General | August 13, 2025 | 9:07

The Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) today announced the return of girls' flag football to the 20^th Annual Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic (APKC) at Tom Adams Field on the campus of Wayne State University on Thursday, Aug. 28. The Girls' Flag Football Showcase successfully debuted at the 2024 Prep Kickoff Classic, reinforcing DSC's commitment to supporting active play and girls' sports in the region through its Living Legacy Initiative.
 
Launched alongside the 2024 NFL Draft, the Living Legacy Initiative has infused more than $1.5 million into the local community to support the program's two pillars: youth literacy and active play in Detroit, with a focus on girls' sports.
 
The 2025 APKC Girls' Flag Football Showcase is made possible through the generous support of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and will feature girls' high school flag football teams from across the region, including the 2025 Michigan High School Girls Flag Football League State Champions, St. Joseph.  Both games are open to the public and free to attend. The two-game showcase will include the following match-ups:
 
10:00 a.m. – Gibraltar Carlson vs. L'Anse Creuse North
11:05 a.m. – Redford Union vs. St. Joseph
 
"Our approach to youth sports has always been grounded in listening to what kids want, and right now, they want to play flag football," said Kari Pardoe, Senior Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. "There's something incredibly powerful about watching young girls take the field with pride, confidence, and joy. Alongside the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Sports Commission, we're proud to support this growing movement and help inspire the next generation of girls to see themselves in the game."
 
"Over the last year, Girls' flag football has continued to thrive in our region thanks to support from the Detroit Lions and organizations like the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation," said Marty Dobek, Detroit Sports Commission executive director. "The Detroit Sports Commission is proud to once again feature the Girls' Flag Football Showcase in this year's Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic. This event is the perfect platform to showcase and celebrate girls' sports and allows us to continue our focus on promoting active play for girls as part of the Living Legacy Initiative."

This is the first time Amazon will serve as the title sponsor for the Prep Kickoff Classic. Amazon first partnered with the DSC ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft to support the Sport Commission's Community Impact Draft, donating $300,000 in supporting grants to local community organizations through the Amazon Community Fund.
 
Amazon Head of Community Affairs, Ian Conyers, added, "Amazon is proud to champion youth sports and particularly girls' flag football through our title sponsorship of the Prep Kickoff Classic. This showcase represents more than just games – it's about creating opportunities and inspiring the next generation of leaders!"
 
Additional sponsors for the 2025 APKC include Meijer, Dicks Sporting Goods, DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM).
 
Following the girls' flag football games, teams will be invited to stay for a Girls in Sports event from 12:00–3:00 p.m. at WSU Fieldhouse. Designed exclusively for participating teams and their families, the program will highlight the core pillars of physical wellness, mental health, financial literacy, and building connections, and feature a discussion with Amber Clark-Robinson (DB/WR, U.S. National Flag Football Team & Head Coach, University of Saint Mary Women's Flag Football) moderated by Dr. Michele Lewis Watts. Activation sponsors include:

• DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan – Recovery and rehabilitation tips
• W. Buchanan Group – Team wellness & performance strategies
• Love Yourself – Mental health and self-love apparel brand
• USA Football 

2025 marks two decades of the Prep Kickoff Classic serving as Michigan's premier season-opening high school football showcase. First launched in 2005, the APKC has included nearly 100 teams from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio and has become a staple of the state's prep football tradition, delivering an electrifying "bowl game-like" experience for student-athletes, marching bands, cheer squads, and fans.
 
The 2025 Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic will take place over two days leading into Labor Day weekend, featuring four marquee matchups:
 
Thursday, Aug. 28
4 p.m. – Belleville vs. Clarkston
7 p.m. – Lake Orion vs. Northville


Friday, Aug. 29
4 p.m. – Allen Park vs. Trenton
7 p.m. – Detroit Cass Tech vs. Toledo Central Catholic (OH)
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Admission to the girls' flag games on Aug. 28 is free. Tickets to the boys' games at the APKC are $15 and can be purchased at detroitsports.org/pkctickets.  One ticket provides admission for both games that day. Fans will be required to bring their electronic device to activate their ticket at the gate. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit participating schools.
 
ABOUT THE DETROIT SPORTS COMMISSION
The mission of the Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) is to market and sell metro Detroit as a premier destination for regional, national, and international amateur sporting events. The DSC is a not-for-profit charitable organization, IRS 501 (C) (3), and a subsidiary of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB). For more information, visit www.detroitsports.org.
 
ABOUT AMAZON
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
 
ABOUT THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. FOUNDATION
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect the devotion of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the Foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson's desire for the Foundation's impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org.