Plenty of other venues but bids in to host the CIF State Bowl Games. Bakersfield, Clovis West, Stanford, San Jose State, the Coliseum, were all amongst those that put there name in the hat. But today, CIF Executive Director Marie Ishida announced the CIF State Office and Home Depot Center have signed a three-year deal to keep the State Bowl Games in Carson through 2012.
Ishida said in a statement, "I'm pleased with the selection of Home Depot Center again." "We had some great venues that we considered. But because we've been with Home Depot in the past, and because they provided us with an opportunity to go back that was financially feasible, we chose to sign a deal with them. We think we have a first-class event and we're proud to have our games at a first-class venue like Home Depot Center."
Ishida also says the CIF wanted to generate a goal for football teams to have Home Depot Center as a final destination similar to the "'Road to Arco' (Arena) in Sacramento is for our state basketball championships, or the 'Road to Woodward Park' in Fresno is for our state cross country championships. We now have that mystique for the football championships."
HDC is the only venue to host what has become a great way to conclude high school football here in the state. But there have been many concerns expressed. Primarily, the soccer scoreboard. Besides the score, there isn't anything football related that it displays.
Next season's State Bowl Games are scheduled to be held December 17 and 18, 2010 with "Selection Sunday," if you will scheduled to take place December 12, 2010.
RH