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Most expensive high school football stadiums in Texas
Matt Young
Aug. 9, 2021 Updated: Aug. 27, 2021 2:50 p.m.
Katy ISD's Legacy Stadium, which opened in 2017, cost $70.3 million to build and is the most expensive high school football stadium in the state.
Craig Moseley/Staff
A Los Angeles sportswriter inadvertently went viral last week when he posted a video of a California high school football stadium and breathlessly asked his Twitter followers if any Texas schools could top it.
Uh ... yes, Mr. California. Texas can certainly top that.
For better or worse, Texas is home to palatial high school football showplaces with nine stadiums - including five in the Houston area - that cost at least $40 million to build.
Four years ago, Katy ISD caused a stir when it opened the $70.3 million Legacy Stadium, which is the most expensive high school football stadium in the state. Cy-Fair ISD's Berry Center cost $80 million in 2006, but it also includes a 9,500-seat arena and 456-seat theater to go along with the football stadium.
This season, another new - and expensive - stadium is opening with the unveiling of Tomball's $42.6 million stadium and community center.
Some of the more expensive stadiums have unique names, because school districts are offsetting the cost of these complexes by selling the naming rights. Spring ISD sold its new stadium's name to the Planet Ford car dealership for $750,000 over 10 years, thus - Planet Ford Stadium.
Cy-Fair's stadium now is called Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium after striking a 10-year, $1.5 million deal with the bank. Katy ISD sold the naming rights to the complex that houses both Legacy Stadium and Rhodes Memorial Stadium for $2.5 million so that the area can be called the Academy Sports + Outdoors Student Activity Complex.
Keep scrolling to see the 20 most expensive high school football stadiums in Texas ...
Berry Center (Cy-Fair FCU Stadium)
Cy-Fair ISD sold naming rights to Federal Credit Union, so its stadium is called Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.
Cy-Fair ISD
Cost: $80 million*
*The $80 million figure also includes construction of 9,500-seat arena and 456-seat theater.
Legacy Stadium
Legacy Stadium in Katy on Aug. 29, 2017
Craig Moseley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
Katy ISD
Cost: $70.3 million
McKinney Stadium
An artist's rendering of the high school football stadium McKinney ISD is building. The stadium opened in 2018.
McKinney ISD
Cost: $70 million
Allen ISD
Woodforest Bank Stadium
A rainbow appears over Woodforest Bank Stadium.
Staff photo by Jason Fochtman
Conroe ISD
Children's Health Stadium
Prosper ISD sold naming rights to its stadium, which opened in 2019.
Stewart F. House/Associated Press
Prosper ISD
*Also includes the cost of a new natatorium.
Memorial Stadium (Formerly Dr. C.A. Thomas Education Support Center)
The Carrol A. "Butch" Thomas Educational Support Center in Beaumont.
TAMMY MCKINLEY
Beaumont ISD
Cost: $47.3 million*
*The cost of the stadium also includes a natatorium. The stadium originally was set to cost $29 million, but overruns pushed it to $47.3 million.
District Stadium
Tomball ISD
Freedom Field
Alvin ISD
Challenger-Columbia Stadium
The outside of Clear Creek ISD's Challenger Columbia stadium.
ÂKim Christensen/Photographer
Clear Creek ISD
Planet Ford Stadium
Spring ISD's new football stadium.
Joe Buvid, Houston Chronicle / Contributor
Spring ISD
Alamo Stadium
Alamo Stadium is seen Tuesday Aug. 12, 2014 from a quadcopter.
William Luther / San Antonio Express-News
Opened: 2014*
*The stadium opened in 1939, but went through $33 million in renovation in 2014.
Sheldon ISD Panther Stadium (C.E. King)
The $32 million Sheldon ISD Stadium hosted its first game in 2019. It was part of the $285 million bond passed by Sheldon ISD in 2016.
Courtesy Lockwood, Andrews & Ne
Sheldon ISD
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The Pfield
Pflugerville ISD's high school football stadium, known as The Pfield.
Hellas Construction
Pflugerville ISD
Ken Hall Stadium
Hall Stadium is shown Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, Missouri City. ( Brett Coomer / Chronicle )Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Fort Bend ISD
Ray Maddry Memorial Stadium
A game between the North Shore Mustangs and Channelview Falcons in the second half at Ray Maddry Stadium on Friday, October 9, 2015 in Channelview Texas.
Thomas B. Shea/For The Chronicle
Channelview ISD
*This cost also included a new gym.
Galena Park ISD Stadium
Against a backdrop of sunset colors, North Shore kicks off to Eisenhower during the first quarter of a high school football game at Galena Park ISD Stadium, Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, in Houston.
Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle
Galena Park ISD
* - The cost also includes construction of a new natatorium
Texan Drive Stadium
Robert and Joseph Amigliore check out the view from the top row during an open house at Texan Drive Stadium.
ANDREW BUCKLEY
Toyota Rattler Stadium
San Marcos ISD's Toyota Rattler Stadium opened in 2014 and cost $18.4 million to build.
San Marcos ISD
Pirate Stadium (Longview Pine Tree)
Longview Pine Tree High School's Pirate Stadium, which cost $16 million to build in 2013.
Pine Tree ISD
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