Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium will no longer host the Super 7 high school football championships.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association made the long-rumored decision official Wednesday.

The AHSAA, in conjunction with the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, has agreed to remove Auburn and Alabama from the Super 7 host rotation.

Jordan-Hare Stadium and Bryant-Denny Stadium have hosted the championships on a rotating basis since 2009. Birmingham’s Protective Stadium was added in 2021, making it a three-site rotation.

The expanded college football playoff, which could have Auburn, Alabama or both hosting games in future years, made the move necessary for the two schools.

“We are grateful to the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, Auburn University and the University of Alabama for joining together to host our Super 7 since the rotation began in 2009,” AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs said. “The experiences and memories provided for our member schools, the teams, their students, and communities has been immeasurable. We understand, however, the conflicts that will be unavoidable in the future based on the expanded CFA playoff structure and format.”

Protective Stadium will host the championships for the second time this December, and Birmingham will continue to be in the host rotation, according to Briggs. He also said the AHSAA will continue to study other rotating options as well. Briggs is retiring in September. Oxford High principal Heath Harmon was named the AHSAA’s sixth full-time executive director last week. He is expected to start in early July.

Mobile is one of the cities that has shown an interest in joining the rotation in the future. South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium currently hosts the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star football game every two years and the North-South All-Star game every year.

“We at the Mobile Sports Authority have made it no secret that we’d consider it to be an honor to host future Super 7 Football Championships,” said Danny Corte, executive director of the Mobile Sports Authority. “That’s just a very special week in our state which creates life-long memories for the young athletes and their families, the coaches, the schools, and their fans. With the solid partnerships we’ve been able to forge with our local public and private entities, we believe that Mobile would prove to be an ideal location for such a prestigious event. With today’s news, I look forward to talking more in detail with the present and future AHSAA leadership about their plans for the Super 7 going forward.”

The current three-team contract, announced by former executive director Steve Savarese in 2019, was set to run through 2032 with Birmingham hosting in 2021, 2024, 2027 and 2030. Birmingham hosted the large-school championship game at Legion Field from 1971-1995 and the Super 6 championships from 1996-2007.

Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said their communities have enjoyed hosting the Super 7 Championships and understand the positive impact the games have had on their cities as well as the lasting experiences and memories that have been afforded the state’s high school student-athletes, their schools and communities at the same time.

“Hosting the Super 7 has been a tremendous honor for the City of Auburn,” Anders said. “The Super 7 serves as a pinnacle moment in the lives of many young students in Alabama. Our city has treated this hosting responsibility with the same level of professionalism that regular visitors to any local athletic event, conference, performance or family gathering have come to expect. Our community has similarly served the teams, families and other Super 7 visitors with a personal investment of time and effort that characterizes the Auburn Spirit.”

Fuller said he hopes the event can return to Jordan-Hare in the future.

“The city of Opelika is honored to have been a part of the Super 7 for many years,” he said in an AHSAA release. “The experiences had by the athletes, band members, students, cheerleaders and fans are priceless. To be under the big lights in a grand stadium is something we will all remember for a lifetime.”

Auburn last hosted the Super 7 in 2022. Alabama hosted the event a year ago.

“The City of Tuscaloosa has proudly hosted many Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 7 State Football Championships since 2009, providing countless athletes, coaches, family members, and fans with an unforgettable football experience,” Maddox said. “Although Tuscaloosa and Auburn will no longer be able to host due to the expansion of the College Football Playoffs, we are grateful for our partnership with AHSAA and look forward to seeing the event thrive across other cities in Alabama.”

Having the games at Jordan-Hare and Bryant-Denny allowed high school athletes and fans to experience traditions that are unique to both schools, including Tiger Walk and the eagle flight at Auburn and the Walk of Champions at Alabama.

The mayors thanked everyone who was involved in their respective communities for making the Super 7 a success when they hosted it.

“The Super 7 exposes our state to the best of Alabama,” Anders said. “Talented youth, dedicated coaches, outstanding administrators, devoted families, and faithful communities … It’s been a great responsibility to host this celebration of all that is great about the State of Alabama. We wish all the best to the future of the Super 7.”

Briggs, who played college football at Auburn, said having two of the nation’s biggest rivals come together and host high school championshps provided student-athletes with the opportunity of a lifetime.

“What we have been able to do with our championships thanks to the cooperation of such rivals has been envied in other states and set a wonderful example for all of us,” he said.