New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

[bronconick]

Re: New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

While you make a good point about pass-times, I think the situation is a little different here. I a pretty certain that if a HIGH SCHOOL was spending that much on a hockey rink, I think most of us would question the sanity of the town the HS is in. For that matter, if a college or university in Texas was spending that on a college stadium we probably wouldn't have a whole thread on it.

Eh, if it passes, good for them. They know what they're getting into.

My old high school tried to get artificial turf on the football field for a 1 win team and for their marching band. Needless to say, it was shot down by a wide margin.

Edit: the first time, they tried sneaking it in with the rest of the bond issue and it only failed by 60 odd votes. The 2nd time it failed by about 10%.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

While you make a good point about pass-times, I think the situation is a little different here. I a pretty certain that if a HIGH SCHOOL was spending that much on a hockey rink, I think most of us would question the sanity of the town the HS is in. For that matter, if a college or university in Texas was spending that on a college stadium we probably wouldn't have a whole thread on it.

You're right--apples and oranges. Generally universities rely on private funds to build their sexy new facilities (even state schools). State legislatures are loath to be seen allocating scarce public funds to build sky boxes and such. The one exception I'm aware of is Louisiana, where LSU got money allocated from the legislature for the first big expansion of Tiger Stadium. I suppose one could make an argument that Louisiana isn't a state. When DU spent 80 million or so to build the Ritchie Center, not a dime of public money was involved.

And the point that "they voted for it" therefore they're entitled to do it is accurate but misplaced. I'm sure we could all think of ridiculous examples of things "the people" could vote for that wouldn't pass the laugh test. It would be interesting to see what Allen's performance is on mandated tests, the SAT, entrance into top universities, graduation rates and other indicia of success. Especially when compared to other, similar schools. I know my high school appears every year on Newsweek's list of the thousand best high schools in the country. Allen? No. If it turns out Allen is an educational Shangri-la, then, hey, build your temple to high school football. But if they've got deficiences, then what the taxpayers are doing is shortchanging the majority of students to indulge their childish home town narcissism and ***** envy. And while they've got a "right" to do it, that doesn't make it right.

 

[joecct]

Re: New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

You know if you look @ the economics of the 18K football stadium it may make sense. 18K @ 10/pop. + concessions - fixed game costs, you may be looking at over $150K per night. Multiply that by 6 home games and you got at least a cool $900K coming in that is being used for ?????????

It certainly won't be used for debt retirement....

 

[Old Pio]

Re: New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

You know if you look @ the economics of the 18K football stadium it may make sense. 18K @ 10/pop. + concessions - fixed game costs, you may be looking at over $150K per night. Multiply that by 6 home games and you got at least a cool $900K coming in that is being used for ?????????

It certainly won't be used for debt retirement....

Lots of ancillary expenses for a top Texas high school football team. Those white plastic rifles for the drill team aren't cheap. Several football uniform combinations a la Oregon. Band uniforms. Instruments. Cheer leader outfits. Travel expenses. Top salaries for coaches. Plush training facilities. Lawyers for players who get into "trouble." Bribes to local officials in case the lawyers can't handle the cases. Doctors for girl friends of players who get into "trouble." Performance enhancing pharmaceuticals. Tutors for hard case players who absolutely insist (we're keeping an eye on you, bud). Kegs aren't as cheap as they used to be and those deposits keep going up. Some players may require the services of (the oldest) professionals. Team tats. And so it goes.

We can be pretty confident none of the money generated by this monstrosity will find its way to the academic side of the school. It will help fund other teams which don't show profits. But none of it will be used for anything as useless as language/science/computer labs, hiring better teachers, upgrading information retrieval systems and facilities, or any of that other commie stuff.

 

[legal_hit]

Re: New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

Lots of ancillary expenses for a top Texas high school football team. Those white plastic rifles for the drill team aren't cheap. Several football uniform combinations a la Oregon. Band uniforms. Instruments. Cheer leader outfits. Travel expenses. Top salaries for coaches. Plush training facilities. Lawyers for players who get into "trouble." Bribes to local officials in case the lawyers can't handle the cases. Doctors for girl friends of players who get into "trouble." Performance enhancing pharmaceuticals. Tutors for hard case players who absolutely insist (we're keeping an eye on you, bud). Kegs aren't as cheap as they used to be and those deposits keep going up. Some players may require the services of (the oldest) professionals. Team tats. And so it goes.

We can be pretty confident none of the money generated by this monstrosity will find its way to the academic side of the school. It will help fund other teams which don't show profits. But none of it will be used for anything as useless as language/science/computer labs, hiring better teachers, upgrading information retrieval systems and facilities, or any of that other commie stuff.

You know, if those academic types want more funding they can just go out an raise it themselves. Why should they benefit from the blood, sweat and tears of the football players?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: New High School Football Stadium in Texas: Have we lost our minds?

You know, if those academic types want more funding they can just go out an raise it themselves. Why should they benefit from the blood, sweat and tears of the football players?

Boy howdy!