Conference Football Title Game Will be in Wichita
(October 7, 2021) WICHITA, KAN. – The championship football game for the Jayhawk Conference will be held on a converted baseball field.
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) signed an agreement with the Wichita Wind Surge and Riverfront Stadium in Wichita to hold their playoff championship game there on Sunday, Nov.21 at 1pm.
"Riverfront Stadium was designed and built as a multi-purpose venue," said Wind Surge CEO Jordan Kobritz. "When the KJCCC approached us with the idea of holding their 2021 Conference Championship game in Wichita we said, 'Why not?'"
Riverfront Stadium is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue built along the west bank of the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. Home of the Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins), Riverfront Stadium hosted its first non-Wind Surge event on April 10, 2021, as the Wichita State baseball team hosted the University of Houston in front of a crowd of more than 7,000. The Wind Surge played 60 regular season games and one playoff game at the ballpark in 2021.
"Having the first football game to be played in Riverfront is exciting," said Carl Heinrich, KJCCC commissioner. "We look forward to Wichita and Wind Surge hosting this unique event."
The KJCCC will have playoffs involving all eight teams this year, beginning with quarterfinal match-ups on Nov. 7, followed by semifinals on Nov. 14. All games prior to the championship will be held at the higher seed's home field.
The Wind Surge and Riverfront Stadium will lay fresh sod on the dirt infield portion of the stadium field, with the pitcher's mound removed, well prior to the game. The actual football field will run from North to South, will the third base line serving as one team's sideline. Goalposts will be brought in and installed in existing underground sleeves days prior to the championship. The two teams in the championship will have a walk-through practice day on the grass turf on Saturday, Nov.6. A walk-through day was deemed necessary, as all conference teams play their home games on artificial turf.
Tickets for the Championship game go on sale Friday morning at 10:00CST at windsurge.com. Ticket prices start at $15 for General Admission Berm and Standing Room, and $20 for all Field Box seats. Tickets will be available for the general public, as well as marketed to the alumni and booster clubs of the participating colleges. The upper box suites will also be made available to interested parties. Group and premium seating options are available by calling 316-221-8000, or emailing tickets@windsurge.com.
Heinrich had nothing but praise for Wichita.
"We give the city of Wichita a big "thank you" for their support, just like they have given us in the past with all of our NJCAA, Region VI, and KJCCC events."
