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Gateway High School may be permanent host for Kickoff Classic.
Kevin Gorman can be reached via e-mail or 412-320-7812.
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Now, they are interested in holding it here on an annual basis.
"It's something we'd like to explore," said event co-director Gordon Blain, the Lancaster-based publisher of PASportsFever magazine and Web site. "We've taken a liking to the football community in the WPIAL. It's a breath of fresh air.
"People embrace high school football in Western Pennsylvania."
The inaugural kickoff classic, a tripleheader at Gateway on Sept. 4, will feature North Hills against Bethlehem Catholic, Pittsburgh Central Catholic vs. St. Joseph's Prep and Gateway vs. Woodland Hills. All three games will be televised live on Fox Sports Net.
The event is drawing national attention as the Sporting News/Student Sports magazine has Central No. 6 and Philadelphia-based St. Joe's Prep No. 16 in its preseason national high school football rankings.
WPIAL football teams start the season Aug. 27, but the rest of the state doesn't begin until the next week.
Blain and partner Jed Donohue have had preliminary talks with Gateway about holding the kickoff classic there over Labor Day weekend in years to come. The school district has made $2 million in renovations to its stadium, installing a new turf field, locker rooms and a state-of-the-art press box.
Gateway athletic director and football coach Terry Smith said the school is interested in hosting the event again. First, however, Gateway must overcome a scheduling snafu. WPIAL football schedules are made on a two-year cycle, and Gateway will play at Woodland Hills next fall.
"We need to sit down with (WPIAL executive director) Larry Hanley and see if he's willing to work with us in scheduling," Blain said. "We'd like to keep it at Gateway."
Getting tickets to the Kickoff Classic shouldn't be a problem. Gateway makes its football tickets available online through its Web site www.gatewaygators.com.
The school has formed a partnership with Amixa -- a company run by Gateway graduate Shane Rolin -- which developed and operates Gateway's website. Visitors to the site can purchase single-game or season-ticket packages using a credit card after viewing a reserved seating chart.
"It's made it a whole lot more convenient for our fans," Smith said. "For the Kickoff Classic, people can buy their tickets online and get free shipping. Once we put it online, we've seen ticket sales every day."
