Posted on 09/27/2023 4:40:45 PM PDT by DFG
There's no doubt: Texas loves its football. So, on the surface, a bond election including a $94 million price tag for a second high school stadium isn't entirely shocking to read, given the culture of the Lone Star State.
Yes, the price tag would make it the "most expensive in Texas history." That's true. But according to district spokesperson Rachel Trotter, there is much more to the story than "building a new football stadium." Trotter told WFAA over the phone this is not just a football stadium, but rather "the district's largest classroom."
Trotter noted there is numerous other benefits to the stadium and uses of it:
Concessions ran by the students
Hundreds of members of organizations contributing to the game day atmosphere, including the school's band performing, JROTC presenting the colors, journalism students running the jumbotron and stadium graphics, cheerleaders and spirit squad
Community events hosted year-round, such as the district's Hope Walk for suicide prevention, Safety Bash hosted by Prosper PD in partnership with First Responders, etc.
Spring sporting events such as soccer, track and field meets, regional track
UIL competitions – band performances
Graduations
And the price needs context, too, Trotter said.
The $94 million tag is a projection of the price to build the stadium, accounting for inflation and construction costs at the time the project would start, which Trotter estimated to be 15% and 30% increases relative to the price in 2023, respectively. The stadium, if approved, wouldn't start construction for another three to five years and is planned to be located at the district's fourth high school, which is set to open in 2025. Trotter said both inflation and construction costs have gone up post-pandemic.
Prosper ISD is the fastest growing school district in North Texas, which brings up another important contextual point.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfaa.com ...
In centuries past communities put up churches as a centerpiece of their cities and towns.
In modern day America we put up extravagant temples to ball games and even more lavish Federal courthouses as our places of worship.
I remember when Prosper was just a crossroads.
Interesting.....that area has been flooded with liberals moving to Texas for all the jobs that Perry and Abbott have bragged about bringing to Texas. Saying that they’ll all become “Texans”. NOPE.
They aren’t trading in their Prius’ for and F150 and heading to the local gun store to get a .308 for their first deer season.
They showed up liberal. They stay liberal.
Same with Allen.
Well, Frisco has a 12,000 seat enclosed stadium, Allen has an 18,000 seat stadium, they have to compete if they want to get the good recruits.
Plano, on the other hand threw away over $67 million for a performing arts center which has sat empty for years unable to be safely used.
If they don’t build the stadium they’ll have to do something else with their tax money, like expand the library to add even more Porno books.
I listened to an interview on WRMJ (an FM station in my old neighborhood in NW IL) that was posted on their website. The station sports guy interviewed a man who coached a small town football team to a state title 40 yrs ago this fall.
The former coach really laid bare the reality of over emphasis on the game. He pointed out how some former players end up seeking the high of that state title for years after. He was disappointed that those guys couldn’t move on and look for other accomplishments in life.
If curious, here’s the link to the interview:
True. High school for me was hell. But my life improved with every passing year.
The people who made my life hell in high school? High school was the best four years of their lives and they have nothing to look forward to.
This is an insult and stupid.
Around here the high point of most lives is some kind of hometown sports hero, cheerleader or prom queen. It shows. The local paper devoted a whole page to a pig in town attacked by a dog. The twice weekly sports section is at least six pages year round and local HS, juco and college. I stupidly came back to retire for family who are gone now. I did what was right and now I’m serving my time in self imposed exile onthe farm and just working.
Yup. “Opiates, beer and football” is the religion of the people. Ask Karl Marx.
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