Most Expensive High School Stadium in the Country Set to Open

[BobKerley]

We do things a little bigger in Texas. I think this is larger than a few D-1 stadiums. It seats 18,000 and includes a 75-foot long high-definition video scoreboard, 42 concession stands and 192 public restrooms.




New $60 million Allen High School stadium one of a kind




WFAA
posted on august 3, 2012 at 6:00 pm

allen - it’s an unprecedented amount of money spent on a high school sports facility.

friday, wfaa took our first look inside the $60 million complex for football and other sports in allen.

they say everything is bigger in texas. walk into the new allen eagle stadium and you understand exactly what they mean. there's nothing like it anywhere in the country. when eagle stadium opens on august 31, it will instantly become the nation's largest and most expensive high school football stadium.

at first glance, it's hard to believe it's a high school stadium. it holds 18,000, 4,000 more than district's old stadium.

"Eighteen-thousand seats is definitely something that is unheard of in terms of a high school stadium," said Christian Herr, who works with the architectural firm that designed the stadium.

Even though a single game has yet to be played at Eagle Stadium, its size and price tag are making national headlines. College recruiters who visit Allen are also in awe.

"During the recruiting season, there were a lot of colleges coming in here," said Allen Coach Tom Westerberg. "Coaches were taking pictures and bringing them back."

So, what about that exorbitant price tag? Allen voters approved bonds in 2009 to build the stadium.

"As far as the price tag, the citizens of Allen approved that," said Steve Williams, Allen ISD athletic director. "And so, it was something they felt like they needed and something they voted for."

Allen will play only six regular season games at the stadium this year. But, district officials emphasize the athletic complex will be used every day, all year round. Among the amenities are a vast weight room, an area for the three-time state wrestling champs and an indoor golf practice area.

"If they didn't want it, they could have voted it down," Westerberg said. "And they didn't."

Some other features of Eagle Stadium include a 75-foot long high-definition video scoreboard, 42 concession stands and 192 public restrooms.

The first game will pit Allen against nemesis Southlake Carroll on August 31.


More Allen stadium pics:






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[BobKerley]

The writer didnt do his research. As of 2010...

10 Largest High School Football Stadiums
By: Alya Khalid Break Studios Contributing Writer

Wondering where the 10 largest high school football stadiums are located? Since American football is one of the most popular high school sports, administrators are trying to make larger and better facilities to accommodate their fans. Here are the 10 largest high school football stadiums.

1. Alamo stadium. This is the largest high school football stadium with the seating arrangement for 23,000 people. This stadium situated in San Antonio, Texas is a home ground for a lot of high schools like Jefferson high school, Sam Houston high school, Burbank high school.
2. Fawcett Stadium in Ohio. A stadium with seating capacity of 22,375 people is the one of the largest high school football stadiums.
3. Memorial stadium in Mesquite, Texas. This is located on the campus of West Mesquite high school. It has a capacity of around 20,000 people.
4. Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas. It is a home field for two public high schools, Odessa and Permian high school. It has a capacity of 19,302 people.
5. Eagle Stadium in Allen, Texas. This is the newest and most popular stadium of the state. It has a seating capacity of 18,000 people. The home school of this stadium is Allen high school (Allen, Texas).
6. San Angelo stadium in Texas. This is the fourth largest high school football stadium in Texas. It can hold 17,500 people in a game.
7. Stallworth Stadium in Texas. This stadium is a home field for two high schools in Baytown, Texas. It has a capacity of 16,500 people.
8. Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, Ohio. This is one of the largest high school football stadiums. It has a seating capacity of 16,392. The home school of this stadium is Washington High School.
9. Stadium Bowl, Tacoma, Washington. This is one of the oldest and biggest arenas of football. It has a seating capacity of 15,000 people.
10. Bazemore and Hyder stadium in Valdosta, Georgia. It is one of the largest high school football stadiums. It has the seating capacity of 10,349 people and is going under renovations to increase the capacity to 11,249 seats

I believe that FC Dallas Stadium seats over 20,000 and is partially owned by the Frisco ISD (though it's not a home stadium for any other programs). I think the WFAA report meant (or should have said) the largest stadium for one single high school. But even that list you posted is wrong. Shotwell Stadium in Abilene seats a little over 15,000 (20,000 including the grass berms). Maverick Stadium in Arlington (owned by UT-Arlington bu the home stadium for Arlington High and Arlington Grace Prep) seats 15,000. Dick Bivens Stadium in Amarillo seats 15,000. Grande Communications Stadium in Midland seats 15,000 (18,000 with the grass berm). Mesquite Memorial Stadium seats 20,000 but has no one single team that calls i home and instead is used by the 5 Mesguite ISD high schools. Tully Stadium in Spring Branch seats 15,000. I could go on. There's at least a dozen stadiums with capacities of 15,000+ in the state.
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[BobKerley]

I remember 10 years ago when the Midland ISD opened Grande Communications Stadium. It cost just under $30 million and that included a minor league baseball stadium next door. There was nothing like that stadium at the time...





Now, it's probably not even top 10.


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[BobKerley]

Some Allen Stadium pics that were posted to the Dallas Morning News website...









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[BobKerley]

Just for comparison sake, the University of North Texas opened their new 30,000 seat stadium last year, built for $78 million...

[CenTexDave]

Yes, Bob, but consider:
The AlamoDome is home to many high schools, not just one. Itis owned by the city, not any school district.
Fawcett Stadium, Canton, OH, is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. It is also home field for Canton McKinely HS and Canton Timken HS, and two small Div III universities.
Ratliff Stadium in Odessa is home field for Odessa Permian, Odessa and their other high school (forget the name). Same with Midland.
San Angelo Stadium is home to San Angelo Central and San Angelo State University. I don't know if San Angelo's other two high schools play there or not.
Allen is a rich community. If they have it to build it, why not?
Nobody bashed Southlake when Carroll High School built that domed indoor practice facility. Hell, they got their money back by renting it to the Cowboys.

[BobKerley]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Yes, Bob, but consider:
The AlamoDome is home to many high schools, not just one. Itis owned by the city, not any school district.
Fawcett Stadium, Canton, OH, is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. It is also home field for Canton McKinely HS and Canton Timken HS, and two small Div III universities.
Ratliff Stadium in Odessa is home field for Odessa Permian, Odessa and their other high school (forget the name). Same with Midland.
San Angelo Stadium is home to San Angelo Central and San Angelo State University. I don't know if San Angelo's other two high schools play there or not.
Allen is a rich community. If they have it to build it, why not?
Nobody bashed Southlake when Carroll High School built that domed indoor practice facility. Hell, they got their money back by renting it to the Cowboys.

agree with everything... and,yes, most of those large stadiums listed above are shared. I also agree that if you have the money and that is what you want, go for it. I dont think Killeen should build anything, anywhere close to what is listed above but the current KISD stadium is not adequate and parking is terrible. I think the city should consider a large, joint use stadium with good access to 190. As these schools continue to grow in size and quantity, there just isnt anywhere go to with the current facility, IMO.
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[CenTexDave]

Leo Buckley is just fine. There's plenty of parking.
Of course, when Cove plays there I park outside on the street near the visitors' bleachers. We always outnumber the home teams fans about 3 - 1.

[RooDawg]

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agree with everything... and,yes, most of those large stadiums listed above are shared. I also agree that if you have the money and that is what you want, go for it. I dont think Killeen should build anything, anywhere close to what is listed above but the current KISD stadium is not adequate and parking is terrible. I think the city should consider a large, joint use stadium with good access to 190. As these schools continue to grow in size and quantity, there just isnt anywhere go to with the current facility, IMO.
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If you ask KISD, they do have "a large, joint use stadium with good access to 190." That stadium is suppose to be the new fort hood stadium currently being built...oh, by the way, there are only going to be seating on one side of the field.

[CenTexDave]

Enjoy. Too much hassle to get on Fort Hood, with a decal even.