For the first time, this year's Washington state high school football championships were held at the University of Washington's Husky Stadium, and by most measures the event went without a hitch.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association had held the championships at the Tacoma Dome until 2018, and after that at three Pierce County high school venues, which was seen as a stopgap until the WIAA could find a larger venue to call home.
After years of work and negotiations, the WIAA landed on a one-year deal with UW, what was effectively a trial period for both the university and the association. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far.
“Everyone needs to send a thank-you letter to UW,” Okanogan coach Erick Judd, whose team was in the championship, told The News Tribune. “This is a great experience being here. It’s just bigger. It just feels bigger than the other facilities.”
WIAA executive director Mick Hoffman and assistant executive director Andy Barnes also heard positive feedback.
“The feedback we’ve gotten from the schools has been super positive,” Barnes told The News Tribune on Saturday. “The staff loves it and it’s a great experience and a great setting for this.”
The experience of playing at the venue is one that many players will never forget.
“I came to my first Huskies game when I was six (years old), said I wanted to play here and finally made it happen,” said Liberty Bell quarterback Lucien Paz, after winning the Class 1B state championship game on Friday.
Holding the games at Husky Stadium was the result of years of work from Barnes, former UW athletic director Jen Cohen, and Dan Erickson, UW associate athletic director for events and facilities.
After an initial bid was deemed too costly, the UW came back with a new bid, around $70,000, which Hoffman said could rise to $80,000 next year if the association decides to stay at Husky Stadium.
“We’re hoping to be able to continue,” Hoffman said. “(Dannen) has got a lot of stuff going on right now. The feedback we’re getting as we’re here has been positive, so we’re hoping it works out for them, as well.
As of Saturday afternoon, prior to the 3 p.m. Class 2A championship game, Hoffman said they had sold around 11,000 tickets. They’re expecting that number to climb with walk-up sales for the 4A championship game, the final game of the weekend. The figures are in line with what the WIAA was expecting and hoping for.
“Our job is to make lifetime memories for kids and a facility like this helps solidify that,” Hoffman said.
