Convenience Big Store: What it costs to maintain Texas' biggest high school stadiums

October 12, 2024

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Tomball ISD Stadium is located at 20235 Cypress Rosehill in Tomball.

Photo by: Courtesy of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) / Submitted

Today we're talking about what it costs to maintain Texas' biggest high school stadiums...

High school football in Texas is a serious matter, with districts shelling out millions to build stadiums. These venues, funded through school bonds, often come with state-of-the-art features that rival some college stadiums.

There was a time when stadiums and new schools could be approved by voters with one collective bond proposition.

Now, the law says school bonds must be broken down into smaller propositions, with each proposition having its own spot on the ballot. Voters must specifically weigh in on whether stadiums and athletic facilities are to be built or repaired.

As some districts ask voters to pass school bonds this election, find out how much it costs to build and maintain some of the biggest high school stadiums in Texas here.

📰 Need to Know

HOUSTON HEAT WAVE LINGERS: Any hopes of relief from the unseasonable heat is pinned to a cold front expected next week, when peak temperatures could drop by almost 10 degrees.
EDUCATION ROUNDUP: Houston ISD's Board of Managers approved Superintendent Mike Miles' first annual evaluation Friday. Here's a breakdown of the criteria he was graded on. Plus, HISD's River Oaks Elementary will no longer be an Election Day polling place due to safety concerns.
NO-KILL POLICIES: GOOD OR BAD? Houston-area animal shelters are bursting at the seams. Are "no-kill" policies to blame? Experts worry they may be contributing to an ongoing animal welfare crisis.
TIME FOR FALL YARD CHORES: Go native, and let your garden do the work instead. These Houston gardeners tend native gardens that provide a year-round support system for pollinators, beneficial insects and birds.
HAMMY ISSUES GALORE: Nico Collins felt "his hammy grab" and is out 4 weeks. A hamstring injury can be hellish for NFL players with uncertain recovery times and no clear treatment other than rest. Here's what to know about hamstring injuries, and here's an update on Texans injuries.

🏡 Suburbs

DEER PARK GAS LEAK UPDATE: The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has launched an investigation following a hydrogen sulfide leak that killed two Thursday at Pemex's Deer Park plant.
RETAIL DESTINATION: Baytown's 105-acre San Jacinto Marketplace, a redevelopment project that will replace the former San Jacinto Mall as the city's major retail destination, will soon be under construction, city officials said.
MAGICAL WINTER LIGHTS: Now in its 10th year, the event will be held at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds from Nov. 15 to Jan. 5, 2025, offering a larger space and enhanced visitor experience.

🍜 Things to do Today

ATTEND THE WOODLANDS PRIDE: The Woodlands Pride is hosting its 6th annual festival today at Town Green Park, featuring live music and entertainment, drag performances and more than 100 local businesses.
THROW IT BACK AT OPENING DAY OF REN FEST: The Texas Renaissance Festival starts today in Todd Mission, kicking off the festival's 50th anniversary and eight weekends of themed fun.
GET FREE SWAG AT UNIQLO: Uniqlo is hosting a weekend of festivities for its grand opening at Memorial City Mall. Customers can get a free Houston-designed tote bag with purchase and Uniqlo knot bags filled with surprises for the first 300 customers each day.
HIT A LOCAL EVENT: Today's lineup of local events includes the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, Korean Festival, Galveston Greek Festival, Katy Rice Festival and Bayou City Art Festival.
TRY A MICHELIN-RECOMMENDED RAMEN SPOT: "Ramen Creator" Tomoharu Shono expanded his international chain of ramen shops to Texas with a 32-seat restaurant in Houston's Asiatown.

Events at the Chronicle

Promotional image for virtual event on the 2024 election

Photo by: Susan Barber

Event: Will the $4.4B Houston ISD bond really help?

Chronicle readers are invited to a private Zoom on Oct. 16 with Houston Chronicle Editorial Board members. They will discuss key issues and races that Houstonians will be voting on this November, including their recommendation regarding the $4.4 billion HISD bond.

☝️️ One Last Thing

Think you're pretty looped into Houston-area news? Test your knowledge with our quiz, including topics like the historic Big Boy steam engine and Tower Theatre's new life.

I think I could ace it. 😎

— Yasmeen Khalifa