The UIL state football title games are reportedly headed back to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the 2016 season, though representatives from the UIL say nothing is final.
KRIV-TV in Houston reported Saturday afternoon, citing multiple unnamed sources, the title games will be at AT&T Stadium after spending one year at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Sources: @uiltexas 2016 high school state championship games in football will be at AT&T Stadium n Arlington.They were at NRG Stadium n 2015
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 23, 2016
AT&T Stadium hosted most of the state championships from 2010 (1A and 2A came to AT&T in 2011) to 2014. A scheduling conflict with the NFL helped pus the games to NRG Stadium last year, but the Cowboys do not have any scheduling conflicts this season.
AT&T Stadium, NRG Stadium and San Antonio’s Alamodome are the only venues in the state capable of hosting the games.
The Alamodome isn’t in the running this year, San Antonio’s director of conventions and sports facilities recently told the San Antonio Express-News.
Despite the report out of Houston, UIL media coordinator Kate Hector said nothing has been decided yet.
"We don't have any announcement or anything finalized for football next year," she told The Dallas Morning News.
UIL Deputy Director Jamey Harrison reiterated Hector’s comments after seeing the report from the Fox affiliate in Houston.
"There may be a statement, and I've seen it, from a reporter," Harrison told The News. "I can assure you that we have no signed contract with anybody."
When asked if Houston’s NRG Stadium has been ruled out as a possible location for the 2016 title games, Harrison said, "We always maintain relationships and conversations with all three potential venues. Right now, we do not have a signed contract or a final decision on where they will be."
Dates for the 2016 title games have not yet been released, though Dec. 15-17 seems the likely landing spot based on football schedules already determined by UIL schools and past title-game schedules.
According to documents obtained by The News in February, NRG Stadium charged the UIL a $495,000 usage fee last year. AT&T Stadium charged $150,000 in 2014. Attendance was also down 94,509 over the three-day event.
Harrison told The News earlier this week his organization was having conversations with both AT&T Stadium and NRG stadium about hosting this year's state championship games, as well as conferring with a number "stakeholders" including coaches, athletic directors, superintendents, and fans to find the best site.
