Central To Move Western Football Rivalry Game To Detroit

The battle for the Victory Cannon will take place at an off campus site for the first time ever, as CMU say they will move their home game to Detroit's Ford Field this season.

The Central Michigan Life is reporting that the Central Michigan Chippewas football team will move the storied rivalry game with Western Michiganthis season  to Detroit's Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.

Details have yet to be released, however a press conference outlining the plan is scheduled for Ford Field this afternoon (February 26) at 3:00pm. Attending will be CMU head coach Jim McIlwain and athletic director Michael Alford. Also in attendance will be Detroit Lions president Rod Wood.

CMU is giving up home field advantage to play the game at a neutral site, but I would imagine the idea is get get more exposure for both mid-major schools by playing in the Detroit metro where both schools recruit heavily and have huge alumni bases.

Central will keep the gate receipts from the game, like they would a normal home game at Kelly Shorts Stadium, according to a tweet from Detroit News sports writer Tony Paul.

The winner of the game is awarded the Victory Cannon, Western currently holds it following last year's 30-15 win. Western also leads the all time series, 50-39-2.

For a while in the '80s, the series was known more for its out of control post game psrtying, which usually resulted in small furniture fires and police action. No word as to where the parties will be following the game, or whose couches will be set on fire.