Texas high school football stadium tour: 32 best home fields across Lone Star State

From the Tomato Bowl to 'The Pit,' these 32 buildings show how Texas high school football is truly different

Witnessing a Texas high school football game in any stadium is a worthwhile experience. 

While the Texas high school football season stretches deeper into the playoffs, SBLive took a look at the 32 best stadiums in Texas, from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley.

From domes to arenas to coliseums to fields, there are hundreds of them across the state where the Friday night lights burn bright each fall.

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Some of them hold special significance, whether it's because of their location, scenery, history or modern-day bells and whistles.

Texas has become famous for having multi-million-dollar high school football palaces popping up over the last 20 years, but even some of the smallest, most historic stadiums can hold their own in quality fan experience.

Here are our choices for the best places to soak in Texas high school football:

Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland

Source: City of Midland

The former Grande Communications Stadium combines an old-school look with all of the new-school amenities. Opened in 2002, the 18,000-capacity venue was one of the first of the new mega-stadiums, serving as home field for Midland, Midland Legacy and various professional football and soccer teams throughout the years. Astound Broadband Stadium still looks fantastic after two decades of use. It's also still a great place to watch high school football.

Alamo Stadium, San Antonio

Source: San Antonio ISD

One of the most historic (and iconic) stadiums on our list, Alamo Stadium serves San Antonio ISD teams and seats 18,500. Opened in 1940, this venue has one of the most distinct designs with its quarry stone exterior, flat bowl-style seating and tile murals. Located off US Highway 281 near downtown, Alamo Stadium has been home to four professional football teams, two professional soccer teams, a college football team and a bowl game.

Bulldog Stadium, Nederland

Photo by Chuck Cox

Largely unchanged since it opened in 1954, Bulldog Stadium is a throwback to a time when Friday night football games shut down towns. With a grass playing surface (Jerry Mallory Field) surrounded by a track and flanked by old-school stands, fans have packed in to cheer on the Bulldogs in the same stadium for decades. Even with a few renovations over the years, Bulldog Stadium maintains its historic vibe, which makes it a special place to watch football.

Children's Health Stadium, Prosper

Source: Prosper ISD

One of the new mega-million-dollar stadiums in North Texas, Children's Health Stadium puts several college football stadiums to shame, and it is home to Prosper and Prosper Rock Hill High Schools. With a $48 million price tag, the venue opened in 2019 and seats 12,000, with ample room for fans on both sides. It also includes state-of-the-art amenities, along with 24 concession stands, oversized walkways and ramps and large restrooms.

CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, Tyler

Photo by Chuck Cox

A jewel of East Texas, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium is home to two high schools — Tyler and Tyler Legacy — and Tyler Junior College. Opened in 1942, renovations have helped keep the venue looking great throughout the years. With a capacity of 10,566, the stadium, which includes "Earl Campbell Field," is an extra-special place to be for a game when the East Texas State Fair is going on at the adjoining fairgrounds and the Ferris wheel lights can be seen from the stands.

Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium, Cypress

Source: Cy-Fair ISD

Although it has been around since 2006, Cy-Fair FCU Stadium holds the title of most expensive stadium in Texas with an $80 million price tag. The luxurious stadium includes a gorgeous design with double-deck seating and a red-brick aesthetic that make it stand out from most other stadiums in Texas. Serving a dozen Cy-Fair ISD football teams, the venue is part of the Berry Center Complex, which includes a basketball arena and a theater, adding to the whopping construction cost.

Kenny Deel Stadium, Melissa

Photo by Robbie Rakestraw

The new kid on the block, Kenny Deel Stadium opened earlier this season with a seating capacity of 10,000 and a cost of $35 million. With seating on both sides and in one end zone, the stadium provides one of the best combinations of viewing options and amenities, including luxury boxes. Melissa ISD has a little more than 1,300 total students, so the venue is receiving lots of national attention. Located 40 miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth, Keeny Deel Stadium is one of a few places on our list located in the same geographic area.

>> MORE: Is Melissa ISD (Texas) the nation's best high school football stadium?

Eagle Stadium, Allen

Source: Eagle Stadium

Since its debut in 2012, Eagle Stadium has had the attention of high school football fans across the Lone Star State — and the country. With a cost of $60 million and a capacity of 18,000, the home of the Allen Eagles has not been without its issues. In 2014, the stadium had to shut down because of cracking in concrete. After $10 million in repairs, it opened for graduation the following year. Still, Eagle Stadium is a must-see for Texas high school football fans. If you didn't know it was a high school stadium on first glance, you'd swear it was home to a college team. It remains a sight to behold.

Eagle Stadium, Sanderson

Source: Sanderson Athletics (Twitter)

If you are into cool surroundings while watching some high school football, Eagle Stadium is the place for you. The 710-seat venue is known as "The Pit" because it can flood after heavy rainfall. But what makes this West Texas gem so special is the tiny stadium that's home to the six-man Sanderson Eagles is surrounded almost entirely by the picturesque Glass Mountains. It's one of the most incredible views of any Texas high school stadium. Watching football on a cool fall evening at Eagle Stadium is pretty hard to beat.

Heroes Stadium, San Antonio

Opened in 2009 with a seating capacity of 11,122 and a cost of $27.5 million, Heroes Stadium is one of the newer high school football venues in Texas that gets overlooked by aficionados. That's a mistake. Built on the former Longhorn Quarry, it is a beautiful facility that includes a track and tremendous sightlines for fans. Home to seven North East ISD teams and the temporary home of a professional soccer team for one season, this stadium holds it own when it comes to hosting high school football.

House Park, Austin

Source: Austin ISD

With the one-two punch of history and location, House Park holds a special place in Texas high school football history. Situated in downtown Austin near the University of Texas campus, it is a historic venue that remains a great place to see high school football. Opened in 1939, the stadium seats 6,500, and makes fans feel like they are stepping back in time. Before high rises dominated the Austin skyline, the venue had one of the greatest views in the state with the capitol dome in the background of the south end zone. House Park has been home to several professional soccer teams, as well.

Indian Stadium, Port Neches-Groves

Source: Port-Neches Groves Athletics

Nicknamed "The Reservation," Indian Stadium is one of the most intimidating places in the entire state for opposing teams. Opened in 1951, the venue seats 13,000, and is known for its incredible atmosphere and raucous fans cheering on the Port Neches-Groves Indians. Located near the Gulf of Mexico, Indian Stadium is perhaps the most iconic venue in Southeast Texas. With several renovations over the years, this historic stadium should be around for many more decades.

Raymond Jackson Stadium, Tenaha

Photo by Chuck Cox

In the Piney Woods of East Texas sits one of the coolest old-school stadiums in the state. Tiny Raymond Jackson Stadium, named for a legendary Tigers coach, seats just 1,635 fans, with most of the stands made up of wooden bench-style seating. There's nothing fancy about "The Pit," but it has one of the best historical vibes in Texas. Jackson, the stadium's namesake, guided Tenaha to the 1998 Class 1A state title.

R.R. Jones Stadium, El Paso

Photo by Chuck Cox

Widely regarded as the best place to see a high school football game in Texas, R.R. Jones Stadium is breath-taking. Sitting atop a hill on Franklin Mountains that overlooks El Paso, the stadium's view of the city on Friday nights is incomparable. And that's not even what the venue is most famous for visually. That characteristic is the giant façade of El Paso High School right behind the west end zone. The school and stadium were built in 1916. Twelve years later, R.R. Jones Stadium hosted the first night game in Texas high school football history. "The Lady on the Hill" also hosted the first three Sun Bowls.

John Kincaide Stadium, Dallas

Source: AG&E

Opened in 2005 with a capacity of 12,375, John Kincaide Stadium was a long-overdue Dallas ISD football venue that quickly became popular in the Metroplex. With a large press box towering over the home stands and an adjoining 7,500-seat basketball arena as part of the Jesse Owens Athletic Complex, the stadium has a distinct look that is visible when driving on I-20 through south Dallas. Although several DISD teams use the stadium, it is primarily home to Carter and Kimball. It remains a great venue that routinely hosts football playoff games.

Legacy Stadium, Katy

Source: Katy ISD

Another of the newer mega-stadiums, Legacy Stadium opened in 2017 at a cost of $70.3 million. Like all of the palatial venues in Texas, this one is massive and includes modern architecture and plenty of amenities. Home to KISD's nine high schools, Legacy Stadium stays plenty busy, although Jack Rhodes Stadium, which opened in 1981, sits across the parking lot and still hosts games weekly. Legacy Stadium has multi-tiered stands, an enormous video board and a seating capacity of 10,000. Seeing two stadiums so close to each other is worth the trip.

Lobo Stadium, Longview

Source: Longview ISD

Since it opened in 1977, Lobo Stadium had the look and feel of a college football stadium long before the modern marvels came onto the scene. Longview's home field is surrounded by pine trees with the school's gymnasium and other athletic facilities incorporated into the design to include the press box. In 1978, Lobo Stadium hosted the NCAA Division II National Championship Game between Eastern Illinois and Delaware. In the last two seasons, Kilgore College has also played some home games there.

McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney

Photo by Chuck Cox

Another behemoth in north Dallas/Fort Worth, McKinney ISD Stadium might be the best of them all. At a cost of $70 million, it's the third-priciest high school football stadium in Texas. MISD got its money's worth. In addition to hosting district schools each week, the venue has hosted to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game since 2018. McKinney ISD Stadium has the look of a big-time football venue with an enormous video board and ample stands on both sides.

Memorial Stadium, Mesquite

Photo by Chuck Cox

Opened in 1977, Memorial Stadium boasts the largest seating capacity of any high school football stadium in Texas at 19,400. But its most famous feature is the ominous 510-foot free-standing structure, Mesquite Tower, behind the south end zone, which opened in 1990. Home to Mesquite ISD schools, the venue is a regular site for playoff games. Memorial Stadium completed an $11 million renovation in 2015. Even with all of the new stadiums in the Metroplex, it remains a favorite among fans.

Midlothian ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium, Midlothian

Photo by Chuck Cox

Another newer stadium that doesn't get enough love, Midlothian ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium is a great, if a little smaller, venue. Opened in 2006, the 7,669-seat stadium is home to Midlothian and Midlothian Heritage. The design, which includes a massive press box atop stands surrounded by grass berms, makes MISD Stadium stand out. The venue has also hosted college games and is a regular venue for high school playoff games.

Mustang Bowl, Sweetwater

Source: Sweewater ISD

Easily one of the most unique stadiums in Texas, the Mustang Bowl is a full seating bowl dug into the ground with a capacity of 7,500. The iconic venue looks like no other, with concrete in between the stands all the way around. The stadium was built by the Works Project Administration at a cost of $65,000. It opened in 1939. Brimming with history, the Mustang Bowl is well worth a trip out west to experience.

Pennington Field, Bedford

Source: Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

Way ahead of its time, Pennington Field opened in 1987 with a capacity of 12,500, and quickly became known as the go-to stadium for playoff games in the Metroplex. Home to Euless Trinity and Hurst L.D. Bell and located two miles from D/FW Airport's south entrance, the venue replaced the previous version of Pennington Field. That incarnation was not big enough, however, and the annual Bell-Trinity games were played at Texas Stadium, then home of the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Pfield, Pflugerville

Source: Pflugerville ISD

In addition to having one of the most creative names of any stadium in Texas with a play on the town's name, the Pfield made its debut in 2017. With a seating capacity of 10,000, the stadium was built for $25.8 million. Home to the district's four high schools, the beautiful facility with large seating areas on both sides seams like a bargain. The Pfield also has pop culture significance as the home of the fictional Dillon Panthers on the hit TV series, "Friday Night Lights."

Ratliff Stadium, Odessa

Source: University of Texas Permian Basin

Another one of the largest stadiums in Texas, Ratliff Stadium seats 19,000 fans, and is home to Odessa and Permian High Schools and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin football. Prominently featured in the book and movie, "Friday Night Lights," about Permian High School football, Ratliff might be the most famous high school football stadium in the country. The stadium, which includes a track, stands alone like a monolith around a giant parking lot. For high school football fans in Texas, this is a bucket-list visit.

R. Clinton Schulze Memorial Stadium, Mason

Source: Mason ISD

Affectionately nicknamed "The Puncherdome" for its unique overhang on the home stands, R. Clinton Schulze Memorial Stadium is as iconic of a high school football stadium in Texas as they come. In fact, the overhang, which was previously a horseracing grandstand, has "Puncherdome" written in purple letters across it. No other high school football in Texas comes close to looking like the home of the Mason Punchers. The stands are also very close to the field, giving fans a great vantage point.

Sams Memorial Stadium, Brownsville

Source: Brownsville ISD

One of the more interesting locales of any venue in Texas, Sams Memorial Stadium is a hop, skip and a jump from the Mexico border. Less than two miles away from another country, the stadium also includes a unique design and palm trees, which you won't find too many places in Texas. The outside and inside of the facility have distinct throwback feels, including an orange roof over the press box area. With a capacity of 10,300, Sams Memorial Stadium is home to several Brownsville ISD schools.

Tomato Bowl, Jacksonville

Photo by Chuck Cox

Another old-school stadium that has one of the most unique looks in Texas, the Tomato Bowl is the amazing home of the Jacksonville Indians. Funded by the Works Progress Administration and opened in 1940, the venue sits atop a hill and its façade is made up of native red iron ore rocks that give it a look like no other. The Tomato Bowl also has train tracks just outside of the north end zone, so trains will pass through several times during a game. As if all of that wasn't enough, there's a Dairy Queen across the street and a Whataburger less than a mile away. How Texas is that?

Tomball ISD Stadium, Tomball

Source: Tomball Event Center

Another gorgeous new complex in the Houston area, Tomball ISD Stadium opened in 2021 with a seating capacity of 10,002. With its sleek, modern design, the venue is home to Tomball and Tomball Memorial High Schools and is part of the Tomball Event Center. The stadium has a 360-degree concourse and grass berms in between the seating and a community center behind one end zone. The exterior of the stadium is striking, with columns and large windows on the home side.

Waco ISD Stadium, Waco

Photo by Chuck Cox

Waco ISD made a huge splash when it opened this incredible facility in 2000. Another stadium way ahead of the curve, it has hosted state championships and junior college football bowl games. Home to Waco and Waco University High Schools, the venue remains a great place to watch high school football with its large stands and tremendous sightlines. Waco ISD Stadium is less than one mile off of Interstate 35, making it an ideal location for playoff games in Central Texas. It has held up incredibly well over more than 20 years.

Wildcat Stadium, Temple

Source: Temple ISD

Not far down the road from Waco ISD Stadium stands one of the truly iconic — and most visible — stadiums in Texas. Wildcat Stadium is a beacon that shines with its trademark blue lights at night visible to drivers in Interstate 35 rolling through Temple. Opened in 1965 and seating 11,500, Wildcat Stadium has one of the coolest looks of any stadium in the state from the outside. After all of these years, it remains one of the best places to enjoy high school football. It has also hosted state title games.

Gordon Wood Stadium, Brownwood

Source: Brownwood ISD

Re-named for the legendary Texas high school football coach in 1980, Gordon Wood Stadium has a distinct old-school feel to it. Opened as Cen-Tex Stadium in 1972, the 7,500-seat venue retains its charm and oozes history because of its namesake. The venue, which is pretty no-frills, is also the home field of Howard Payne University. There is a definite vibe watching the program that Wood guided to 257 wins and seven state championships.

Woodforest Bank Stadium, The Woodlands

Source: Conroe ISD

Opened in 2008 without much state-wide fanfare, this Conroe ISD gem seats 11,000 fans. The stadium seating puts fans close to the action on the field, and the amenities are plentiful. Home to Conroe Oak Ridge, Conroe Grand Oaks, The Woodlands and The Woodlands College Park, Woodforest Bank Stadium is one of a handful of high school football stadiums with a corporate sponsor. The stadium was home to a professional soccer team and the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship Game, known as the Stagg Bowl.

-- Chuck Cox | @sblivetx