COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association and Columbus Crew announced a partnership Wednesday that will bring the OHSAA soccer state championships to downtown Columbus.

Lower.com Field, the newly opened home of the Columbus Crew, will host the OHSAA boys and girls state soccer championships for five years, through 2025.

Crew President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko said host the event is important on both community and personal levels.

“As a club that is committed to championing soccer in our community and growing the game we love, we feel privileged to host a tournament that is a staple of Ohio high school sports here at Lower.com Field,” said Bezbatchenko. “Having participated in Ohio high school soccer, hosting the final of this tournament resonates with me on a personal level. Historic Crew Stadium served as the venue for OHSAA state soccer championships for two decades, and we are proud to continue that tradition at our new home, where student-athletes can experience what it’s like to play in a professional, state-of-the-art, world-class venue.”

OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said the chance for Ohio’s high school players to play on the new field is a privilege his organization hoped for.

“We are very thankful for the partnership with the Crew and their commitment to high school soccer in Ohio,” said Ute. “We are so excited for the schools and communities to conclude their season and play for a state championship at this amazing new venue. We watched as it was being built and hoped that we would have a chance to play our state championship games there.”

If Lower.com Field is not available due to a scheduling conflict, the state championship matches will be played at Historic Crew Stadium, which had previously hosted the event since the stadium opened in 1999.

The 2021 girls’ state championship match is played Nov. 12 while the boys’ match is Nov. 13. Ticketing information will be announced at a later date.