Texas H.S. opening $60M football field of dreams

While the district did not have estimates, Carroll said he expects the stadium to be competitive in hosting high school playoff games and other events. The school has also sold six sponsorships for about $35,000 a year, he said.

The new stadium revives an old argument in Texas about whether communities and their schools have their priorities straight.

In 1982, when the West Texas city of Odessa built a 19,000-seat stadium for a then-unheard-of $5.6 million, it drew scorn from some people who questioned the district's priorities. Odessa would be featured a few years later in the book "Friday Night Lights," a national best-seller that inspired a movie and a TV series.

Ross Perot, the billionaire businessman and former presidential candidate, repeatedly took aim at his home state's football culture as he pushed the state to shed extracurricular activities and increase accountability measures.

"Do we want our kids to win on Friday night on the football field or do we want them to win all through their lives?" Perot said in a 1988 Washington Post column. "That's what we have to start asking ourselves."

Today, neighboring Plano High School's stadium seats more than 14,000 people. Mesquite, about 30 miles away from Allen, has a 20,000-seat stadium. And the Berry Center, a suburban Houston facility with a stadium, an arena and theater, opened in 2006 and cost about $84 million.

"In a couple of years, someone's going to do something that's bigger and bigger," said Robert McSpadden, who runs the high school football site TexasBob.com.

Officials in Allen reject the premise that they're focusing on sports over academics. The bonds approved three years ago also funded a new performing arts center, and Carroll said extra revenue from stadium operations will go into the district general fund. Allen's student test scores are also largely stellar.

But for now, Eagle Stadium is gaining wide notoriety. The No. 8-ranked Eagles' Friday game against Southlake Carroll, which won a state championship last year and is ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press' Class 5A preseason poll this season, sold out in just over a day. More than 2,000 people are expected to watch from standing-room areas.

Bishop's son Zack, a linebacker, said he and his teammates already noticed differences: a more spacious weight room, a softer playing field.

"It's going to be really incredible to step out in front of a full house and a sold-out game," he said.

Chris Wallace, whose oldest son is a senior quarterback, said she had to reassure him when they visited smaller colleges over the summer with older facilities.

"In his mind, this is it," she said. "He can't even believe it's here already."

And there's always room for growth.

Fred Montes, one of the architects of what he called "an incredible project," said the district's master plan left open the possibility for more construction, if needed.

"The end zone that has seats currently can be expanded," he said. "And on the visitors' side, you can always put a deck."

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[Sharonmesa]

According to the Texas Legislative Report 2012, Texas ranks 45th in the nation in per pupil spending on education and its teachers rank 42nd in salary. Seems like some of this money would have been better spent to improve those numbers. I am sure Texas has many school districts that are not as affluent as this one but as many reports indicate nothing in American education is equal so while one district can build stadiums others are struggling with basic supplies, its the American way today only think about yourself. Vote for Romney!! That is his stock in trade.

[LiveInAllen]

U.S. News and World Report ranked Allen High School in the top 5% of schools in Texas and nationwide. 85% of the graduates go to college. Texas has a "Robin Hood" law that diverts money from wealthy districts to poorer districts. The stadium and other improvements were paid for with a $119 million bond that was approved by 2/3 of the voters. Money derived from the sale of municipal bonds can only be used for the stated purpose. The fact that we rank in the top 5% nationwide indicates that throwing money at schools doesn't improve results. We take care of our kids. Great schools, great learning environment, great results. I'll never understand the idea that the hard work of successful people should be redistributed to those that don't work as hard (or at all). We're "affluent" because we work hard. Not because someone gave it to us.

[hoosierconscience]

Scorpio,

I personally could care less what the people in this district spend their money on. That is certainly their choice. I'm not sure why you are so defensive. You must be a product of this school district. If that is case, you are Exhibit A on why this money could have been put to better use. Congratulations.

[intonews]

If they have that much excess money in their coufers then good for them as long as they haven't layed off teachers and cut any other programs.

[myopinionpal]

Everything is big in Texas, now a high school football stadium has made the everything is big in Texas list.

[formerlyluvnut]

Unbelievable.

[davidcoincon]

It's Texas. No big surprise here.

[kthor123]

and this ladies and gentlemen is what's wrong with America today! School Admin, Local Politicians with so much power that they spend TAXPAYERS money at will ... with no hopes of fully returning the money on that Taxpayers money over its lifetime .. suckers !!!

[ScorpioJax66]

The taxpayers overwhelming voted for it and with the amount of wealth and high academic standards the district has, I am sure they knew exactly what they were paying for. I guess they would rather their kids benefit from their wealth than kids of a loser like you. They are happily enjoying their new stadium and you are a bitter person trolling the internet and leaving comments on articles you do not seem to have the reading comprehension to understand.

[BruntLIVE2]

You know a tornado is coming, Karma will not stand for this. Rebuild? Karma will return, just hope it's 3am.

[ScorpioJax66]

If Karma was real, a tornado or bus would have gotten to your momma before she bred.

[cab_351]

it must be one of the republican earmarks hidden in a bill,probably in obama care,,,and if they repeal obama care,,they need to get all the earmark money back with intrest

[john92021]

seeing not a single republican voted for obama care I doubt they got any earmarks on it. Also this was not federal money but school taxes so it doesn't really affect any of use unless we live in the district, it's just an ostentatious display of wealth.

[skeezix06]

More like obscene display of wealth.

[bobnjersey]

[Call it the palace of high school football: A gleaming $60 million facility with seats for 18,000 roaring fans, a 38-foot-wide high-definition video screen, corporate sponsors and a towering upper deck.]
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is this another republican example of 'we built that' ... by basically building a nicety w/ a public bond issue ... aka 'debt'?

i didn't see this highlighted at the tampa convention ... or on fox news yet.

[Unsilent_Majority]

You don't have a problem with debt do you? after all, you're an Obama man. He was able to add more debt in his first 3+ years than W's full 8 year run.

[bobnjersey]

[You don't have a problem with debt do you? after all, you're an Obama man. He was able to add more debt in his first 3+ years than W's full 8 year run.]
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i'm confused ... it debt good or bad?

or does it depend on who's creating it?

if you create it it's good ... if the other guy creates it it's bad?

if we don't actually build it ourselves we don't talk about it ... but if you say we didn't build it we exaggerate it ... and chant it as a mantra?

why do you suppose their's such incongruence w/ your belief?