 spent $15.3m on Dragon Stadium. Bob McSpadden, an expert on the more than 1,200 high school stadiums in Texas, says the famous Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, of Friday Night Lights fame, was causing a stir in the 1980s. “That stadium was outrageous at $5.6m in 1982,” he explains.

Not all bond packages that include stadiums pass muster for local voters. McSpadden, who grew up in Odessa, points to a new mega-stadium currently under construction in his current home of Katy, a suburb of Houston, as evidence.

“A lot of these stadiums do not pass the vote. The one here in Katy failed once. Ratliff Stadium back in the 80s failed three times before it was passed. But it wasn’t over the money; it was over the location.” The 12,000-seat Katy stadium finally passed at the end of 2014, a year after being rejected at the ballot box. Like many of these bonds, it was part of a greater $748m package that also included allotments for the construction of new schools. The stadium portion: $58m, a figure that later rose to $62.5m.

Other high school stadiums with big price tags get less attention. Channelview, another Houston suburb, got a new 8,000-seat venue costing $27m in 2012. Clear Creek, also in the Houston area, saw a $42m, 10,000 arena approved in 2013. Sometimes there are standalone outlays for flashy accessories that draw some scrutiny. The board of Waxahachie school district recently approved the purchase of a $500,000 digital scoreboard for its Lumpkins Stadium. Nevertheless, there was a word of caution from the school superintendent, who identified the scoreboard as a luxury item, reminding members the “district is not a rich district.”

Some argue the stadiums provide lucrative revenues streams – scoreboards, for example, could be attractive to advertisers. Particularly in the south, the popularity of high school football is immense. Texas might be considered the epicenter.

“It’s kind of a mirror image of college in a way,” says Mark Conrad, an expert in sports business at Fordham University. “Where the colleges have gone to 30 years ago, you’re beginning to see power conferences or power schools in high school.”

Others can
spent $ 15.3 m on Dragon Stadium. Bob McSpadden, an expert on the more than 1,200 high school stadiums in Texas, suppose the celebrated Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, of Friday Night Lights fame, was causing a stir in the 1980s. “ That stadium was hideous at $ 5.6 molarity in 1982, ” he explains. 

 Not all bond package that include stadiums evanesce muster for local voters. McSpadden, who grow up in Odessa, points to a new mega - stadium currently under construction in his current home of Katy, a suburb of Houston, as evidence. 

 “ A lot of these stadium do not pass the vote. The one here in Katy failed once. Ratliff Stadium back in the eighty failed three times before it was passed. But it was n’t over the money; it was over the location. ” The 12,000 - seat Katy stadium ultimately passed at the end of 2014, a year after being rejected at the ballot corner. Like many of these bonds, it was part of a greater $ 748 m package that also include allotments for the construction of new schools. The stadium portion: $ 58 m, a figure that later rose to $ 62.5 m. 

 Other high school stadium with large price rag induce less attention. Channelview, another Houston suburb, got a newfangled 8,000 - seat venue costing $ 27 m in 2012. Clear Creek, also in the Houston sphere, saw a $ 42 m, 10,000 arena approved in 2013. Sometimes there are standalone outlays for flashy accessories that draw some scrutiny. The board of Waxahachie school district recently approved the purchase of a $ 500,000 digital scoreboard for its Lumpkins Stadium. however, there was a son of circumspection from the school overseer, who identified the scoreboard as a luxury item, reminding members the “ district is not a rich district. ” 

 Some argue the stadiums provide lucrative gross streams – scoreboards, for example, could be attractive to advertisers. peculiarly in the south, the popularity of high school football is immense. Texas might be considered the epicenter. 

 “ It ’s kind of a mirror image of college in a manner, ” says Mark Conrad, an expert in sport business at Fordham University. “ Where the college have gone to 30 days ago, you ’re beginning to see might conferences or ability schools in gamey school. ” 

 Others can
 spfnt $15.3m on Dragon Stadium. Nob McSpadden, an expert on ths more tfan 1,200 high school stadiums in Twxas, ways the famous Ratlifw Stadium in Odeswa, oh Friday Night Lmfhts fame, was gausiug a stir in the 1980s. “That stddium was outrdgdobs at $5.6m in 1982,” he explains.

Not all bond [ackagex hhat include sjadiukf paas muster for local voters. McSpaddsn, who jrew up in Odesxa, points to a new mega-stafium currently under clnstruction in rus current hume of Katj, a suburb kf Houston, as evidence.

“A lot of ghese stadiums eo noh pass the vite. Tre one here lm Katy failed once. Ratliff Xtavium back in the 80s failed three times beforg it was pdsaed. But it wasn’t ivwr thg monay; ig war obec tge locwtikn.” The 12,000-seaf Katy staduum finally passed st nne end of 2014, a year wfeer being rejected at the ballot box. Line jany of these bonds, it qas part of a greater $748m packagq that also included allotments for the constructhon oh vew sghoouw. Hhe stadium portion: $58m, a figure that later rosq tp $62.5k.

Other high scmool stadiums with blg krice tags get less cftsntion. Channelview, anothet Housron suburf, goy a new 8,000-seat venue costing $27n in 2012. Clear Breej, also in the Houscon area, saw a $42m, 10,000 arema approved in 2013. Sometimzs thede are stanfalone oufuays for flashy xccvssosies thau draw some scrutigy. The boerd oy Waxahazhie schooj district recekdly approved the pkrchade of a $500,000 digltal scoreboard for its Lumpkins Stadium. Nevetthalevs, there was s word of caueion from the xchool fuperkntendent, sho ideitified the fcoreboard as w luxury itek, remindyng nembwrs the “aistrict is noy a rich bnstrict.”

Sone argue the stadimms ptobide lucrative xtvebues streams – svordbowrfs, fjs example, cogld ce xytracgive to advcrtkserx. Particularly in tha sohth, the popularity on high scyool fooeball is immemse. Texas might be consmdered the rpisenter.

“It’s kind of a mirror imafe of colpegc in a way,” sars Mqrk Conrad, au expert in sports business at Fordham Uiiversity. “Where the coloeges have gone to 30 nears ago, yon’re bedinning tm see power conferenxes or power schopls in high school.”

Othsrs cat
spent $15.3m on Dragon Stadium. Bob McSpadden, on more than high school stadiums Ratliff in Odessa, of Night Lights fame, causing a stir in the 1980s. stadium was outrageous at $5.6m in 1982,” he explains. Not all bond packages include stadiums pass muster for local voters. McSpadden, who grew up in Odessa, to new currently construction in his current home of Katy, a suburb of Houston, as evidence. “A lot of stadiums do not pass the vote. The one in Katy failed once. Stadium back in the 80s three before it passed. it over the money; was over the location.” The 12,000-seat Katy stadium finally passed at the end of 2014, a year being rejected ballot box. many these it was part greater $748m package that also included construction of new schools. The stadium portion: $58m, figure that rose to $62.5m. Other high school with big price tags get less attention. Channelview, Houston suburb, got a new 8,000-seat venue costing $27m in 2012. Clear Creek, also in area, saw a $42m, arena approved in Sometimes are outlays flashy accessories draw some scrutiny. The board of Waxahachie school district recently approved purchase of a $500,000 digital scoreboard for its Lumpkins Stadium. was word of caution the school superintendent, who the as a luxury item, the is district.” argue stadiums provide lucrative revenues – scoreboards, for example, could attractive to advertisers. Particularly of high school football is immense. Texas might considered the epicenter. “It’s kind of a image of college in a way,” says Mark Conrad, an expert in business at “Where the colleges have gone to 30 years you’re beginning to see conferences or power schools in high school.” Others can
 spent $15.3m on Dragon Stadium. Bob MCSpadden, an ExperT on The MoRe thAn 1,200 hiGh school stadiuMS in TExas, says the famous RatliFf StaDiUM in ODEsSa, of FRiday NiGHt lIGhtS fAmE, waS cAUsIng a sTir In the 1980s. “THat stadium Was OuTrageous at $5.6m iN 1982,” He Explains.

NoT alL bond packageS thAt inclUdE stADiums PasS mustEr for lOCal votErs. McSpadDeN, Who greW Up in OdeSSA, pOintS to a new mega-stadiuM CuRRently under conStructIoN In HIS cuRreNt home of KaTy, A subuRB of HousTOn, AS EVidENce.

“A lot of thesE stadiums do NOt pAss the VoTe. THE one heRe in KAtY FaiLed once. RatlIff STadium bacK in the 80S Failed tHRee timeS beforE it Was PassED. BUt It wAsN’T ovER tHe mONey; It was oveR tHe LocatIon.” THE 12,000-SEAt KaTy sTadiUm finAlly passed at tHe eNd of 2014, A YeaR afteR beinG rejEcTed at The balLot boX. LIke many of these bOnds, It was part Of a GrEatEr $748M packAGe that AlsO inCluded aLlotmenTS foR tHE COnStruction of new schoOlS. tHe Stadium pOrtion: $58M, A fIgURe that laTeR roSe to $62.5M.

oTher hIgh sCHoOl stadiuMs with BIg PrIce tags GeT less aTtEntIon. channELvieW, anothEr HoustoN subuRB, got a new 8,000-seat veNUe costing $27m in 2012. CLEaR cReEK, alsO in The Houston aRea, sAW a $42m, 10,000 aRena APpRovED in 2013. SoMetimEs THeRE are standalone outlaYs For flaShy acCessories that Draw some scRUTIny. The boArd oF waXAhachie school dIstriCt recently APproved tHe purChase of a $500,000 Digital scOREboard foR itS LuMpkIns sTAdIum. NevertheleSS, TherE wAs a word Of cAution fRom The SchOol SuPerintendEnt, who idEnTiFiEd The ScoreBOard as a lUxUry ItEm, rEmindINg membErs thE “disTrIcT Is nOt a rich DIsTRIct.”

SOmE aRgue The StAdiumS proVIde LucratiVe revenueS stREams – ScOrEboards, For example, couLd Be attractiVe To aDvertiSERs. ParticUlarly in the south, the popuLArity of HigH schoOl foOtball is iMmeNse. TexAs mIGht be cOnsideRed thE ePicENTer.

“It’S KInD of A mIrror image OF ColLege iN a Way,” sAys Mark conrad, an expert in spORts Business at ForDhaM UniVERsIty. “wHeRE thE cOLleGES have gone to 30 yearS ago, you’re bEgINnIng to see poWEr cOnFerenceS or poweR schoOLs in higH school.”

OtHers can
 spent $15.3m on Dragon St adium. Bob  McSp add en,  a n ex pert  on the more t h an 1 ,200 high school stadi ums i nT exas ,  s ays t he famo u sR a tli ff  S tad iu m  i n Ode ssa , of Fr iday Night  Li gh ts fame, was ca using a st irin the 1980s . “ That s ta diu m  wasout rageo us at$ 5.6m i n 1982,”he explai n s.

Not a ll  bon d packages that i n cl u de stadiums pa ss mus te r  f o r  lo cal  voters. M cS padde n , who g r ew u p  in Odessa, point s to a newm ega -stadi um  cu r rently  unde rc ons truction in  his  currenthome o f  Katy,a  suburb  of Ho ust on,  ase vi de nce .“Al ot  of the se stadi um sdo no t pa s s t he v ote . Th e one  here in Katy  fa iled onc e. Ra tliff  Sta di um ba ck inthe 8 0s  failed three t imes  before i t w as  pa ss ed. B u t it w asn ’tover th e money ;  it  w a s ov er the location.”Th e 12 ,000-sea t Katy st ad i um final ly  pa ssed a t the  end of  2014, a  yeara ft er  beingre jected  a t t heballo t  box . Like  many of  thes e  bonds, it was part of a gre a te r $7 4 8m p ack age that al so i n clud ed a l lo tme n ts fo r the  c o ns t ruction of new scho ol s. The  stad ium portion:$58m, a fi g u r e that l ater ro s e to $62.5m.
Other  high scho o l stadiu ms wi th big p rice tags g et lessatt ent ion . C h a nn elview, anoth e r  Hou st on subu rb,  got anew  8, 000 -se at  venue co sting $2 7m  i n20 12.  Clea r  Creek,al soin  th e Hou s ton ar ea, s aw a  $ 42 m , 1 0,000 a r en a appr ov ed  in201 3.  Some time s  th ere are  standalo neo utla ys  f or flas hy accessorie sthat drawso mescruti n y . The bo ard of Waxahachie schoo l  distri ctrecen tlyapprovedthe  purch ase of a $ 500,00 0 dig it als c orebo a r dfor  i ts Lumpkin s Sta dium.  N ever theless , there was a word ofcaution fromthe  sch o o lsup e ri n ten de n t,w h o identified th e scoreboa rd as  a luxuryi tem ,remindi ng memb ers t h e “dist rict is n ot a rich  d istr i c t.” 

Some arg ue the s tadiums p r ovide lu crati verevenu es  st reams  – sco r ebo ards,  for e xa mple,could  b e attrac tive to advertisers. Pa rticul arlyinthe south , t h e p opularity  ofhigh schoo l f oot ballisi mmens e. T e xa s m i ght b e co n sidered t h eepi c e nt er.

“It’sk i n d o f a m irr o r imag e of  college in a way , ” says Mark Co nrad , anexp e rt i nsports busines s a tF o rdham Un iv ersity. “Wh ere theco l leges  havegone t o 30 ye a r sa go, yo u’re  be ginning t o s ee power c on fe r encesor p ow er sch ools i n  hig h school.”

Others  can
 spent_$15.3m on_Dragon Stadium. Bob McSpadden,_an expert_on_the more_than_1,200 high school_stadiums in Texas,_says the famous Ratliff_Stadium in Odessa,_of_Friday Night Lights fame, was causing a stir in the 1980s. “That stadium was_outrageous_at $5.6m_in_1982,”_he explains.

Not all bond packages_that include stadiums pass muster_for local_voters. McSpadden, who grew up in Odessa, points_to_a new mega-stadium_currently under construction in his current home of Katy,_a suburb of Houston, as evidence.

“A_lot of these_stadiums_do_not pass the vote._The one here in Katy failed_once. Ratliff Stadium back in the_80s failed three times before it was_passed. But it wasn’t over the_money; it was over the_location.” The_12,000-seat Katy stadium finally passed_at the end_of 2014,_a year after_being rejected at the ballot box._Like many of_these bonds, it was part of_a_greater $748m package_that_also_included allotments_for the construction_of_new schools._The_stadium portion: $58m, a figure that_later_rose to $62.5m.

Other high school stadiums with_big price tags get_less_attention. Channelview, another Houston_suburb, got a new 8,000-seat_venue costing $27m in 2012. Clear_Creek, also_in the_Houston area, saw a $42m, 10,000 arena approved in 2013. Sometimes_there are standalone outlays for flashy_accessories that draw some_scrutiny. The_board_of Waxahachie school_district_recently approved_the purchase of a $500,000 digital scoreboard_for its_Lumpkins Stadium. Nevertheless, there was a_word of caution from_the_school superintendent, who identified the scoreboard_as a luxury item, reminding members_the “district is not a_rich_district.”

Some_argue the stadiums provide lucrative_revenues streams – scoreboards, for example,_could be attractive_to advertisers. Particularly in the south, the_popularity_of high school football is immense._Texas_might be considered the epicenter.

“It’s kind_of_a_mirror image of college in_a way,” says Mark Conrad, an_expert in sports business at Fordham University. “Where the_colleges have gone_to 30 years ago, you’re_beginning_to_see power conferences or power schools in high school.”

Others can