High school unveils $60 million stadium
AllenHigh near Dallas christens its new stadium Friday night. (AP Photo)
No, we’re not talking about the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s the Allen (Texas) High School Eagles, which christens the 18,000-seat stadium against defending champion Southlake Carroll.
The stadium also features a multi-level press box, wrestling and weight rooms, a golf practice area and artificial turf.
It’s not the largest high school stadium in Texas, but it is the biggest that houses a single team.
Allen High supporters say the stadium is well worth the money, even in a down economy in which many school systems are struggling to find money to pay teachers.
“There will be kids that come through here that will be able to play on a field that only a few people will ever get the chance to play in,” said Wes Bishop, the father of a player and head of the booster club, told The Associated Press.
Collin County, where Allen High is located, is a suburb of Dallas and one of the most affluent areas of Texas.
Voters approved funding for the stadium in a 2009 bond referendum.
Officials concede they will never recoup the cost of building the stadium but say revenues — including six sponsorships that will bring in $35,000 a year — will cover the cost of operating it.
“Our intention is not to recoup the money it cost to build the stadium,” school district spokesman Tim Carroll told the AP. “It’s not practical to say we’ll get that money back. [But] the revenue we receive from the stadium will far exceed the cost of operating it.”
Carroll has pointed out that the funds for the stadium were part of a larger $219 million bond package and could not have been used for classroom purposes.
“In Texas, funding is completely separate between capital projects and general (education) fund,” he told Rivals.com in a 2010 article. “If we don’t build the stadium, none of that money could go to teachers or classrooms.”
What do you think of spending public funds on such an extravagant high school stadium? Is it money well spent, or another example of misplaced priorities?
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149 comments Add your comment
Devil's Advocate
August 31st, 2012
10:40 am
And if football is so dang popular in Texas, why isn’t it producing enough revenue to raise enough money to justify a single high school building a $60 million stadium without so much tax money? Money talks and BS walks.
It’s like all the Thrashers fans complaining that the team left. If the support dollars matched the support words then they’d still be here.
College programs like Texas and UGA are doing it right. They generate so much revenue that any lavish improvements to their facilities are totally justified. Show me a high school football program that generates enough revenue to justify a $60 million stadium without dipping into taxes.
Rome
August 31st, 2012
10:40 am
It was a Capital Funds project voted on and approved by the local citizens. No money taken from education. I’ve spent time in Texas. High school football is like another religion in Texas.
You would have to see it to believe it!
Kat
August 31st, 2012
10:42 am
How does a vote like that go, “Let’s see, we’ve got $60m to spend on something, anything, having to do with sports, but specifically football…got it! New stadium! Next item of business, please…?
I mean, how does this come up for a vote and go through? I could better understand it if there was more than one sport involved in the discussion. A new gymnasium, new/updated facilities? But this is one sport, at one school, and it’s $60m! Seems like the problem is in the way the money/revenue was raised/allocated or something? Build half that much of a stadium and vote the rest of it to something else.
Texas Football
August 31st, 2012
10:42 am
A 60 Million$ Football stadium will not make the Teams in Texas any better.Texas,Texas A.M.,Texas Tech will never be able to compete with any college team in Alabama!………….Roll Tide!
MB
August 31st, 2012
10:44 am
@Crazy Most of the expense would be to give the non football playing kids and parents a reinforced place to sit. Oh and band members get to use it at halftime too….
Devil's Advocate
August 31st, 2012
10:46 am
Ray,
Way to play the “rich people” card. You’re so smart. Do you earn substantial income or are you just riding coat tails? Most rich people stay rich by not blowing money on unreasonable purchases that they cannot cover with additional income. Another way to stay rich is by spending other people’s money when you have the option, which is what they just did. The part of the article stating that they never hope to recoup the cost of building the stadium means this is not an investment. They willingly spent that money for a luxury. Sure, the revenue will cover the operating costs but that doesn’t change the fact that they are out $60 million. And I already said that if those people are okay with that then that’s their issue to manage.
So how about you go play your class warfare card elsewhere. You’re starting to sound like Buffet now. If you make enough money then it’s open season on taxation. Yay, more taxes!
Texas OK
August 31st, 2012
10:46 am
Texas will be ok as long as a Bush never takes public office there.If one does Texas will be bankrupted swiftly just as our country was under George Dup-ya Bush!
Anon
August 31st, 2012
10:51 am
This is right down the street from where my parents live. Trust me… that area can afford it. I long to live like my parents do, but they’ve worked hard for YEARS to achieve that kind of success. I just go a couple times a year to bask in its warm glow!
Matt
August 31st, 2012
10:52 am
Wow. This is just way out of whack and these folks are just deluded. If it had been raised with private money, it would be one thing, but to spend that much tax payer money and NEVER expect to recoup the money is asinine.
this can be a big positive
August 31st, 2012
10:54 am
now u think about it the person above said that there about 8 home games correct but u got to think about it instead of having the state championship game in the Cowboys stadium it would be alot cheaper to do it in this stadium they will make their money back in no time they will have most if not all the local events here so theres even more money coming back to it then last but not least u would include all other sports like track(but i dont see a track in pic) golf wrestling soccer field hockey(if have team) and so on every other high school would love to rent out this place for their events they will make more than the 60mill invested
Texas Football
August 31st, 2012
10:54 am
It takes a lot of MONEY to build a 60Mil$ stadium!But don’t worry because Texas is loaded with OIL MONEY thanks to the people in the rest of the country who are paying high prices for gas(4$/gal)from that refined West Texas Intermediate that goes for 40$ a barrel more than it should!Why shouldn’t a few kids benefit while the rest of the countries inner city children go without!
Rome
August 31st, 2012
10:55 am
@KAT – Didn’t say I agree with it, just saying football is huge in Texas and this is what they voted in. I’m not sure but I think it’s similar to a local SPLOST type tax we have here in Georgia. What I do know is, I wouldn’t have voted for something like this and would not live in a community that did.
Alabama Tide
August 31st, 2012
10:57 am
We can play on dirt and be watched by fans in lawn chairs and still be able to beat any team from Texas!
Longhorn
August 31st, 2012
10:59 am
i love Texas. I am pretty sure they will vote for succession if the presidential election doesn’t go right. Why does anyone outside of Allen Texas care how they spend THEIR money?
Florida High School Football
August 31st, 2012
11:00 am
Whoever said that the best High School Football Teams are in Texas is full of BS!
Melinda O'Brien - Allen Resident
August 31st, 2012
11:01 am
I don’t think you are being presented with all of the information. The old football stadium, which resided at the Freshman Center, was too small with very little parking. On Friday nights, it was difficult to drive anywhere near the stadium. It was time for a new stadium. Did it need to be as grandiose as it is, probably not. However, this stadium has enough parking for games, and the new location will allow for better traffic flow on game nights. I’m not a football fan and don’t attend games, but I’m glad for the bond money that we voted for because of the Performing Arts Center, which brings people to Allen for community musical and theatrical events that are held there. As for having graduations there, by the end of May in Texas, the idea of sitting outside in the sun for four hours is not my idea of a good time. It’s too hot.
bob
August 31st, 2012
11:04 am
LOL
August 31st, 2012
8:40 am
read the article – NONE
Mess with Texas
August 31st, 2012
11:05 am
Longhorn…………I agree with you……Does any Native Georgian give a Flying F#$K what anybody does in Texas?……………I don’t!………….Go Dawgs!
Jerry Campbell
August 31st, 2012
11:12 am
It seems like Georgia has a “Pig”problem cause there are alot on this blog!Call me and American Hoggers will be right there!
gadem
August 31st, 2012
11:19 am
they will pay for a $60,000,000.00 stadium?! Americans priorities are so out of whack, it is not even funny…
Bill
August 31st, 2012
11:21 am
As long as it’s local money, they can spend it however they want if approved by the voters. I would only have a problem if it were state or federal money. I certainly wouldn’t want any outsider telling me how my local money could be spent.
washking
August 31st, 2012
11:23 am
And what happens if Obama is reelected and country hits another recession, and sponsors pull out? Who’s going to foot the bill for operating cost then?? taxpayers
Kc munchkin
August 31st, 2012
11:31 am
For those worried about the teachers, we also voted for and passed a property tax increase last year in order to save teachers’ jobs and avoid layoffs. Also, unlike many other communities around us, allen operates in the black, and has avoided a deficit, even in tough economic times.
And no, I don’t have football players or band members, or even kids in high school, but I am proud of the new stadium, and feel it provides benefits for all the community, not just football players.
for Ray
August 31st, 2012
11:41 am
try getting up and going out and actually buying a copy of today’s AJC. The entire headline is ‘Now is the Moment’ and a large photo of Mitt. It even lists the bonus coverage articles and the pages they are on.
Taxi Smith
August 31st, 2012
11:43 am
Sounds pretty cheap compared to what the Falcons want US to pay for! Since the people there voted to pay for it with bonds, doesn’t bother me.
Shep
August 31st, 2012
11:48 am
Whata bunch of stupid redneck idiots. And we wonder why this country is falling behind in education. I hope they have their holy be thank us jesus prayers in the stadium before every game too.
gt4ever
August 31st, 2012
11:54 am
@shep,
Such bitterness… They voted, they paid for it,, It’s there stadium. Why such animosity? Don’t worry about a stupid stadium. Worry about voting the clown we have in office OUT!
Devil's Advocate
August 31st, 2012
11:55 am
The funny thing is a lot of you assume that 100% of people voted for this project.
eaglenationrising
August 31st, 2012
11:58 am
What is the problem? The people of that community approved the stadium. It was a bond issue. There are a myriad of ways to use the stadium from graduation, community events (i.e. Fourth of July and/or Christmas events). At the time, one school uses the facility. Like most communities, I am certain that other schools will use the facility if other high schools are built. This seems like much ado about nothing. The people of that county approved the measure. It is as simple as that.
People in Georgia do not seem to be up in arms over the fact that the Georgia Lottery Corp. does not fund our state’s education system as agreed upon. People of Georgia simply turn a blind eye to it. It seems to be grossly hypocritical to look at this in a negative way. It was approved and paid for. What is the big deal. Finally, a local bond issue is COMPLETELY different than a state’s education fund. It is apples and oranges. Some cities build sidewalks. Some counties build toll plazas. Allen, Texas built a nice stadium.
Shep
August 31st, 2012
11:59 am
LOL its because of the stupic people like this and you that want to take this country back to the 1700’s. You people are so stupid that ou do not see that all the repubs want is to give more tax credits to the rich and wealthy and everyone else be damned to left to fend for themselves over the scraps. Good luck purchasing that private medicare insurance with your voucher when you are fat and overweight with diabeties and heart diesase and a family history of colon cancer. See see how far a that will get you. But then perhaps its best that we just weed out all of the dumb fat lazy rednecks.
don
August 31st, 2012
11:59 am
It’s a free country filled with Pin Heads
Old Dawg
August 31st, 2012
12:04 pm
The stadium is obviously the focal point of the story, though one parent from the school posted that some of the bond monies were used to build a fine arts center. There are also wrestling and weight rooms, a golf practice area and artificial turf.
Artificial turf means that the field can be used by soccer teams, field hockey teams and lacrosse.
This is an amazing amount of money, and the voters approved it. I’m not completely at home with the program, but the multi-use and public financed dynamics prove that it was well thought out and planned.
And, as many people have noted, football rules in Texas.
Melinda O'Brien - Allen Resident
August 31st, 2012
12:07 pm
By the way, this was noted by one of my friends on my FB page: The old stadium held 14000 and there were only 27 toilets. The new stadium has over 270 toilets. Nuff said.
Texas Native
August 31st, 2012
12:08 pm
High school football is HUGE in Texas and while I don’t agree with this in principle, the voters in that area felt it was important enough to build this stadium so agreed to foot the bill. This did not take away from teacher’s pay or other classroom improvements because it is a separate issue all together. Since it’s in an affluent area of Dallas I’m sure the school has plenty of community support for academic and artistic endeavors as well.
Contractors, building supply companies and laborers all benefited from this large construction job.
More than just football players normally utilize facilities like this one: marching band, track and field, etc. I guess I look at this as, it’s their business. Would I have voted for it — no — but obviously the majority in that district voted yes.
eaglenationrising
August 31st, 2012
12:14 pm
@ Devil’s Advocate: We do not need 100% of a vote on anything. Imagine any professional organization, Supreme or Appeals Court system, church, legislative organization operating on 100% approval. That is insane. I do not support the concept of having lottery, while prohibiting horse racing and casinos (I support all three and do not believe that the government should tell me when and how I can play Texas Hold ‘Em). I voted against it in 1992 as an 18 year old because of what I viewed as the hypocrisy of the whole thing…not to mention that it is simply a way to tax poor people chasing a dream while cutting taxes for people like (then) my parents and now me and my wife (who are fortunate enough to not have any desire to foolishly chase the dream out of our home in Alpharetta). I was a part of approximately 48% of the state of Georgia (over 1 million of us).
This community approved a $220M bond matter. By the way, that is very, very small. Their elected officials decided to build a stadium with that money. It seems that people are crying over the matter that they build the stadium.
saul good
August 31st, 2012
12:22 pm
And how much did they spend on the science and math departments? School sports should be banished and left to private clubs. When education comes second to sports… you end up with a town full of blowhard losers…
Gina G.
August 31st, 2012
12:31 pm
There’s got to be some kind of loop hole. This sounds outrageous. Imagine being understaffed, not enough teachers, but looking at a $60million eyesore!?
Devil's Advocate
August 31st, 2012
12:32 pm
eaglenationrising,
So are you saying that the outcome of every issue you’ve ever voted on has gone your direction? If yes, that’s amazing. If no, did you assimilate or did you stick by your guns? I guess because Obama won in 2008 we should all be happy because the people voted for it.
From TX now in GA
August 31st, 2012
12:33 pm
For those that dont understand, as big as football is in Ga, it is bigger in Tx and Im a high school football coach and teacher. The revenue that this will not only bring the school through football and soccer games(LAX?), but the local business’ will benefit greatly as well from playoff games, all star games, etc being played out of such a stadium. My guess is that they’ll even rent out the facility for concerts, youth events on Saturday’s. Soccer is huge in Tx, I can see outside sources renting the stadium in the off season of football on weekends for tournaments, etc. the list is endless for generating dollars with this type of first class stadium. I say good for them!
Devil's Advocate
August 31st, 2012
12:36 pm
“Our intention is not to recoup the money it cost to build the stadium,” school district spokesman Tim Carroll told the AP. “It’s not practical to say we’ll get that money back. [But] the revenue we receive from the stadium will far exceed the cost of operating it.”
Did all of you who have pipe dreams of some grand revenue stream miss this important part of the article?
Dariel Daniel
August 31st, 2012
12:36 pm
Having taught and coached at Allen, i can tell you first hand that Allen HS is better than ANY Georgia has to offer. With 5,000 students (9-12) and a graduation rate of 99%, hundreds in athletics, the stadium and Performing Arts Center only added to the quality of the system and the community.
I had only one discipline problem in 4 years. The campus and city are BEAUTIFUL.
Allen also has CCCC (Collin County Community College) in the school where students can take dual credit classes and receive HS and college credit simultaneously. This eases the financial burden of college for parents. BTW, the credits are guaranteed to be accepted by EVERY college and university in Texas.
Regarding football, all playoff games are played on NEUTRAL SITES so the stadium will be used throughout the playoffs every year. Because the graduation class is always so large (1200+), graduation has been held on the UNT (University of North Texas Campus). The stadium will solve this issue.
With so many students involved in extracurricular activities, I’m sure you’ll agree the stadium and PAC are lots better than building a new prison.
Now in Texas
August 31st, 2012
12:38 pm
We moved to Texas from Alpharetta two years ago and my son’s high school football team played the Allen Eagles that season. My son’s school had around 3500 students–Allen had over 6k students…many of these Texas powerhouse teams, like Southlake Carroll, Allen,etc. only have one school in the district and breakup the kids into a high school (9 & 10th grades) and a senior high school (11 & 12th graders).When Allen routed our team–i mean routed, they brought their 700 member marching band–which barely fit on the field for halftime. BTW, my son’s stadium capacity was around 14k and it was nice and new. Bottom line for me is that it is Texas high school football. The stadium is what defines the school. Since high schools recruit, block new schools from being built and place supreme worship on the Friday Night Lights, I’m sure another we will read another story about a stadium like this in near future. BTW, Georgia teams can hang with Texas teams any day of the week.
GATiger
August 31st, 2012
12:41 pm
Unbelievable! I might be able to understand this sort of boondoggle if it was a private school. What really gets me is the comment about the funds not being available for the schools – as if the voters who approved this couldn’t have done something similar for school facilities, payroll, etc.
Devil's Advocate
August 31st, 2012
12:44 pm
I’m just wondering that with such enthusiasm and large numbers from the community, why can’t the revenue be generated without a tax. There’s a big difference between a community needing a new school (with all the facilities that come with it) and simply needing a new stadium when it comes to the funding source.
eaglenationrising
August 31st, 2012
12:47 pm
@ DevilsAdv.: I just told you that my first election, I was on the wrong side of the lottery debate. I supported voting down the lottery. I have lived in a more affluent community that uses bond matters for local issues. Warner Robins, GA has the one of the highest per capita incomes and household incomes in the state of Georgia. When our community votes for bond issues, it is a local matter. The same is applicable to Allen, Texas.
Whether it is BusinessWeek magazine, ING Best Communities in the US or a myriad of other media outlets, Warner Robins is a place that has had many local bond matters. Some of the money went to a local stadium. Some of the money went to a Performing Arts Center on the campus of Northside HS that annually host the state One Act Championships (it is the nicest on a Georgia high school campus, by far, because it used local government funds).
I am simply saying that to suggest that a community bond money is designed to create a verifiable financial return is absurb. You do not build a bridge or fortify a road with a meter that counts how much money the community gets back. This is a very nice stadium. The school seems very nice. The community wants the stadium. The community paid for it. Why are you crying about it in Georgia?
As for our leaders, I would prefer to rid ourselves of all of them. The second term of Bill Clinton was a joke. George W. Bush is, in my view, one of the dumbest US Presidents ever (and I voted for him in 2000). Finally, Barack Obama’s excuse making makes me sick. We have had a decade and a half of pathetic leadership. I have voted for some of them and against them. At the end of the day, it does not matter…not does your crying about a bond issue in Allen, Texas.
eaglenationrising
August 31st, 2012
12:54 pm
@ Devil’sAdv: If you are driving in North Georgia, take a drive by Jefferson High School. There is a track and field facility that annually host the GHSA Track & Field meet. The only track ever built in this state that is nicer was at the Olympic Stadium in 1996. It was a local bond initiative that brings more tourism/event revenue to the Jefferson, GA community than any event.
As for big time high school football, I know a little about it being raised in Warner Robins. The community in Allen, Texas will get more than their mileage out of their stadium. My guess is the community has savvy leadership. I gave the example of Warner Robins hosting the Georgia State Special Olympics (a cash cow), one of the South’s largest Fourth of July events (cash cow) and other community events like the GHSA One Act Championship. Meet a person from Jefferson, GA and they will tell you that the GHSA State Track & Field event is a BIG DEAL there. These are events that bring civic pride along with outside revenue that would otherwise NEVER come to those communities.
People have been writing about this stadium in Allen, Texas for over two years. They are getting great mileage out of the stadium and it is not even open. Do you think people do not read about this stadium and think about the Allen, TX community when moving to the Dallas area? If I were moving, I would certainly look at Allen, TX. The attention alone has surely resulted in an extra home or two being built in the community, which drive employement, tax revenue, etc. There are communities, like Allen, TX that get it. Then, there is metro Atlanta that is laughable and will not improve our city for any reason. What a joke!
Melinda O'Brien - Allen Resident
August 31st, 2012
12:57 pm
Our schools in Allen are not understaffed, and classes are not overloaded. We operate without a deficit and we are still hiring teachers when many districts have been laying teachers off. If we need higher taxes to pay our teachers, we vote for them and they pass. Lack of educational funds is not the problem. An old dilapidated football stadium that wasn’t even located at the high school was. (it was located at the old high school building)
shocked
August 31st, 2012
12:59 pm
Bear Bryant said it best, “I’ve never seen anybody rally around a math class”
SGT CHRIS
August 31st, 2012
1:09 pm
They will be using the stadium to help in the recruiting process!!! Just Kidding Just Kidding!!!
Jef
August 31st, 2012
1:32 pm
I wonder when the teachers in that district received their last raise.