Texas stadium wins bid for NCAA D2 football title game after Sporting KC won’t host

The NCAA Division II football championship game has a new home, and it’s not in Kansas City.

Played at Children’s Mercy Park for the past four years, the game on Dec. 15 will be contested at a high school district stadium in McKinney, Texas, a Dallas suburb.

The game was set for Kansas City again this year, but last month Sporting KC informed the NCAA that it would not be able to host this year because of field renovations that are scheduled after the 2018 Major League Soccer season.

The MIAA, which has been the host for the game in Kansas City, and the Kansas City Sports Commission had hoped to keep the game in the region.

Missouri Western and Central Missouri submitted bids to host at their stadiums.

But it will be played at McKinney ISD Stadium, and the Lone Star Conference will serve as the host. The football-specific stadium built for $70 million seats 12,000.

“Where we landed was a preference for a neutral site venue in an accessible location with 10,000-15,000 seats and outstanding amenities to provide our student-athletes with a truly unique championship experience,” said Division II Football Committee chair Reid Amos.

Northwest Missouri State won the national championship in Kansas City in 2015 and 2016.