KATY, Texas – A 12,000-seat stadium being built by Katy ISD has a price tag higher than some voters realized. The stadium was part of a $748 million bond approved by voters in 2014.
The district told voters the new stadium would cost $58 million. However, the entire cost for the project is now $70 million.
Recommended Videos
"We can't just put in a stadium and not think about the roads and the traffic and all of that," said district spokesperson Denisse Coffman.
Coffman said since the stadium is being built next to the district's current stadium, the infrastructure upgrades are needed to support what will become an entire complex devoted to all types of student activities.
Coffman said a new stadium was needed to accommodate a school district that is seeing an average of 2,500 new students a year.
"I've been at every game and really love it," said Sabry Eskandr. "I believe this is something for the future."
While many support the new stadium, some voters said they didn't realize the infrastructure upgrades were directly connected to the project.
"I get it -- we're Texas, we're big on football. But it's a lot," said Adriana Rodriguez. "We just thought it was kind of pointless, making another stadium when they can be investing in other things."
Coffman said she understands there is some confusion over the costs, but insists voters were never misled.
"The reality is the stadium itself, the stadium alone, is $58 million," said Coffman. "The infrastructure that supports the stadium is also going to support the entire complex and everything else that's in it."
Coffman said the district is using savings from a past bond and some money from the district's general operating fund to help offset some of the costs.
"Can you guarantee to parents that the cost of the stadium and complex is not taking away from other things that are needed for existing schools?" asked KPRC's Robert Arnold.
"Absolutely not. All of our projects continue to be built on time," said Coffman.
Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack still isn't convinced the costs were completely necessary.
"We tried to tell the district it wasn't smart to build two stadiums next to each other. They probably could have kept some of the costs down had they built it on a separate piece of land. But the voters voted for it," said Radack.
Coffman said building the stadiums next to one another will help make it easier to manage traffic flow and security.