Dec 22, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of Ford Field before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

When the Big Ten Conference created the Big Ten Football Championship Game following the addition of Nebraska, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was awarded the right to host the first five games. Where the game is played beyond 2015 is to be determined but Detroit is a possibility.

One athletic director to specifically express support for Ford Field as a future host of the Big Ten football championship game was Ohio State’s Gene Smith. In fact, he’s a big fan of what is going on with Ford Field and the surrounding area. Via the Detroit News:

“I love Ford Field,” he said. “I love what Detroit has done with Ford Field and what they’re continuing to do with the area contiguous to that facility.”

Michigan State’s Dan Hollis also voiced support for Detroit as a future host city, along with New York and Chicago which would bring the game outdoors. While Hollis and others are open to an outdoor championship game, Smith and Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez prefer the game stay indoors. Smith’s reasoning is that an indoor facility provides “the total package” for all involved.

Should the conference decide to keep the game indoors, stadium choices within the Big Ten’s current footprint would be limited to Lucas Oil Stadium, Ford Field and the new Vikings stadium in Minneapolis.

Indianpolis is no stranger to big events (Source: YardBarker.com)

College football fans in Detroit have been hoping that Ford Field would be considered to host the Big Ten’s football championship game. While that could happen in the future, Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium have been chosen to host the inaugural game to be played in December 2011. The Big Ten will wrap up the final details of their agreement with the city and facility over the next 30 days.

The commitment to Indianapolis is for 2011 only and the conference will review sites and cities over the next year to determine the course of action for football championship games in 2012 and beyond. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany had this to say:

“We felt at this time it was important to identify a site for the first championship game and then spend more time with other cities and venues with respect to both our basketball tournaments and the football championship games in the future.