Confirmation on Salem hosting C1-4 football championships

[mikesalem]

Confirmation on Salem hosting C1-4 for football championships

VHSL Football State Championships

SEMIFINALS | December 6, 2026, at local sites (I assume this is meant to be 12/5?)

CLASS 3/4 FINALS | December 11, 2026, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 1/2 FINALS | December 12, 2026, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | December 12, 2026, at James Madison University

Times haven't been determined yet.

 

[CrushBlock]

Exciting for roanoke county football fans.

 

[numb3rs2]

A chance for Salem to achieve what eluded them in 1991 but definitely a long shot this year.

 

[Hales Bottom]

Confirmation on Salem hosting C1-4 for football championships

VHSL Football State Championships

SEMIFINALS | December 6, 2026, at local sites (I assume this is meant to be 12/5?)

CLASS 3/4 FINALS | December 11, 2026, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 1/2 FINALS | December 12, 2026, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | December 12, 2026, at James Madison University

Times haven't been determined yet.

Good news and now official. This was coming from a mile away. Don't be shocked (5 and 6) if you are also in Salem by 2028. That was the discussion back in Dec to see how 4 classes work out in Salem for 2 years and if it's smooth, the talk about 5 and 6 coming there may be a real thing. Hard to say.

 

[SFUWO 21]

Good news and now official. This was coming from a mile away. Don't be shocked (5 and 6) if you are also in Salem by 2028. That was the discussion back in Dec to see how 4 classes work out in Salem for 2 years and if it's smooth, the talk about 5 and 6 coming there may be a real thing. Hard to say.

I'm really confident that that is the plan. No need to play in large stadiums that appears empty with 10,000 or less people in them. This would also place all the championships at one location so we can watch all of them. The atmosphere has been great with C1 and C2 championship games every yr. It can only get better with the larger classifications.

 

[edwinanderson2nd]

I'm really confident that that is the plan. No need to play in large stadiums that appears empty with 10,000 or less people in them. This would also place all the championships at one location so we can watch all of them. The atmosphere has been great with C1 and C2 championship games every yr. It can only get better with the larger classifications.

Well a lot people in central part of VA aren’t very happy about this change. Making fans have to drive 3+ hrs to watch their team isn’t gonna have the outcome I think VHSL is looking for.

 

[Lorkie12]

Well a lot people in central part of VA aren’t very happy about this change. Making fans have to drive 3+ hrs to watch their team isn’t gonna have the outcome I think VHSL is looking for.

Same with two NOVA teams playing for a class 6A championship at ODU. On top of that, NOVA has essentially gotten screwed every year with the “being too far” logic. The argument works both ways. Your not going to please everyone

 

[mikesalem]

Same with two NOVA teams playing for a class 6A championship at ODU. On top of that, NOVA has essentially gotten screwed every year with the “being too far” logic. The argument works both ways. Your not going to please everyone

It happens once a year for 12 teams. In the overall scheme of things it's really not a huge encumbrance. The best teams were going to win regardless.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Same with two NOVA teams playing for a class 6A championship at ODU. On top of that, NOVA has essentially gotten screwed every year with the “being too far” logic. The argument works both ways. Your not going to please everyone

I believe the true diehards will travel without question but you're not going to get the casual, curious fans.

I remember talking to Loren Johnson (head coach at Highland Springs) who recalled going to the Division 6 State Final at City Stadium in Richmond back in 1999 b/w CD Hylton & Varina. If the games are held more centrally located or in areas more populous I think you have a better chance of snagging more casual fans who just want to see a game no matter who is playing. You're not gonna get casual fans driving 3 hours away.

 

[Lorkie12]

I believe the true diehards will travel without question but you're not going to get the casual, curious fans.

I remember talking to Loren Johnson (head coach at Highland Springs) who recalled going to the Division 6 State Final at City Stadium in Richmond back in 1999 b/w CD Hylton & Varina. If the games are held more centrally located or in areas more populous I think you have a better chance of snagging more casual fans who just want to see a game no matter who is playing. You're not gonna get casual fans driving 3 hours away.

I agree with that to an extent. However, one could make the argument that looking at VA football as a whole compared to other states isn’t really that big or popular to cater to a casual fan so regardless it will be more alumni/ student/ parents or as you said diehards outweighing the casual more often than not. I will say for class 4, 5&6A, Richmond would be an ideal location. Close to an even drive between Hampton roads and Fairfax area. If I wanted to be right, I’d say have it at ODU ( 1. I went to Oscar smith so it’s close and 2. I saw a historically good Freedom team win 6A basically in my own backyard since it’s close lol) but to get it right I would say Richmond is indeed the best option for everyone as a whole.

 

[CrushBlock]

Roanoke valley has a lot of fans that come out from what I’ve seen. Not a reason to have it there. But does fill out stadiums a little more unless it’s crazy cold like 2024.

 

[SFUWO 21]

Well a lot people in central part of VA aren’t very happy about this change. Making fans have to drive 3+ hrs to watch their team isn’t gonna have the outcome I think VHSL is looking for.

So you won't drive 3 hrs to watch your team play for a state championship but a lot of parents drive 3+ hr for travel ball. Yep makes since. Salem traveled to W&M 2 yrs in a row and then all the way to Lake Taylor. We still went with no problem

 

[SFUWO 21]

I believe the true diehards will travel without question but you're not going to get the casual, curious fans.

I remember talking to Loren Johnson (head coach at Highland Springs) who recalled going to the Division 6 State Final at City Stadium in Richmond back in 1999 b/w CD Hylton & Varina. If the games are held more centrally located or in areas more populous I think you have a better chance of snagging more casual fans who just want to see a game no matter who is playing. You're not gonna get casual fans driving 3 hours away.

I can almost guarantee the casual fans will show up at Salem for C5 and C6. The stadium will be full for all games

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

I can almost guarantee the casual fans will show up at Salem for C5 and C6. The stadium will be full for all games

Would love for them to do Friday for C1, C2, C3 at Noon, 3:45, 7:30 and Saturday for C4, C5, C6 at Noon, 3:45, 7:30. And then alternate years with the lower classes being on Saturday and the higher classes being on Friday.

Charge $20 a day per ticket, go in and out as much as you want, and enjoy the games. Allow chair backs and even lawn/folding chairs for those who want to sit along the hill. They aren't bright enough to realize that they would have some people that would do this.

Fans should even be allowed to bring their own food and drinks and it can be just a big celebration of football.

The VHSL is just too stuffy and get in their own way. They could and should make their marquee event an attraction. Meanwhile, they come off as just doing the bare minimum.

 

[longtimerhsfan25]

I am just now catching up to this news. Salem has always been convenient for me personally for the Class 1 and 2 finals,. And I guess I have no opinion one way or another on Class 3 and 4. But if they ever move Classes 5 and 6 there, I have to say that would seem illogical, for the simple reason that 90% of the teams in those classifications are either Richmond and points east or up in the NoVA area. So it would make more sense to hold those two games somewhere in those areas.

 

[SFUWO 21]

I am just now catching up to this news. Salem has always been convenient for me personally for the Class 1 and 2 finals,. And I guess I have no opinion one way or another on Class 3 and 4. But if they ever move Classes 5 and 6 there, I have to say that would seem illogical, for the simple reason that 90% of the teams in those classifications are either Richmond and points east or up in the NoVA area. So it would make more sense to hold those two games somewhere in those areas.

I agree with the travel issues for teams East of Richmond. NOVA teams have been coming to Salem for several yrs now.
Oscar Smith would be effected the most because they are always in the mix.
Teams like Highland Springs don't have to travel far to Salem. No different than teams in the Roanoke Valley traveling to Richmond.
I used the example of 3 title games Salem played. Two of them were at W&M and another one at Lake Taylor. Yes they were long drives but then again it was for a state title.
Only a select few teams would be coming every yr. Other teams would be once a decade.
They casual fans would be effected because they will not travel. Then again the casual fans in western VA will.

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

I agree with the travel issues for teams East of Richmond. NOVA teams have been coming to Salem for several yrs now.
Oscar Smith would be effected the most because they are always in the mix.
Teams like Highland Springs don't have to travel far to Salem. No different than teams in the Roanoke Valley traveling to Richmond.
I used the example of 3 title games Salem played. Two of them were at W&M and another one at Lake Taylor. Yes they were long drives but then again it was for a state title.
Only a select few teams would be coming every yr. Other teams would be once a decade.
They casual fans would be effected because they will not travel. Then again the casual fans in western VA will.

If people love the sport enough, they will do what it takes to come to games. Unfortunately, there is a lot of agnosticism around the state when it comes to a lot of things. Like a shoulder shrug and “Who cares?” attitude.

We’ve even seen it on this board even going back to the prior incarnation of it where people were complaining at driving even under an hour for a district game and couple of hours for a regional game.

And yet, this is supposed to be the place for diehards.

 

[Lorkie12]

If people love the sport enough, they will do what it takes to come to games. Unfortunately, there is a lot of agnosticism around the state when it comes to a lot of things. Like a shoulder shrug and “Who cares?” attitude.

We’ve even seen it on this board even going back to the prior incarnation of it where people were complaining at driving even under an hour for a district game and couple of hours for a regional game.

And yet, this is supposed to be the place for diehards.

To go a cut deeper on your point, when they had the old classifications A,AA,AAA (the best teams had to actually play each other in the playoffs there weren’t as many complaints about travel because the best teams in each region of the state had to play each other. Now 2-8 teams traveling 2 hrs to play a regional game to get their heads kicked in. So essentially back then it was more competition and cut down on travel. Now, less merit, more chaos

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

To go a cut deeper on your point, when they had the old classifications A,AA,AAA (the best teams had to actually play each other in the playoffs there weren’t as many complaints about travel because the best teams in each region of the state had to play each other. Now 2-8 teams traveling 2 hrs to play a regional game to get their heads kicked in. So essentially back then it was more competition and cut down on travel. Now, less merit, more chaos

And it just sucks to see some of those teams have nine fans in the stands at a playoff game. I remember growing up and when there was a playoff game, that was must see and must attend. Now, it's no longer treated as the case.