largest high school stadium in texas

I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: They wouldn't have got there without star quarterback Logan Anderson, the Class 5A Player of the Year who was also an all-state punter for Madison. David has been one of the NFL's dominant linebackers over the last decade with the Tampa Bays Buccaneers. It has a seating capacity of 102,995, making it the fourth largest in the country and the fifth largest non-racing stadium in the world. 1. The foundation of the stadium on the home side was originally meant to be a retaining wall for Reitz High School until a quick-thinking member of the school staff observed it could actually be the beginning of a football stadium. But dig into the history and youll realize what makes it special (or, perhaps, extraordinary): upon its construction back in 1935, it was built on a cemetery. Officials estimate that putting together the same package today would cost about $5 million. In an interesting piece of football history, the Minnesota Vikings actually played their first game (an exhibition) at Howard Wood Field against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 5, 1961. Ratliff Stadium has a capacity of 19,302 and has been dubbed the Epicenter of Texas High School Football by most people in the football community. The stadium was the largest in the state for over a decade after it opened and played host to several University of Arkansas football games until 1948. Max Thompson. High school basketball phenom Emoni Bates scores 63 points, grabs 21 rebounds in double overtime win. In a state that often boasts about size, no town does big bigger than Allen, Texas. Since its construction in 1924, the stadium has been expanded several times in order to reach its current seating capacity. Thats where we come in. Mesquite's Memorial Stadium, built in 1976, is the largest high school stadium with the a capacity of 19,400. What is the largest high school stadium in Texas? The crown jewel of high school football. Alamo and Farrington field stadiums were . The construction of the biggest high school stadiums in Texas began Click on the stadium name for even more information about the stadium from TexasBob.com, including address, playing surface information and more. Kingston Stadium was a pretty swingin' place in the two decades after it opened in 1952, with Canadian Football League exhibition games in 1961 and NFL exhibition games in 1961, 1962 and 1963. Community Connector School Program presented by Optimum, Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year Award, North Texas Dance Team Spotlight presented by Children's Health, San Antonio Inspirational Coach of the Week, San Antonio Student Trainer Program Spotlight, Texas Children's Training Staff Superstars Award. Smith went wild, setting a Super Bowl record with 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos and was named Super Bowl MVP. This stadium can seat 10,000 people on a Friday night with a view of arguably one of the biggest jumbotrons in Texas. The home stadium for Little Rock Central High School (formerly known as Little Rock High) is named after former head coach Earl Quigley, who went 149-56-11 in 22 years as football coach and won 18 consecutive state championships as the head coach of the track and field team. Bobcat Stadium's new press box features four separate rooms, and the turf was installed by the same company that has done several NFL fields. This stadium not only made this list but also was a runner-up in Dave Campbells tournament of the best high school football stadiums in Texas. No story about Spiegelberg Stadium would be complete without telling about the split of Medford High into North Medford High and South Medford High and the contentious way they parted ways. 2 overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Northern High's greatest player of all time is probably cornerback Dewayne Washington, who went on to star at North Carolina State and was the No. New $53M Texas high school football stadium has state's largest video board, best-in-class medical technology By Cam Smith, USA TODAY High School Sports August 16, 2019 2:00 pm 2.8k shares Required fields are marked *. Katy Independent School District in Mckinney, Texas, for example, built its high school a new stadium that came with a $72 million price tag. Doss starred at running back, linebacker and safety for Canton McKinley and was named a high school All-American. https://scorestream.com/apiJsCdn/widgets/embed.js, A Town Hall with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Election results on the High Plains: Nov. 8, 2022, KAMR Local 4 Sod Poodles Tickets Giveaway, KAMR Local 4 Viewer Appreciation Night at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo, Monster Truck VIP Ticket Experience Sweepstakes, Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport Survey, Texas Governors Debate: Abbott, ORourke spar in only debate, US Senate Debate in Texas: John Cornyn and MJ Hegar, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Few high school football gameday experiences can compare to what awaits fans at Union-Tuttle Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a $35 million upgrade was completed before the 2021 season began. The seventeen practice fields are called Toyota Soccer Center. Larry Jacobson was a football and basketball star at O'Gorman High before going on to star at the University of Nebraska, where he went 33-2-1 in three seasons as a starter, won two national championships and became the school's first of eight Outland Trophy winners as the nation's top interior lineman. Toyota Stadium is a soccer stadium with a 20,500-seat capacity in Frisco, Texas. Texas High School Stadiums With a Seating Capacity Greater Than 16,500. You aren't going to see a lot of football players built like Raekwon Davis a 6-foot-7, 330-pound defensive tackle who starred at Meridian High, then started as a true freshman at the University of Alabama. High schools: Hampton High School, Bethel High School, Kecoughtan High School, Phoebus High School. Its flat bowl shape gives off Texas very own small-scale Rose Bowl feel. %link% Maiava was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft and played six seasons in the NFL. A high school in Texas opened their season last night in a brand new, state of the art, stadium that cost $60 million to build: ALLEN . 18 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 1994 and played 11 seasons in the NFL, with his best years coming with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. (Memorial's capacity is still listed at 19,400, making it the largest in Texas) are built around . He flipped on a commitment to in-state Virginia to go play both sports for North Carolina, where he continued to play quarterback but switched to wide receiver for a seven-year NFL career. The stadium was renovated from November 2014 to August 2015 and among the facilities expanded includes elevators, concourse area, locker rooms, restrooms, and concession. Davis won a national title at Alabama in 2017 and was a second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, where he made the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2020. Stadiums Opened After 1999. Cost: $80 million. "As each phase goes along, you start to realize 'Man, this is real,'" Union head coach Kirk Fridrich told The Tulsa World. Mater Dei High School has won four USA Today national championships. Already a Subscriber? The Allen High School boys' bowling team won the 2001-02 and 2007-08 Texas High School Bowling Club Team Championships. High school football is played in all corners of the United States. Adam Zuvanich /San Antonio . High school football in the South is just different. The stadium was completed in 2009 by the city of Arlington. By joining the DCTF family you'llgainaccess to all of our exclusive content and have our magazines mailed to you! 11. Allen, Texas is a town known for its football. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is the second largest stadium in Texas. James R. Hallford Stadium soared past its 50th birthday in 2018 and remains the largest high school football stadium in the state of Georgia. The home team won a state title there in 2012 on a 46-yard field goal as time expired. What is the most visited state park in Texas? Ronald Curry was one of the top recruits in the country starting his junior year and a high school All-American in both football and basketball. High schools: Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana High School, Century High School, Cesar E. Chavez High School, Saddleback High School, Valley High School. The stadium serves as the neutral field for high school football playoffs in Texas. In the 1970s, three semi-pro football teams called Kingston Stadium home. Lawrence High eventually named its stadium after Pete Cooper, who also led the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish a stunning seven more times. Ishmael Johnson, While bigger stadiums (Memorials capacity is still listed at 19,400, making it the largest in Texas) are built around it in the Metroplex and beyond in Texas other major cities, this is one 6A stadium that has stayed as magnificent and unique for a reason that has nothing to do with its size. It expanded to 23,000 in order to host the Hula Bowl, a college football All-Star game that was held there from 1998 to 2005. twenty-one stadiums with a seating capacity of over 13,000 were built before You can expect a full stadium when the Aggies are playing at home, and the fans are . first player ever ejected from the Super Bowl. Enjoy music, special appearances by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Rowdy, autographs by Dallas Cowboys alumni, huge discounts on new RVs & so much more! About eighteen of the twenty-one stadiums with a seating capacity of over 13,000 were built before 1980. Port . The Dave Campbell's Texas Football staff picks out a dozen must-see Texas high school football stadiums, including El Paso's Jones Stadium, San Saba's Rogan Field, Cy-Fair's FCU Stadium, Allen's Eagle Stadium and San Antonio's Alamo Stadium. Four years ago . AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) Texas is known for its Friday night lights football and how much it appreciates the game of football. While it's an inexact science, we did have a few rules only one stadium per state and only stadiums that were created primarily with high school football in mind. This was a happy accident. The biggest stadiums in Texas are highlighted below. If you make it here for a game, try to catch Bismarck vs. Century. HS Stadiums with Naming Rights Sold. Don Hansen busted heads playing linebacker for Reitz High, where he won a state championship in 1961 before going on to play for the University of Illinois, where he won a Rose Bowl championship in 1964. The biggest high school football stadium in Nebraska (we think) is actually more known for hosting the state championships in track and field each year, which can draw around 25,000 fans. Join us inside AT&T Stadium for the largest RV show in Texas. For better or worse, Texas is home to palatial high school football showplaces with nine stadiums - including five in the Houston area - that cost at least $40 million to build. Below we list the largest SEC football stadiums by the seating capacity listed on the school's official website. The two schools that share the field, Allegany High and Fort Hill High, have two of the best football traditions in the state. Mesquite approved $11 million in renovations earlier this year, including a new facade, larger restrooms, and a new press box, which are expected to be completed by the 2015 season. Year opened: 1937 (closed in 1973, reopened in 2011). He played three games in the NFL, with the Washington Redskins, in 2014. The field was completed in 1976, and it has a seating capacity of about 20,000 seats. We wanted to find the biggest high school football stadiums in the country. If you're going to make it to just one game at Howard Wood Field in your lifetime, we recommend being there for the Bob Burns Dakota Bowl, which always features 11-time state champion O'Gorman High. He was picked No. AT&T Stadium as a seating capacity of 80,000, but can be expanded to 100,000 when necessary. It has undergone recent renovations and is still the best place in America to watch a college football game with 92,746 of your closest friends. The city built the stadium from 1937 to 1939, and upon its completion, they named it after John Fawcett, a former member of the education board. Texas is located in the South-Central part of the country, and therefore most teams compete in the Central, South or West divisions. "This is probably better than what we could have imagined, without a doubt.". "Five years ago, I gave birth to a 1-pound miracle," Mary Copeland, Cam's . According to a news article in 1977, Mesquite paid $2.5 million for the 20,000-seat stadium, which is a little less than $10 million in todays dollars. 19 overall in the 1979 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and moved to linebacker. This stadium also features a two-level facility that can hold up to 600 people. The National Register of Historic Places designated El Paso High, with its beautiful marble floors, as a historic landmark in 1980. Its why this place is known as The Graveyard, and there have been reports of very strange happenings on Friday nights. It is also used to host basketball games, concerts, high school and college football games, rodeos, soccer matches, Spartan races, and motocross. Football Stadiums Under. Dubbed The Lady on the Hill, the school was built in 1916 and features marble floors inside. Madison County didn't spare any expense when it built a state-of-the-art, $8.8 million stadium for Madison High School as part of a $27 million bond issue that was approved in 2017. In total, SEC football stadiums seat a combined 1,123,671 people. While they went from a capacity of 20,000 to only 8,500, the new stadium has . By michaelbQ4477ED. Ledger, who went on to win an Academy Award playing The Joker in "The Dark Knight," died of a drug overdose in 2008 at 28 years old. helped nurture the love for high school football in Texas. Backup Nick Foles took over and led the Eagles to the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. Every year, they hold the Battle for the Axe, with the winner receiving the trophy until the next game. Benson donated $11 million dollars to expand the stadium from 15,000 to 22,400 seats in 2015. If you are looking for largest capacity texas high school football stadium then Check Below largest capacity texas high school football stadium with Updated Information. This stadium can seat 10,000 people on a Friday night with a . Permian is a former national champion, and the program has been featured in a book and the television show Friday Night Lights. The ticket booth has five windows, but demand is so high that it sometimes does not open due to sellouts. NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF/Gray News) - Make-A-Wish South Carolina granted a boy's wish to have the "biggest birthday" celebration for his fifth birthday. Dominique Franks starred at powerhouse Union High before playing college football right down the road at the University of Oklahoma, where he was an All-Big 12 selection in 2008. R.R. Doss was drafted in the second round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2003 and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2006. The $32 million Panther Stadium opened next . The stadium is home to four local high school teams. The Dave Campbell's Texas Football staff picks out a dozen must-see Texas high school football stadiums, including El Paso's Jones Stadium, San Saba's Rogan Field, Cy-Fair's FCU Stadium, Allen's Eagle Stadium and San Antonio's Alamo Stadium. Greenway Avenue Stadium was named Fort Hill Stadium until 1987, and by 1998, they'd upgraded to FieldTurf in order to host scrimmages for the Washington Football Team. Headlight flashing: What it means and is it illegal? Once the remodel is completed, the Tomato Bowl will retain the charm along with the old stone faade made of red iron ore rocks, while now including all the modern amenities of a new stadium. Amenities. Search Texas Monthly Sections Built as part of the Works Progress Administration in 1939, the stadium is a full bowl dug into the ground that officially seats 6,500 (though on a rocking Friday night in Nolan County, youd be hard-pressed to keep 10,000 people out, sitting in the end zones). Tracey Eaton was a star defensive back at Medford High School in the early 1980s. Prentice played two seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. Initially, it had a capacity of 15,000 and was the largest in the United States. Originally named Medford Stadium, the name changed to honor legendary Medford High head coach Fred Spiegelberg upon his retirement in 1983. 10. Since Maryland began officially hosting state football playoffs in 1974, Fort Hill has nine state championships and Allegany has eight state championships, with Fort Hill winning its latest Class 1A title in 2022. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. The massive Mesquite Tower a 61,000 watt radio tower used by the radio station KEOM, which is operated by the school district is positioned on the south end of the stadium. Matt Stepp, Built in 1939, its hard to think of another downtown stadium in Texas with as good of a nighttime view of a skyline than Austins House Park. The football stadium isn't the only thing in Hobbs named after Watson. The maximum capacity of the stadium, including standing room, is 105,000. He dropped out after his junior year and got his GED. The stadium is part of the Berry Center complex which includes a conference center, an 8,300-seat basketball arena, and a theater. You can view info on all 1,200+ Texas high school football stadiums at TexasFootball.com/stadiums. Briefly: Once considered the largest gym in the country when it seated 9,325, . To join their ranks, the band requires high school and marching band experience along with a music audition and a sight-reading test. 367. By: Logan Newman, https://usatodayhss.com/lists/the-top-10-most-expensive-high-school-football-stadiums-in-texas, The top 10 most-expensive high school football stadiums in Texas. Top Capacity HS Stadiums. Phone: (540) 375-3004. Ratliff Stadium has a capacity of 19,302 and has been dubbed the Epicenter of Texas High School Football by most people in the football community. Kaluka Maiava was a star at Baldwin High and became the first player from Maui to ever play college football for USC. One of the things that the new 69 million dollar Stadium in Cypress-Fairbanks has with Katy, Texas is that both new stadiums have naming rights deals in place for big bucks. Seven schools call Cy-Fair FCU Stadium home. These are the biggest high school football stadiums in the U.S. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This article is available to our Digital Subscribers. After starring at Burke High, George Andrews became a three-year starter for the University of Nebraska, where he was a two-time All-Big 8 selection and an All-American in 1978. The state has some of the country's biggest stadiums to accommodate these sports teams. Its one-of-a-kind overhang over the home side is a leftover relic from a converted horseracing grandstand and gives the Punchers 2,000-seat home turf one of the more unique aesthetics in the entire state. A notable exception is the Dallas Cowboys of the the National Football League (NFL), who participate in the NFC East. Smith got the only start of his rookie year in Super Bowl XXII. These are not your average high school football stadiums. It's a piece of architecture that now blends seamlessly with downtown Butte and seems like a perfect fit for the town. KATY, Texas (KTRK) -- All eyes were on Katy ISD as the district dedicated its $70 million stadium to the world Thursday night.