NAIA football doubleheader coming to Arrowhead

NAIA football is coming to Arrowhead Stadium.

Four teams from the Heart of America Conference will play a doubleheader at Arrowhead on Oct. 11, the conference and Chiefs announced Tuesday.

MidAmerica Nazarene will meet Missouri Valley at 3 p.m., and Baker will play at Benedictine at 7 p.m.

The event will be known as the NAIA Gridiron Challenge at Arrowhead.

Benedictine, Baker and Missouri Valley finished in a three-way tie for first last season and advanced to the NAIA playoffs with Baker and Missouri Valley reaching the quarterfinals.

The NAIA games are a first for Arrowhead, which has been the site of major Division I games and the annual Division II clash between Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State, although that game won’t be played at Arrowhead this season.

“The Chiefs are providing a major opportunity for student-athletes of the NAIA,” said Heart of America Commissioner Lori Thomas, who called it an “experience of a lifetime,” for the teams.

Tickets for the games became available today for Jackson County residents at 10 a.m., at Arrowhead. On Thursday, Chiefs season ticket holders will get access to tickets at 10 a.m., and they’ll go on sale to the public at noon. Advance general admission tickets are $18 and student tickets are $8. Parking will be $15 for cars and $25 for a RV/bus.

This story was originally published June 24, 2014 at 10:06 AM with the headline "NAIA football doubleheader coming to Arrowhead."