A $60 million high school football stadium that opened in North Texas to massive fanfare in 2012 will be shut down for the upcoming season after cracks were found in the building's concrete concourse.
Administrators in Allen had hoped to have Eagle Stadium ready for this fall's games, but said further inspections found the structural problems will need significant repair. They insist the architectural firm and construction company will fund any repairs.
The district said Tuesday that both companies had offered $1 million each to allow repairs to begin, but that their insurance companies refused to make the payments.
"Our commitment to Allen students and taxpayers remains firm that the stadium be repaired properly at the expense of those responsible for the failure: the architect and the builder," superintendent Lance Hindt said in a statement.
Allen taxpayers approved a $119 million bond issue that included funding for the 18,000-seat stadium, with a high-definition video board, a second deck on one sideline and vendor stands hawking Chick-fil-A and Texas barbeque.
The facility is the flashiest example of the grandeur of high school football in Texas, where the "Friday Night Lights" have been glamorized in books, movies and television.
But the district had to close the stadium in February after extensive cracks were discovered in the concourse. An outside consulting firm hired by the district has found further building code violations, including parts of the stadium where seating capacity exceeds the legal maximum by more than 70 percent.
Ben Pogue, CEO of Pogue Construction, the stadium contractor, released a statement in response to the shut down.
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Pogue Construction has retained its own consultant who has been conducting his own review of the stadium construction. While our consultant has not issued a final report the findings to date support several conclusions of the Nelson report focusing on design issues discussed in the April 2nd letter.
Pogue has stated from the beginning that it would work closely with Allen ISD to identify and correct any problems in the stadium. Pogue has stated publicly that it takes responsibility for its work on the stadium. While Pogue could not participate in the escrow proposal without risking insurance coverage, an asset which Pogue considers of greater value to Allen ISD than the proposed escrow agreement, Pogue maintains more than sufficient insurance to stand behind its work on the stadium.
The Potter litigation is ongoing.Pogue is currently working with Allen ISD and the various experts to determine the best way to address the District’s concerns, so at this point Pogue does not recommend a specific repair process.
Pogue Construction stands by its work as the construction manager for the project. Pogue seeks to ensure its subcontractors provide quality workmanship. Pogue and its subcontractors take responsibility for any repairs due to the quality of work or materials of subcontractors retained by Pogue. Pogue continues to assert that taxpayers will not be responsible for any concerns which arise from the construction management of Pogue or the workmanship of its subcontractors.
Pogue Construction continues to stand by its work and services. Pogue also stands by its long term client and partner, Allen ISD. We will continue to work with Allen ISD and the parties involved to provide the people of Allen the stadium for which they contracted.
Allen, which won the Class 5A Division I state championship last year, will not sell football season tickets this year. It will host three "home" games at two stadiums in neighboring Plano and switch two other home games to road games.
