COLUMBUS – The high school football state championships will remain in Ohio Stadium in Columbus for an additional year, through 2016, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday jointly with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

The announcement comes as details are being finalized for the 2015 state championships, which include a public all-session ticket sale date of Monday, Aug. 17 for the seven state championship games (see details below).

The Sports Commission and the Ohio State Athletics Department were awarded a contract to host the football championships in 2014 and 2015, with the OHSAA intending to move the finals in 2016 back to Stark County, which hosted the championships for 24 years (1990-2013). However, the massive renovations under way in Canton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, formerly Fawcett Stadium, are not expected to be completed until 2017.

Beyond 2016, details are being discussed as to which venues will host the football state championship games and in which years.

The 2015 state championships in Ohio Stadium will be played December 3, 4 and 5. Additional high school football information is posted at: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/default.asp

All-session tickets for the 2015 state finals include two options. An all-session ticket at the club level, which includes access to the indoor club area before and between all seven games, is $105. A reserved seating ticket is $84. Public tickets will be available at Ticketmaster.com starting Aug. 17. Single session tickets will be available for purchase in November.

(Story provided by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.)