McKinney to vote on new $63M high school stadium

McKINNEY, Texas - Voters in the McKinney school district will soon be asked to vote on a new high school football stadium.

The stadium is part of $220 million bond package that the school board plans to put on the May ballot. The stadium itself costs $63 million.

Currently all three high schools in McKinney use a small stadium built in the 1960s. If approved, the new 12,000 seat stadium with an attached events center would be built near Central Expressway, just north of State Highway 121.

Nearly everyone who address the school board Thursday night seemed to support the project.

“My dad and mom have told me the highlights of the bond and how it will benefit many schools in McKinney. All the various upgrades for many schools and it will also give us the new stadium, which we have been waiting on for many years,” said Stephen Pereira, a student who wants to see the stadium built.

“We’ve got three high schools trying to use the same facility for multiple sports and those open grassy fields my friend remember as kids have been densely packed by housing and commercial properties. There is simply no space left around Ron P Stadium to plan for future development,” added Liz Strand Cimini, who also supports the bond.

People who oppose the project argue the price tag is too high or they don’t agree with the location.