Football state championship to be decided at historic Hughes Stadium in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – When Southern California Football Association champion Fullerton College and Northern California Football Conference champion College of San Mateo battle for the California Community College Athletic Association Championship on Dec. 9, they’ll do so at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, one of the most historic venues in California that has hosted a variety of notable events.

For the first time in the game’s history, the matchup pitting the regional champions will take place at Hughes Stadium – located at Sacramento City College – which has hosted everything from the Oakland Raiders’ first franchise victory in 1960 to concerts by Pink Floyd to Olympic qualifying track and field meets.

Hughes Stadium opened its doors nearly 90 years ago in 1928 and continues to host large-scale high school football games as well as serve as home to Sacramento City’s football team. This year’s California Community College Athletic Association game will add another marker for the 20,311-seat facility.

“Hughes Stadium gives us the opportunity to not only showcase our state championship to the local region but gives the area the chance to showcase itself to the participating teams and their fans who come for the game,” said Carlyle Carter, Executive Director/President of the CCCAA.

Top-ranked and defending state champion Fullerton College (12-0) will take on College of San Mateo (11-1), which is looking for its first state banner. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. with a live online broadcast (www.cccaasports.org) produced by SoCal College Sports.

The CCCAA Championship has traditionally rotated between the north and the south and been hosted by one of the competing teams. This year’s neutral-site matchup provides fans from both teams the chance to explore the surrounding Sacramento area while also relieving the host school of the burden of many of the logistics involved with the CCCAA’s highest-profile event.

“By partnering with Sacramento City College and the Sacramento City Sports Commission, our goal is to allow the teams to focus on the game as much as possible,” said Carter.

Hughes Stadium completed a renovation in 2012 which included installation of artificial grass, a new track and refurbishing of the pressbox. The stadium has maintained its historic cinder block structure, bringing back memories of events such as the former Triple-A baseball team the Sacramento Solons, the 1978 WBA Welterweight title fight between Pete Ranzany and Jose Cuevas, and more recently, the Sacramento Republic FC professional soccer team.

It also famously hosted the “Night of Speed” during the 1968 USA AAU Outdoor Track and Field Championships when Ronnie Ray Smith, Jim Hines and Charles Greene each broke the world record in the 100-meter dash.

The CCCAA Championship is set to add to the lore of Hughes Stadium. Tickets for the state championship game ($12 general, $8 students, children and seniors) will be sold at the gate.