DeKALB – DeKalb business owners are optimistic that they’ll see a big economic boost when the state high school football finals start taking place alternating years at Northern Illinois University.

The Illinois High School Association announced June 11 that NIU will be host to football finals alternating years, starting in 2013.

Debbie Armstrong, executive director of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the football finals are expected to draw about 32,000 visitors to the area during the last weekend in November next year.