For the last two decades, the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic has built an unmatched tradition, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity while showcasing some of the best football talent in the state.

But there is nothing in the definition of the word tradition that precludes it from allowing for some change.

Long a staple of the last Friday night in July, the 20th Lobster Bowl is moving forward a day this year, to Saturday, July 25.

Organizers made the change in order to draw more fans and raise more money for the 22 Shrine Hospitals for Children across North America. Recent attendance figures have hovered around 4,000.

“We are hoping for even larger attendance,” said Tim Luttrell, general chairman of the Lobster Bowl.

The kickoff time has also been moved, to 4 p.m., to be more accommodating to players, fans and families who travel to Biddeford’s Waterhouse Field from great distances.

“We ask a lot of the participants and their families from all over the state,” Luttrell said. “Some people have many hours to travel to see their student-athlete participate.”

“We will see. So far everyone is very excited about the change,” he said.

Fundraising for the game is nearly a four-month task for each of the roughly 160 players and cheerleaders who participate in the event. Invitations were mailed out to participants, all of them high school seniors, in February. Everyone will gather on Sunday, April 5 at the Kora Shrine in Lewiston for a mandatory team meeting outlining fundraising responsibilities and providing participants with a little inspiration, usually delivered by a guest speaker whose life was changed by the Shrine Hospital.

Training camp will begin on July 19, with players reporting to Hebron Academy and cheerleaders gathering at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. On July 18, the 4th Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Golf Classic will tee off at Turner Highlands Country Club in Turner.

As for the game itself, the West leads the all-time series, 15-4, after snapping a modest two-game losing streak last year with a 24-6 victory. Among those leading the East’s hopes to regain bragging rights this year are Edward Little’s Cody Goddard, Grady Burns and Sean Daigle, Leavitt’s Doug Nash and Tyler Green, Lewiston’s Wesley Myers, Mt. Blue’s Chris Reynolds, Oak Hill’s Drew Jannelle, and Oxford Hills’ Josh Desrosier.

The West roster includes Aaron Fenstermacher of Dirigo, Preston Jones of Fryeburg, Nick Audet of Gray-New Gloucester, Zach Lacroix of Jay, Nathan Blackwell of Lisbon, Zach Brochu of Livermore Falls, Justin Staires and Matt Laubauskas of Mountain Valley, and Jake Steele and Kevin Hart of Winthrop.

Head coaches this year are Dan O’Connell of John Bapst and Dean Plante of Old Orchard Beach.

Cheerleader rosters have not yet been finalized.