The new McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center

McKinney, Texas – The world will be watching when the first kickoff is launched over the brilliant green turf of the new McKinney ISD Stadium and Event Center.

MISD officials are optimistic that it will take place as scheduled in the new stadium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, when the Lions of McKinney High School meet the Bulldogs of McKinney North in the first home game of the 2018 football season.

If so, fans will witness a historic moment, as waves of gold and orange pour across the field to mark the beginning of a new era for McKinney ISD Athletics in the district’s much-anticipated new venue.

And, for the first time in months, people will be talking about football rather than concrete.

McKinney ISD officials are optimistic that the 2018 football season will kick off in the new stadium. (Buzz Photos by Manny Flores)

MISD, Manhattan Construction and Stantec Architecture, combined with exceptional efforts by the City of McKinney, are aggressively pursuing full use of the MISD Stadium and Community Event Center for the Aug. 30 season kick off—a goal that is grounded in the district’s commitment to its students and the community.

“I am optimistic that we’re going to play the full 2018–2019 football and soccer seasons at the new stadium this year,” said McKinney ISD Superintendent Dr. Rick McDaniel. “From the spring of 2016, we have dreamt of opening this stadium and event center that would serve our community for years to come. Our seniors have awaited the opportunity to play and perform in that stadium, and it is our intent that they do so from the first game of the season.”

In addition to hosting football games and fine arts competitions, the MISD Stadium and Community Event Center will be the new home of MISD soccer. (Buzz Photos)

Earlier this year, as stadium construction moved toward completion, greater than anticipated cracking was discovered in the concrete of the concourse areas on the home and visitor sides of the stadium as well as the concourse lower bowl wall. That discovery prompted questions about the cause and the scope of the cracks as well as concern that repairs might infringe upon the start of the 2018 football season and possibly interfere with the 2019 soccer season. Since then, MISD officials have made clear to Manhattan and Stantec the district’s expectation that they correct the concerns.

Manhattan and Stantec have stated that MISD will not incur any additional costs for investigations and repairs.

The 2018 McKinney Boyd High School Men’s Soccer Team (Buzz Photos)

At this time, all repairs to bring the home concourse, visitor concourse and concourse lower bowl wall up to anticipated long-term maintenance and durability expectations are scheduled to take place after the completion of the 2018–2019 football and soccer seasons with no impact to the start of the 2019–2020 seasons.

“While the MISD stadium home concourse, visitor concourse (investigation ongoing) and concourse lower bowl wall (investigation ongoing) pose long-term maintenance and durability issues, Manhattan and Stantec have assured MISD those issues are in no way an impediment to full enjoyment of the facility for the upcoming football and soccer seasons,” said MISD Chief Financial Officer Jason Bird.

The district’s intent is to provide students, parents, staff and the entire McKinney community with a great football, soccer and fine arts experience.

“We want the experience of coming to our stadium to be an event that is so firmly entrenched in our community that it becomes a regular Thursday or Friday night affair,” said McDaniel. “It’s family friendly, and it should be exciting for all that are involved, whether you are in Fine Arts or involved in the athletic events taking place at the venue. We want the Stadium and Event Center to be something that our community is proud of and they continually want to bring others to see and enjoy and be a part of.”

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