Eagle Stadium’s “crack” problem set to finish rehab

The+Allen+Eagles+Stadium+in+slew+of+reconstruction++

Riley Laurence

The Allen Eagles Stadium in slew of reconstruction

Jillian Sanders, Editor-in-chief

More than a year after being shut down due to extensive concrete cracks, repairs on Allen High School’s $60 million Eagle Stadium are expected to be finished by May 20.

Construction crews have been pressed for time and working around the clock as the stadium is intended to be open for Allen’s June 5 graduation ceremony.

“Work has been ongoing since last summer in different phases,” chief information officer Tim Carroll said on May 7.  “We are on schedule to hold graduation there and of course the 2015 football season.”

Despite all of the snow and ice that the area had been hit with this past winter, Allen ISD has not let inclement weather affect the work.

“Even if we have some weather issues, they’re just going to increase the manpower,” executive director of facilities Greg Suttle said to the school board on March 23.

The month of April brought almost four inches of rain to the Dallas metroplex, and last weekend alone saw up to three inches, however no increase in spring rainfall has stunted the construction site’s progress.

“There were no major rain delays,” Carroll said. “Most of the work was under the stadium and not above.”

With the school unable to host neither the 2014 graduation nor the 2014 football season, seniors are looking forward to graduating in their own stadium.

“I’m so happy that the stadium [will be] fixed in time for graduation,” Allen senior Riley Christiansen said. “I can’t wait to graduate in Eagle palace and relive some good memories in the stadium.”

For soon-to-be seniors, the reopening of the stadium is a welcomed event, as students look forward to having their stadium back for Friday night lights in 2015.

“I am so dang excited,” Allen junior Paris Mays said. “Allen Eagle football has become something that has consumed my heart and I’ve missed our place we call home.”