$59.6 MILLION -- For a HIGH SCHOOL football stadium(!!!)

[Blue_Tires]

Just in case you forgot how important high school football is in Texas, the residents of Allen will soon have a $59.6 million stadium that will leave no doubt.

Next month in the booming north Dallas suburb, ground will be broken on a state-of-the-art, 18,000-seat facility that will feature two decks, a video scoreboard, four concession stands and 12 restrooms. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

"The community supports our kids in everything: Football, baseball, basketball, band," Allen coach Tom Westerberg said. "It isn't just athletics. They really support us with everything we do.

"The new stadium has been discussed for a number of years and the bond was passed. We are very excited to get this project done and get in there and play."

But before you start throwing out stereotypes that Texans care more about touchdowns than textbooks, understand this:


The stadium was part of a larger $120 million bond package passed in May 2009 that included nearly as much money for a state-of-the-art auditorium for performing arts;

The town approved a bond package of $219 million in November 2008 that called for the building of two new elementary schools, the purchase of 45 school buses and improvements to many of the other elementary and middle schools in the district;

The money for the project could only be used on capital expenses not general education;

And, this is Texas, after all. Last year, the Allen football team played a game before more than 50,000 fans at the new Texas Stadium.
The facility will replace Allen's existing stadium, built in the late 70s when the suburb - located 25 miles north of Dallas - was much smaller. In the past few decades, the area has seen amazing growth.

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1074494

[tanyev]

1. Oh, crap. It's going to be right across the street from the rec center where I take a yoga class.

There goes the quiet little neighborhood.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. And parking.

[tanyev]

4. Hey, that might actually be a good thing.

The rec center parking lot is already insufficient, so the stadium parking (whenever it is done) would be a good overflow. My class is on Saturday mornings, so not much going on at a football stadium that time of day. Could be really bad for people who want to do rec center things on Thursday or Friday night, though. But given the status of football in Texas, it wouldn't surprise me if the rec center simply shut down or reduced programming on game nights during football season.

[deaniac21]

16. Let's see, 6 possibly 7 home games means an inconvenience

on 6 or 7 friday nights a year.

[rurallib]

3. Is this a socialist stadium? And where are the sky-boxes?

Why can't everyone just build their own?

[DCBob]

5. Are teachers are getting laid off in this area?

If so this is sick... actually its sick either way. Obscene use of taxpayers money.

[tanyev]

9. Allen is one of the few areas that is booming.

New malls, new movie theater, you name it--they've got it. One of the reasons the city of Plano is not doing so well anymore is that all the good retail is now in Allen, McKinney and Frisco. Their residents are no longer coming to Plano to shop, and a lot of Plano residents are going there to shop. I haven't heard about any problems with teacher layoffs in the district.

[DCBob]

10. Well, its still sounds absurd.. I cannot imagine this is the best use of taxpayers money.

IMO.

[tanyev]

11. Oh, I know. Love Bug's post is right--High school football is a religion here.

:(

[NeedleCast]

12. The taxpayers voted for it, so it's hardy obscene use of their money

[mainer]

27. No, they're getting what they asked for.

It's just mind-boggling that what they ask for -- and obviously value -- is more more more football.

[patrice]

6. So they're funding athletes and entertainers.Take a look at their academic curriculum AND

their standards and grading practices.

[wolfgangmo]

14. I'm gonna get flamed here, but...

The renaissance ideal education was a blend of the arts, sports and academics. Of course the fact that this school is doing well in academics, performing arts, and sports just proves the lie everytime a republican opens their big fat lying mouth and says that "throwing money at the education problem is NOT a solution."

Gee, it seems to be working for this school.

[patrice]

31. Not into flames here. I prefer ice, but I'd have to know more of the specifics of

the elements that I referred to above, before I'd be able to say anything that means something.

I do, however, know most of the games played with these pieces.

[Love Bug]

7. I knew before clicking on the link that this was in Texas

where even high school football is a religion. How are they at supporting actual education or are sports the extent of their concern?

[KatyMan]

25. Me too, but I live in Texas

Hadn't heard about this but not surprised.
There's a field behind our house that is earmarked by the school district for a new high school and football stadium, and I'm kind of looking forward to it eventually being built. Some good football in my backyard (basically) that we can walk to on a Friday evening.

[blueamy66]

8. Wow.

I am sooo glad that we have our priorities straight here in the US of A.

[The2ndWheel]

13. Isn't this creating jobs?

I thought that was the most important thing.

[SocialistLez]

23. While I support the

building of new elementary schools, spending millions on a high school stadium is stupid.

But hey....it isn't my money and the voters voted for it.

[NeedleCast]

15. I feel like the title to the OP is somewhat misleading

The town approved a bond package of 219 million. THey're getting the stadium, a huge performing/arts center, two new elementry schools, 45 buses and improvements to many of the other middle/elementry schools in the district. Apparently the people who live there approve of the deal.

[Umbral]

17. Clicked, just to verify it was, indeed, in Texas. nt

[Botany]

19. me too

I just knew it was Texas

[dembotoz]

18. no football team left behind.....

ah yes, if only i were king......

[Gidney N Cloyd]

20. Sad. What a waste.

[lpbk2713]

21. I'm wondering -- how many homeless shelters in or near Allen?

And what is their budget?

Probably all combined not even a fraction of sixty million.


Shame.

[SocialistLez]

24. +1 nt

[tanyev]

33. You should hear the county commissioners whine about the very idea

of paying any money to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. A lot of Collin County residents go there if they don't have insurance.


In the Bible, the devil's name is legion, but in the Collin County Commissioners courtroom, the evil one has a name – Dr. Ron J. Anderson.

He is no devil. What he is, to the chagrin of Collin County commissioners, is a doctor who treats the sick and injured people who come to his hospital. Dr. Anderson is the president and CEO of Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

Collin County Commissioners believe he is a demon who wants to swallow entire county budgets in a quest for a regional hospital district.

Unfortunately, many of those who do come to his hospital are the poor and uninsured from suburban counties, such as Collin. Dallas County taxpayers naturally do not want to pick up the tab for counties who won't pony up for a hospital. And Collin County commissioners shudder at the thought that they should pay the bills for their poor.

A few years ago, Commissioner Phyllis Cole told the Houston Chronicle, "Parkland believes anybody who shows up should get health care. It's not our problem they don't qualify patients before they admit them. I wish they would get off my back."


http://www.baumbach.org/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/2007/09/20/dmn_bill_baumbach_a_healthy_discussion

[mainer]

22. Here's why American students will never be able to compete with Asia

In a nutshell.

[LeftWingPunk]

26. Allen is located in Collin County

which hasn't voted for a democrat since LBJ. I find it hilarious how a lot of people there probably claim to be fiscal conservatives while at the same time pissing away a shit ton of money for a football stadium.

[hamsterjill]

28. Don't you just love the priorities???!!!

No wonder our educational programs are in trouble.

[Echo In Light]

29. Auh yes...one of America's true religions: sports

[librechik]

30. had to check this thread just to confirm it was Texas

What else do they have to worry about down there? Of course high school sports is more important than God or the Constitution.

[Brickbat]

32. More power to them.

It sounds to me, from just this article, that the population cares about getting the district a variety of improvements. If people vote for it and are excited about paying for it, who am I to complain?

[tabasco]

34. If the taxpayers don't give a shit,

either do I.