At the beginning of 2024, Houston is again in the national spotlight as it hosts the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 8 at NRG Stadium. Get your tickets for the big game! Looking for an elevated experience? Go PLAYOFF PREMIUM! Welcome to Houston!
Local and out-of-town fans are ready for a lot of action and fun during the entire weekend in Houston. The College Football Playoff (CFP) organized a series of events for all ages; some are free to participate. Downtown Houston will serve as the heart of Championship Campus. View the map and check out what awaits you and your family from January 5 to 8 at this unforgettable event in Houston.
PLAYOFF FAN CENTRAL
January 5-7, 2024
George R. Brown Convention Center
Create memories that last a lifetime at Playoff Fan Central, an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. The three-day, free family-friendly event will include games, clinics, pep rallies, band performances, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history.
AT&T PLAYOFF PLAYLIST LIVE!
January 5-7, 2024
Shell Energy Stadium
AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will bring a weekend of music to Houston, serving as the soundtrack for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. The weekend’s initial needle-drop will take place on the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! stage on Friday, January 5, with performances by the #1 music brand for kids, KIDZ BOP. The music will continue Saturday, January 6, with six-time GRAMMY®-nominated rap superstar Jack Harlow and 2023 BET "Best Female Hip Hop Artist" winner, two-time Grammy nominee Latto and a special performance by "Lil Boo Thang" hitmaker Paul Russell. The final night, Sunday, January 7, will feature ACM and CMA award-winning artist and Grand Ole Opry member Jon Pardi, 10-time chart-topping country superstar Jake Owen, and multi-platinum artist-songwriter, dubbed “Country’s Hottest Rising Star” by PEOPLE magazine Megan Moroney.
Gates for AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will open at 6 p.m. CT each day at Shell Energy Stadium. Fans will need to pre-register for concert tickets on the CFBPlayoff mobile app to receive a concert QR code. Then, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. CT on the day of the concert, fans can show their concert QR code at the George R. Brown Convention Center to receive a wristband, which will serve as their ticket guaranteeing entry into the concerts. For more information, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com/ppl.
*Wristbands are not required for the KIDZ BOP concert on Friday, January 5. Simply register on the CFBPlayoff mobile app and head to Shell Energy Stadium. Entry to this performance will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
TASTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
January 7, 2024
Union Station at Minute Maid Park
Taste of the Championship is a premium dining experience and fundraising event on the eve of the CFP National Championship, offering attendees the opportunity to indulge in gourmet food and drink prepared by chefs local to Houston and the community hosting the 2024 national championship game. This premium event serves as a unique combination of an exploration of local cuisine and a celebration of the teaching profession. All proceeds benefit the CFP Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers platform.
The restaurant lineup for the 2024 edition of Taste of the Championship has been curated by James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd. You are in good hands! Midwest-raised Chef Chris Shepherd has helped change the landscape of the Houston culinary scene since opening Underbelly in 2012. He built the restaurant to support the Houston food community and its suppliers by buying local and drawing inspiration from the people and cultures that live in the city. Thanks to Shepherd’s vision and passion, Underbelly was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, was named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit and Esquire, and was named one of 38 essential restaurants in America by Eater. Shepherd was named one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2013 and was then awarded the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest.
TROPHY TROT
January 7, 2024
Downtown Houston
The Trophy Trot (formerly the Extra Yard 5K) is a family-friendly run/walk hosted in conjunction with the national championship game that offers a chance for locals as well as out-of-town fans to take part in national championship weekend. The 2024 edition of the Trophy Trot will be held beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 7, in the heart of downtown Houston and, for the first time, will feature both the 5K and 10K distances. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a t-shirt and medal, and there will be multiple opportunities for participants to win tickets to the big game on January 8, 2024. All proceeds benefit Extra Yard for Teachers, the College Football Playoff Foundation's primary platform that elevates the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering quality teachers. Register HERE.
ALLSTATE CHAMPIONSHIP TAILGATE
January 8, 2024 - 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
NGR Stadium, Blue Lots 16, 17 and 18
Allstate Championship Tailgate is the gathering place for fans who want to experience extreme tailgating leading up to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Allstate Championship Tailgate is free for all game ticket holders. Fans will enjoy interactive games, sponsor activations, concessions, live ESPN broadcasts and live performances by each team’s marching band and award-winning musical acts. A national championship game ticket is required for entry to Allstate Championship Tailgate. Get your ticket HERE.
Explore MORE THINGS TO DO IN HOUSTON. Check out this Houston Hotel Guide and Hotel Deals in Houston for the best accommodation options. To save on experiences in Houston, visit HOUSTON MARKETPLACE.
Photos and video: Courtesy of College Football Playoff
