ALLEN, TX (CNN) - A Texas high school is building a $60 million football stadium that has the town of Allen, and beyond, talking.
The stadium is being built in the town of Allen, a suburb of Dallas, and its price tag has some outsiders gasping and criticizing.
But in 2009, Allen residents voted 63 percent in favor of a $119 million bond for the project which is slated for completion next year.
"It's hard when people are losing their jobs and you're building a $60 million dollar stadium and an auditorium and things like that, but as our superintendent said, and Ken's done, those are two separate things you can't take that money for buildings and hire teachers with it," said High School Athletic Director Steve Williams.
"Certainly we did not expect the cost to be $60 million when we were going down this road," Texas School District Superintendent Ken Helvey said.
"We weren't going for some kind of record. But, uh, 18,000 seats is definitely an unusual project for a high school and I understand that. But again, once you've been here, you understand, ok well they've got to have it if you are going to continue to be one high school," Helvey said.
Allen High's current stadium, which was built in 1976, holds just more than 14,000. It's a tight fit, believe it or not, on Friday nights for families of a school whose student base numbers more than 5,000 and a marching band that sports more than 600 members, the largest in the nation.
"I think that's what people that aren't from this area, or not from Texas, don't understand, the magnitude of the event and how many people come to support and watch their kids," Williams said.
Helvey said the stadium wouldn't be a cash sinker.
"The stadium alone is going to generate considerable revenue for the community. A lot of people may not understand this, but that revenue goes right back into the whole fund for the teachers. It doesn't go directly to the football program," he said.
In addition to the football stadium, there's also an auditorium for fine arts, a training room for the school's wrestlers and even an indoor practice area for the golf team.
That's what $60 million can buy - a stunning upgrade.
"If you were ever a kid and your mom put you in a five gallon tub to bathe you at granny's house versus jumping into a swimming pool. That's kinda the best example I can give you. It's going to be very contrasting, very high class," Head Football Coach Tom Westerberg said.
If, as the saying goes, everything's bigger in Texas then Allen High School is just fitting in with a facility that will certainly shine bright on Friday nights.
Copyright 2011 CNN. All rights reserved.
The stadium is being built in the town of Allen, a suburb of Dallas, and its price tag has some outsiders gasping and criticizing.
But in 2009, Allen residents voted 63 percent in favor of a $119 million bond for the project which is slated for completion next year.
"It's hard when people are losing their jobs and you're building a $60 million dollar stadium and an auditorium and things like that, but as our superintendent said, and Ken's done, those are two separate things you can't take that money for buildings and hire teachers with it," said High School Athletic Director Steve Williams.
"Certainly we did not expect the cost to be $60 million when we were going down this road," Texas School District Superintendent Ken Helvey said.
"We weren't going for some kind of record. But, uh, 18,000 seats is definitely an unusual project for a high school and I understand that. But again, once you've been here, you understand, ok well they've got to have it if you are going to continue to be one high school," Helvey said.
Allen High's current stadium, which was built in 1976, holds just more than 14,000. It's a tight fit, believe it or not, on Friday nights for families of a school whose student base numbers more than 5,000 and a marching band that sports more than 600 members, the largest in the nation.
"I think that's what people that aren't from this area, or not from Texas, don't understand, the magnitude of the event and how many people come to support and watch their kids," Williams said.
Helvey said the stadium wouldn't be a cash sinker.
"The stadium alone is going to generate considerable revenue for the community. A lot of people may not understand this, but that revenue goes right back into the whole fund for the teachers. It doesn't go directly to the football program," he said.
In addition to the football stadium, there's also an auditorium for fine arts, a training room for the school's wrestlers and even an indoor practice area for the golf team.
That's what $60 million can buy - a stunning upgrade.
"If you were ever a kid and your mom put you in a five gallon tub to bathe you at granny's house versus jumping into a swimming pool. That's kinda the best example I can give you. It's going to be very contrasting, very high class," Head Football Coach Tom Westerberg said.
If, as the saying goes, everything's bigger in Texas then Allen High School is just fitting in with a facility that will certainly shine bright on Friday nights.
Copyright 2011 CNN. All rights reserved.
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