TC Patriot Game

13th Annual TC Patriot Game Set for October 25th - Tickets on Sale Now

The 13th annual Patriot Game between the TC Central Trojans and TC West Titans  combines a focus to honor Veterans, first responders, active-duty military and area heroes who died while serving our country. Student Senate members from both schools have named Reining Liberty Ranch and Peace Ranch as benefactors from proceeds raised through school t-shirt sales. 

Tickets for the October 25 game are now available at External LinkGoFan.co for $7 each. Tickets will also be available at the gate on game day beginning at 5:30 p.m. for $8 per ticket or $7 on GoFan.co, or via Apple Pay or Google Pay. All Veterans, active duty and first responders receive free entry for the game and can enter Thirlby Field at the 13th Street rolling gate or through the 14th Street main entry. TCAPS highly recommends purchasing tickets in advance at GoFan.co. On game day, there will be separate lines on the 13th and 14th Street entrances for cash, credit card/apple pay, and GoFan.   

This year, Trojan supporters will wear red shirts while Titan fans will wear blue. The minimum shirt donation is $10. Commemorative t-shirts are available for student sales October 14-18 during lunch. 

The public can purchase t-shirts at both schools at specific time periods Monday, October 21 through Friday, October 25. Traverse City West fans can purchase shirts by the school’s main entrance 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. TC Central fans can purchase shirts 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the main entrance atrium and in front of the gymnasium. Any remaining t-shirts will be sold at the game. 

Unfortunately, BATA won’t be able to offer Patriot Game transportation this year due to staffing shortages.

For more information visit www.tcaps.net/tcpatriotgame or contact the TC Central Athletic Office at 231.933.6575.


The TC Patriot Game is bigger than football

Take the biggest cross-town high school football rivalry in northern Michigan, add an event that honors active duty military, Veterans, first responders, and those from northern Michigan who recently died serving their country – and you have a game that attracts over 10,000 enthusiastic fans.

The TC Patriot Game invites active duty military, Veterans and first responders onto the field in a pre-game ceremony that honors their service and sacrifice. The names of those who have been killed in action are solemnly read aloud. 

This game began as a way to teach students and the community that men and women from northern Michigan are making a sacrifice every day to protect the freedoms that we enjoy.

Through the sale of commemorative t-shirts, students help to raise money to support a Veteran organization that works in northern Michigan. Student Senators from both schools (Traverse City Central High School and Traverse City West Senior High School) select one area Veteran group that will receive the proceeds. The groups selected for the 2023 Patriot Game is Veterans for Peace Chapter 50, American Legion Post #35 Bowen-Holliday, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Cherryland Post 2780.

Active duty military, Veterans and first responders can attend the game for free. 

The TC Patriot Game – honoring northern Michigan heroes.

Past Recipients

The annual TC Patriot Game has raised thousands of dollars for area Veterans groups including:

2023 Veterans for Peace Chapter 50, American Legion Post #35 Bowen-Holliday, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Cherryland Post 2780 - $4,765.15

2022 Mid-Michigan Honor Flight - $7,500

2021 Reining Liberty Ranch - $10,760

2020 Celebrate Service  - No Fundraising due to COVID-19

2019 Veterans In Crisis - $24,000

2018 Warrior Sailing - $16,000

2017 22–2-None - $13,000

2016 Veteran To Veteran – $15,000

2015 Dogs in Honor - $10,000

2014 Reining Liberty Ranch - $5,000

2013 Grand Traverse Horses - 4 Heroes at Reining Liberty Ranch $13,000

2012 Operation American Soldier $9,000