Texas taxpayers in McKinney have approved the construction of a $62.8 million football stadium. It is deemed as the most expensive stadium to be built for a high school in the United States. However, some groups have opposed the plan.
The Dallas News reports that voters majorly favored the construction of the $62.8 million football stadium, which is part of the $220 million bond proposal that will also include highway constructions. The votes were entered into the polls Saturday, May 7, and at least 63 percent approved the bond.
The $62.8 million football stadium will have 12,000 seats. However, it is not the first time that Texans have chosen to spend a lot of money to build or replace their high school football stadiums.
Voters approve $62.8 million, 12,000-seat high school football stadium in Texas. https://t.co/adoCtA6za3 pic.twitter.com/MpfQDaYxJH
— SportsGrid (@SportsGrid) May 10, 2016
Texas' Million-Dollar High School Football Stadiums
There is a $60 million football stadium in Allen, Texas, just a few minutes away from McKinney, while a $62.5 million stadium in Katy, Texas is ready to open in 2017. The stadiums are not just used by high school districts as the Dallas Cowboys, the state's NFL team, sometimes hold practices and game exhibitions in the million-dollar facilities. The sites are also used as activity centers for soccer and band competitions, apart from state football games, per Chicago Tribune.
However, not every McKinney resident supports the building of the stadium and there have been concerns about its cost. Mike Giles of the Grassroots McKinney expressed his disappointment over the decision. "But the people have spoken," he said per CNBC.
So stupid that the City of McKinney would rather spend $62.8 mil on a stadium over STEM programs and educator pay increases.
— ɹǝʞɐɯuıɐɹ (@R41nM4kr) May 10, 2016
Texas $62.8 Million Football Stadium Is A Necessity
Superintendent Rick McDaniel defended the plan saying that the stadium will be the pride of the community as it will be a huge landmark for McKinney. "Regardless of where you're coming from, you'll see the stadium. And that speaks volumes."
Tim Carroll of the Allen school district in the next town believes that McKinney needs the $62.8 million football stadium because it will benefit football fans. In Texas, football is a big deal and the crowds could draw over 12,000 to 18,000 spectators. "[McKinney has] big schools, and they play big schools," Carroll said and suggested that the stadium would become income-generating for the school district.
Construction of the $62.8 million football stadium in McKinney is expected to be finished by 2018. What do you think, parents? Did the locals make a good decision to allocate part of Texas' bonds to a football stadium?
