But Allen — the home of five state championships — now appears to be modestly priced compared to other football-and-events centers in Texas.
Katy ISD, which has eight high schools and is building a ninth, now has what is believed to be the most expensive high-school football stadium ever built in the United States. The 12,000-seat Legacy Stadium opened in 2017 and cost $72.2 million.
Alvin ISD will host its first game this week at $41.4 million Freedom Field, which includes a banquet center and transportation building. Cy-Fair ISD in 2006 opened the $80 million Berry Center, which includes an 11,000-seat football stadium, an arena and a theater.
Frisco ISD’s 10 high schools play home games at three stadiums, including the domed Ford Center at The Star in Frisco and the 20,500-seat Toyota Stadium, home to FC Dallas.
Prosper ISD will open a $51 million football stadium in 2019. The stadium will seat 12,000, just like McKinney ISD Stadium, but Prosper ISD is saving money by cutting back on concrete and relying more on steel. The stadium will replace the 4,000-seat facility it uses on the campus of Reynolds Middle School.
Valerie Little, Prosper ISD’s athletics director, said the culture of Texas football — where UIL championships are played in massive AT&T Stadium — necessitated the larger venue.
“We can’t hold our own crowd, nevertheless an opposing crowd,” Little said.
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