College Football Playoff will provide travel assistance for families of athletes
The cost of traveling to Texas for the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship is costly for the families of the student-athletes of Ohio State and Oregon, so the College Football Playoff is doing something about it.
The CFP announced Tuesday that it will “defray the cost of expenses” for parents to travel to the game in Arlington at AT&T Stadium on Jan. 12. This reimbursement, which is subject to NCAA rules, will “cover expenses for hotel accommodations in North Texas and travel reimbursement and meal expenses for a maximum of two parents or legal guardians per athlete.”
The reimbursement will be “capped” at $1,250 per parent or guardian, the CFP said in a release.
“We know how expensive travel can be, so we’re pleased to provide assistance for parents or guardians who want to see their sons play in the first College Football Playoff National Championship,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “It will make the game even more special for the student-athletes to know that their family members are receiving this benefit.”
The CFP announcement comes in conjunction with the NCAA announcement that it will help players’ families travel to the Men’s and Women’s Final Fours in the spring. The NCAA said in a release that the College Football Playoff “may provide up to $3,000 in travel expenses for families of each competing student-athlete.”
According to the NCAA, schools and conferences are also now able to “adopt new rules to provide these family travel expenses on a permanent basis or for other championships.”
“Championship experiences create memories of a lifetime for student-athletes, and we want to make sure their families are there to support and celebrate with them,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
