Stadium Review: McKinney ISD Stadium Revised

McKinney ISD Stadium

McKinney, TX

From US 75, go north into to exit 40B, White Avenue. Exit White Avenue and go east about 1 mile on White Avenue. The stadium is on the right after passing the baseball stadium.

Home Team: McKinney, McKinney North

In 2006, the stadium now known as the "Poe" finished its face lift. The press box switched sides and was completely revamped. The meat and potatoes of the stadium, however, remain the same. A new stadium is in the works for McKinney as the schools continue to outpace the current facilities. Whereas somethings have changed, others have not.

Parking/Traffic: Score -- 3

It'd be a shame if either of the home teams got a following, because parking and traffic are atrocious. The home side of the stadium gets a two lane road to take you into the parking lot, and the away side is mostly residential parking. Luckily, since the away side outdraws the home side most weeks, getting in and out has been relatively easy. For playoff games as a neutral site, the word around town was "get there an hour early."

Press Box/Scouts: Score -- 9

If anything about this stadium is first class, it is the press box. Although the actual media seating area isn't huge, and high speed internet may or may not work, you have a beautiful view of the Collin County area from the press box. Staff is top notch without the overbearing ensuring that only certain people are supposed to be there attitude that permeate some press boxes. There is a nice elevator leading you up to all levels - but one can usually not hear the outside atmosphere, which does detach you from some of the feel of the game. Food is usually fried chicken and knickknacks. They do take care of you at Ron Poe.

Field: Score -- 8

New field turf was installed, replacing the natural grass field. With at the time three major high schools playing all types of sports, the move was needed. Lighting is good, but it is still more of a traditional 4A stadium as opposed to a 5A mega-stadium that is popping up all over the place.

Atmosphere: Score -- 6

There was no real atmosphere to games at this stadium. It was bland and held no true home field advantage. Even when one of the sides got loud, the track around the field made it a less intimate setting.

Intangibles: Score -- 6

McKinney ISD Stadium was upgraded with the addition of McKinney North & McKinney Boyd to the McKinney ISD high school roster. The money could have been better spent in a new stadium. As far as intradistrict play, you don't look forward to going to the field, and if it was a big game, you certainly would dread the bad parking situation. McKinney ISD has been proactive in their considerations of the football field, and that means something. Look for a future football field to be a top notch new generation type of facility.

Overall Score: 25

42-50 -- Worth seeing the stadium even if two 0-10 schools are playing. Everyone should visit this stadium as soon as possible. Look for a JV game if you have to to see a game.

34-41 -- An excellent stadium. The only way that this stadium could be better is if you had a good game playing.

26-33 -- An average football stadium. If you're in the neighborhood and a team you're scouting is playing, this is the stadium for you.

20-25 -- Parents of band, football players and drill teams would enjoy the game, but only because of parental pride.

Under 20 -- Time to ask the school district for a bond election.