PIERRE – Monday the South Dakota High School Activities Association board of directors got a look at the provisions that will go into a contract with South Dakota State University to host next season’s football championship games.

Previously the board determined that work being done at the DakotaDome at the University of South Dakota, where the championship games are usually held, would limit the seats available for high school football’s biggest games. 

SDHSAA has leased the DakotaDome through 2026. USD has agreed to an acknowledgement of its inability to host the championships in 2019. For that year, the $50,000 rental fee would be waived.

A preliminary proposed agreement with SDSU calls for four games on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Three games are set on Friday, Nov. 15, at 1:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. SDSU has a home football game scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16. 

The facility rental fee will be $6,000 per day. SDSU will provide ticket sellers/takers, ushers, parking attendants, team hosts, locker room attendants, clean-up crew, grounds crew and custodial workers. 

SDHSAA will be responsible for paying for two university police department officers per game, medical staff including an ambulance, a lead stats person, lead ticket person, scoreboard operator, a public address announcer, a play clock operator and a lead facility manager.

SDSU will collect a $5 parking fee in lots close to the stadium. Free parking will be available in lots farther from the stadium.

SDHSAA Board Chairman Brian Maher of Sioux Falls said while weather may be a factor for games played outside, he was confident that it would not be too costly for the association, noting the difference between the USD lease and the agreement with SDSU.

Even if the association’s expenses are $20,000, Maher said, “We’ve got $30,000 to mitigate any loss. What I can’t mitigate is the student experience.”

The board will act on a contract with SDSU at its next meeting in June.