, Virginia from 2016 to 2024. The move back to Durham brings the event closer to the CIAA’s roots and offers an opportunity to celebrate the rich history and tradition of CIAA football in North Carolina.
“The CIAA Football Championship has always been more than a game, it’s a celebration of our student-athletes, our member institutions, and the passionate fans who support them,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “We are thrilled to bring the championship back to Durham, a city with deep ties to the CIAA and a strong legacy of supporting HBCU athletics.”
Fans can expect a full day of excitement surrounding the championship, including spirited tailgating, marching band performances, and a showcase of the CIAA’s best on the gridiron. The event will once again highlight the talent, pride, and tradition that make CIAA football a centerpiece of the conference’s athletic calendar.
Tickets for the 2025 CIAA Football Championship are now available and can be purchased HERE. Fans are encouraged to secure their seats early to be part of this historic return to Durham.
Parking is $10 per vehicle; arrive early as traffic backs up from the exit, use the Home lot on Stadium Dr. or the Visitor lot on Wisteria Dr., and note you can walk between sides once parked. Tailgating opens 9:30 a.m., and stadium gates at 1:00 p.m. for access to the game. Please note a game ticket is needed for access to the tailgate.
To plan your visit accommodations, parking, dining, and city info—please see Durham’s official page here.
If you cannot attend this year's CIAA Football Championship, you can catch the game live on the HBCU Go Network.
Media Contact:
Anna Buzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications & External Partnerships
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abuzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.