Post by gatordog on May 20, 2011 11:30:24 GMT -5
The school on the above list in Texas, Allen HS, has been in the news lately. Lots of coverage of this, here is NY Daily News story:
Allen High School in Texas nears completion of new $60 million football stadiumBY PHILIP CAULFIELD
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, May 01, 2011
One high school football team in Texas is going to need a lot more Friday night lights.
Allen High in suburban Dallas is nearing the completion of a $60 million upgrade that will transform its football stadium into a college-style coliseum.
The state-of-the-art behemoth will boast an 18,000-seat horseshoe seating area with an upper deck, a video scoreboard, a two-tier press box, concession stands as well as an arts auditorium, training room and indoor practice arena for the golf team
More than 60% of the city's residents voted in favor of the project in 2009, but some education officials have said that the project is excessive because schools around the state have been slashing budgets.
"It's hard when people are losing their jobs and you're building a $60 million dollar stadium and an auditorium and things like that," school athletic director Steve Williams told CNN. "But.those are two separate things. You can't take that money for buildings and hire teachers with it."
"It meets the needs and desires of our community," said Gary Stocker, president of the Allen school board, told The Dallas Morning News. "We're a one-high-school town. Everyone's an Eagle in Allen."
The Eagles' current stadium, built in 1976, holds more than 14,000 fans, but supporters say that's a tight squeeze on game day.
SEE THE SITE PLAN
Nearly 5,000 students attend Allen -- the only high school in the district - and its marching band is the largest high school band in the country, with more than 600 members.
"I think that's what people who aren't for this area or aren't from Texas don't understand the magnitude of the event and how many people come to watch and support their kids," Williams said.
The plan also adds 1,500 extra parking spot to the 5,000 already available.
Texas School District Superintendent Ken Helvey predicts the new gridiron palace will be a cash cow for the strapped town.
"The stadium alone is going to generate considerable revenue for the community," Helvey told CNN. "A lot of people may not understand this, but that revenue goes right back into the whole fund for the teachers. It doesn't go directly to the football program."
The stadium is scheduled to be completed next year and the first game is to be played in August 2012.
There are at least four larger high school stadiums in Texas, but they are typically used by more than one team.
----
my other notes:
1. District website says school has 3855 at 10-12 campus, and 1295 at fresh center. 5250 tot.
2. They have worlds largest HS marching band, 680 students
3. The Apr 2009 ref was for $119 million would be spent on: $59.6 million for the stadium; $23.3 million for a new 1,500-seat auditorium (the school currently doesn't have one), and the remaining $36.5 million for a transportation, maintenance, and student-nutrition center
4. Lots of blog discussions out there on this story, as you may imagine.
Allen High School in Texas nears completion of new $60 million football stadiumBY PHILIP CAULFIELD
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, May 01, 2011
One high school football team in Texas is going to need a lot more Friday night lights.
Allen High in suburban Dallas is nearing the completion of a $60 million upgrade that will transform its football stadium into a college-style coliseum.
The state-of-the-art behemoth will boast an 18,000-seat horseshoe seating area with an upper deck, a video scoreboard, a two-tier press box, concession stands as well as an arts auditorium, training room and indoor practice arena for the golf team
More than 60% of the city's residents voted in favor of the project in 2009, but some education officials have said that the project is excessive because schools around the state have been slashing budgets.
"It's hard when people are losing their jobs and you're building a $60 million dollar stadium and an auditorium and things like that," school athletic director Steve Williams told CNN. "But.those are two separate things. You can't take that money for buildings and hire teachers with it."
"It meets the needs and desires of our community," said Gary Stocker, president of the Allen school board, told The Dallas Morning News. "We're a one-high-school town. Everyone's an Eagle in Allen."
The Eagles' current stadium, built in 1976, holds more than 14,000 fans, but supporters say that's a tight squeeze on game day.
SEE THE SITE PLAN
Nearly 5,000 students attend Allen -- the only high school in the district - and its marching band is the largest high school band in the country, with more than 600 members.
"I think that's what people who aren't for this area or aren't from Texas don't understand the magnitude of the event and how many people come to watch and support their kids," Williams said.
The plan also adds 1,500 extra parking spot to the 5,000 already available.
Texas School District Superintendent Ken Helvey predicts the new gridiron palace will be a cash cow for the strapped town.
"The stadium alone is going to generate considerable revenue for the community," Helvey told CNN. "A lot of people may not understand this, but that revenue goes right back into the whole fund for the teachers. It doesn't go directly to the football program."
The stadium is scheduled to be completed next year and the first game is to be played in August 2012.
There are at least four larger high school stadiums in Texas, but they are typically used by more than one team.
----
my other notes:
1. District website says school has 3855 at 10-12 campus, and 1295 at fresh center. 5250 tot.
2. They have worlds largest HS marching band, 680 students
3. The Apr 2009 ref was for $119 million would be spent on: $59.6 million for the stadium; $23.3 million for a new 1,500-seat auditorium (the school currently doesn't have one), and the remaining $36.5 million for a transportation, maintenance, and student-nutrition center
4. Lots of blog discussions out there on this story, as you may imagine.