Arizona and Tampa to Host 2016, 2017 College Football Playoff Title Game

We now know the host sites for the first three College Football Playoff National Championship games.

According to the CFB’s official Twitter, the 2016 and 2017 games will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., respectively:

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was announced as the host of the initial championship game back in January.

Three other cities bid on the 2016 game, including Jacksonville, Fla., New Orleans, La., and Tampa. The five others in consideration for the 2017 game were San Francisco, Calif., Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Minn., San Antonio, Texas, and Miami Gardens, Fla.

The CFP will begin its four-team playoff next season.

It all begins when the four participating teams are chosen by the CFP selection committee. Those teams will then play in two semifinal games hosted by the Sugar and Rose Bowls on Jan. 1, 2015.

The two winners will then advance to face off in Arlington for the inaugural CFP National Championship on Jan. 12, 2015.

Along with the Sugar and Rose, the Fiesta, Cotton, Chick-Fil-A and Orange Bowls will rotate hosting the semifinal games.

University of Phoenix Stadium is the current home for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals as well as the host site for the annual Fiesta Bowl. The stadium is no stranger to big games, as it hosted Super Bowl XLII and the 2011 BCS National Championship.

Raymond James Stadium is the current home for both the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA’s South Florida Bulls. Like University of Phoenix Stadium, Raymond James Stadium has hosted its fair share of big games, including Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XLIII.

The exact dates for the 2016 and 2017 CFP National Championship Games are yet to be announced.

Additional information from ESPN.com was used in this report.

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