More than 100,000 Bay Area residents and visitors from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff of the 2019 College Football Playoff  (CFP) National Championship. At a news conference today at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, plans were revealed for a Championship Campus experience that will transform the region into a four-day celebration of college football.

“Championship Campus is the name of the area that encompasses the many public events during the weekend prior to the national championship,” said CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock. “Yes, the national champion will be crowned Monday night.  But the weekend will be much more—it will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to sample what college football is all about. With the help of the Bay Area Host Committee, we have developed a fan-friendly, walkable campus that thousands will enjoy come January.”

“When we talk about bringing mega events to the Bay Area, the College Football Playoff National Championship ticks all the boxes; it’s more than a football game,” said Bay Area Host Committee Executive Director Patricia Ernstrom. “The entire Bay Area will feel the effect of this event, as well as the huge impact that will be made in the region’s classrooms via the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers Program. The Championship weekend’s events will allow us to shine a spotlight on Silicon Valley to a national audience in a way that few events can.”

The 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship will kick off in 271 days – Monday, January 7 – but the celebration will get started Friday, January 4, with the opening of Playoff Fan Central at the San Jose Convention Center. The 200,000 square foot interactive event will feature youth clinics, appearances by some of the sport’s greatest legends, pep rallies, marching band performances and hands-on experiences allowing fans of all ages to test their skills.

Also beginning Friday, January 4, San Jose’s Discovery Meadow will be home to one of the country’s largest annual traveling music festivals – AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! Each year, the free, star-studded event attracts some of music’s top acts. Past acts include The Chainsmokers, Jason Derulo, Darius Rucker, Usher, Flo Rida, the Shadowboxers, Claire Dunn, John Mellencamp, Ciara, WALK THE MOON, The Band Perry, Sting and Lenny Kravitz. This year’s talent will be announced in November.

On Saturday, January 5, fans will be invited to Media Day at the SAP Center. A free event, Media Day will provide fans the unique opportunity to watch and listen as members of the national media conduct interviews with coaches and student-athletes from the two participating teams.

The College Football Playoff Foundation – and its Extra Yard for Teachers platform – will put Bay Area teachers in the spotlight all weekend with a series of events aimed at honoring and empowering educators across the country, kindergarten through 12^th grade. The Extra Yard for Teachers Summit (Saturday, January 5 and Sunday, January 6, at the San Jose Convention Center) will feature a series of activities meant to uplift and inspire our classroom leaders via TED-like talks, informational sessions and some good old-fashioned VIP pampering. More information on how to register to attend the free event will be available in the fall.

On Sunday morning, January 6, the spotlight will continue to be on educators at the Extra Yard 5K, which will wind its way through the streets of downtown San Jose. Sunday evening, The Taste of the Championship, an exclusive event featuring some of the top chefs from across the Bay Area and the nation, will serve up a foodie’s delight at the Tech Museum of Innovation. Proceeds from the 5K and Taste of the Championship support Extra Yard for Teachers. More information, including how to register and buy tickets, will be made available in the fall.

On game day, Monday, January 7, the focus will shift from downtown San Jose to Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara. Prior to kickoff, Championship Tailgate, the ultimate game day experience, will be staged adjacent to the stadium. Fans will be encouraged to arrive early and enjoy tasty food and activities ranging from ziplining to a superstar concert.  

For more information on the College Football Playoff and the 2019 national championship game, visit www.collegefootballplayoff.com. To learn more about supporting local efforts and the Bay Area Host Committee, visit www.BayArea2019.com.

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