For the 2nd year in as many, Salem Stadium is set to host the National Club Football National Championship Bowl Game, presented by Rawlings Sporting Goods, in Salem, Virginia. The Bowl Game pits the #1 and #2 ranked NCFA teams as decided by the Rawlings Power Rankings voters throughout the season. The winner is crowned the NCFA National Champion.

Salem Stadium holds many high-profile football events each year, including the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, more commonly recognized as the NCAA Division III National Championship. This past weekend, The Dream Bowl was held there, a convergence of various college All-Stars taking the field to honor Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” motto and his spirit on his holiday Monday.

The Stadium, originally constructed in 1986, features an artificial playing surface compatible for play during all weather conditions and full stadium lighting. Stadium seating can house over 7,100 spectators and ample parking is available for all fans. A full listing of amenities is included, from concessions and restrooms to complete locker rooms, press boxes, and coaching boxes. The stadium is even equipped with an elevator to assist fans to the handicapped-accessible seating.

When asked what made Salem such a great location to host the NCFA’s capstone event, NCFA Commissioner Sandy Sanderson explained, “The City of Salem and Salem Stadium made for great theatre as the NCFA celebrated its first-ever National Championship Bowl Game. I can’t be more excited to return the event to Salem as the allure and pageantry of the NCFA  National Championship continues to grow.”

Roanoke Valley is known throughout Virginia in infamy for having the highest restaurants per capita ratio in the state, and Salem is no exception. Hot spots like the Blue Heron Restaurant & Red Rooster Bar provide a unique twist of French cuisine with a local inspiration. The city has no shortage of entertainment when the sun goes down either, as the music scene has bloomed in recent years. Find a local gathering place for some live music or visit the Salem Civic Center to catch a nationally-recognized recording artist, the possibilities are seemingly endless.

“The City of Salem was pleased to be able to host the inaugural NCFA National Championship in 2012. It was an exciting game with great action and outstanding student-athletes. We are excited for 2013 and hope this will become an annual event in Salem,” said Carey Harveycutter, Salem’s Director of Civic Facilities. Check out the NCFA Championship page at www.NCFAFootball.org/Championship.aspx for more information about the event. For questions, contact Sandy Sanderson in the CollClubSports office at 412-321-8440 ext. 100 or at Sandy.Sanderson@CollClubSports.com.

Submitted by Mitch Conner