Voters approve nation’s most expensive high school football stadium

McKinney football stadium
gamestrat high school football sideline instant replay

by USA TODAY High School Sports

USA TODAY High School Sports is a partner of High School Football America

Voters in McKinney, Texas, approved a $220 million bond package that includes a new football stadium and events center that will be among the most expensive in the nation.

Depending on how you look at the numbers, it could be the most expensive. Construction of the 12,000-seat stadium accounts for $50.3 million of the current bond with another $12.5 million for infrastructure coming from a 2000 bond vote.

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At $62.8 million,  the total would be more than the $60 million that Allen spent for Eagle Stadium, which is an 18,000-seat stadium. It also would be more than the $62.5 million that Katy is spending for its stadium scheduled to open in 2017. Construction is ongoing.

MORE: Ground broken in Katy

The bond was approved with 63% of the vote.

District officials have said the stadium will be used for soccer games and band competitions and could host state playoff games. The adjacent events center, they say, could be home for reunions, banquets and other events. Officials also hope the new stadium could spur retail and restuarant development near the site.

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.