Texana Thursday: High School Football is King in Texas, as are the Stadiums

For many Texans, high school football season—not Christmas—is the most wonderful time of the year.

The stadiums in which these teams play have a role in the spectacle and tradition. Next month, the Katy Independent School District opens Legacy Stadium. It will be situated in the same lot as the current stadium.

Getting the new stadium built has been controversial, both in terms of location and cost.

But if it’s true that Texans expect bigger and better in everything, then the new stadium will be a good fit.

Some other stadiums worthy of fan attention this fall include:

Alamo Stadium, San Antonio (capacity: 23,000)

The stadium was built during the Great Depression era, but has had its share of upgrades over the years. It’s just north of downtown San Antonio, near Trinity University.

It is the former home of the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League.

Allen Eagle Stadium, Allen (capacity: 18,000)

The Eagles began play there in 2012. In 2014, the stadium was closed due to a crack in the concrete that was judged to be a safety issue for stadium visitors. The stadium reopened for the 2015 season.

FC Stadium, Frisco (capacity: 21,193)

Many football stadiums also host track meets or soccer games. FC (for “Football Club”) Stadium is perhaps best known as the home of FC Dallas, a professional soccer team in Major League Soccer. In fact, the soccer team is the stadium’s primary tenant, but football obviously brings in the fans, too.

Jones Stadium, El Paso (capacity: 12,000)

Football stadiums are usually stand-alone structures. Not so with Jones Stadium in El Paso. The stadium is attached, one might say, to El Paso High School itself. The school is on the west end of the stadium. One cold walk directly from the school door to one’s seat in the stands.

Ratliff Stadium, Odessa (capacity: 19,302)

If you’ve read Buzz Bissinger’s book Friday Night Lights, you’ve heard of Ratliff Stadium, home to the Permian Panthers. (The movie, starring Billy Bob Thornton, was based on the book. The NBC television show, starring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, was adapted from the book.)

Ratliff Stadium has also been shown in Aerial America: Texas on the Smithsonian Channel.

The stadiums profiled here are by no means the only popular ones. One can argue that the best stadium is where one’s team plays.

Good luck to all the teams.