60 Million football empire in Texas - The Allen story

Parent Cafe
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<p>The opening game is tomorrow. The Allen marching band boasts 800 members. Wearing their blue coats as they line the field before a halftime performance, the Allen band resembles Santa Ana's army preparing to storm the Alamo.</p>

<p>Allen</a> H.S. unveils $60 million football stadium</p>

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ALLEN, Texas — As far as seating capacity, there are bigger football stadiums than the 18,000-seat fortress Allen High School will unveil this fall.</p>

<p>After all, this is Texas.</p>

<p>The new Eagle Stadium, located in a booming suburb just north of Dallas, will merely rank fifth in the state among facilities used for Friday night football on a weekly basis.</p>

<p>But it's that $60 million price tag - $59.6 million, to be exact – that raises eyebrows even in a state where high school football is an obsession.

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<p>This was part of a $119.4 million bond package. In addition to football, there is also a superb performing art facility with little details such as a $100,000 Grand piano. Who says we have a funding crisis in education!</p>

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<p>“After all, this is Texas” pretty much sums it up. And give them a break, they’re competing against South Lake Caroll–you just don’t understand…</p>

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<p>This is insane. How long before town salaries start to lag and they default on the loans?</p>

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<p>I just heard about this on the radio - they’re expecting 20K people to attend.</p>

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<p>Part of me thinks this is insane. The Texas football fan in me says, Hey, the people voted. If that’s what they want, then whatevs.</p>

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<p>Yes, democracy sucks.</p>

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<p>Santa Ana? Wow! The second-largest city in Orange County, CA has an army that invaded Texas? Or perhaps you meant Santa Anna?</p>

<p>(sorry)</p>

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<p>I’ll bet you there will be a full house. We’re going to a dinner party in Melissa, Tx Friday night. To get to Melissa you go past Allen, so I can give ya’ll a traffic report.</p>

<p>From the article xiggi cited:</p>

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<p>Ah, a page out of the Jerry Jones play book.</p>

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<p>Yes, I’m sure it’s cheaper than renting out JerryWorld. I’m sure he’ll find a way to shut it down before too long …</p>

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<p>Not sure about that. I have heard that Jerry has been very willing to work on the rent to make it happen since the parking and concessions are his (I think).</p>

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<p>OMG, I misread this the first time. I thought you were saying that he controlled parking and concessions at the new Allen stadium! lol I’m sure you can tell that I don’t have a good opinion of him. :D</p>

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<p>Well–Jerry Jones did fund the football stadium at ESD. </p>

<p>The Lamar Hunt Family funded the stadium at St Marks and I heard Lamar speak when his family suprised him with that fact at the dedication ceremony. At least Lamar actually grilled hamburgers at the stadium on home game nights when he had sons there. (I was a St Marks griller Dad).</p>

<p>I’m not so sure Jerry was a ESD “griller Dad.”</p>

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<p>That’s both insane and cringe-worthy. </p>

<p>And Texans wonder why the rest of the country isn’t as impressed with Texas as they think they ought to be. You could not play into a negative stereotype any more if you tried.</p>

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<p>Actually Texans are like Honey Badger-they really don’t care what you think about them or the state. First thing a Texan tells new residents. "We don’t care how you did it up north (or more lately in California).</p>

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<p>My son’s school plays Allen in a couple weeks. We usually don’t attend away games, but H and I just want to see the stadium. I drive by it every day to work. It’s pretty impressive.</p>

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<p>Btw, they also built a $23 million performing arts center in the same bond package. I want to see that too!</p>

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<p>Right. But what they don’t get is that we don’t care how they do it in Texas either :-)</p>

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<p>Ah yes, Texas, 47th out of 50 states in SAT scores. ([Commonwealth</a> Foundation - SAT Scores by State, 2011](<a href=“http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/sat-scores-by-state-2011]Commonwealth”>SAT Scores by State, 2011 - Commonwealth Foundation)).</p>

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<p>^So I moved from a state, ranked 47th in SAT scores, where football is king, to a state, ranked 50th in SAT scores, where football is a minor event.</p>

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<p>Not my words … that was in the article. And, fwiw, the cost of one of today’s marching band uniform probably clothed the entire army of S.A.S. el Gral. Don Antonio de Padua Mar</p>