Updates to local high school stadium ‘gives that prestige look and wow factor’
Brianna Eye, Tori Margiotta, Kyleigh Rhodes and Naomi Jeter all scored as Grapevine defeated Colleyville Heritage 4-1 on Friday night, clinching the Mustangs a district championship for the 11th straight year.
It followed the boys game where after a scoreless regulation, Heritage won in penalty kicks, 4-3, on the final attempt.
While the games capped off an exciting night, it’s where they played that highlighted it all. Grapevine and Heritage play their home games at Mustang-Panther Stadium and the school district held a ribbon cutting for its new-look facility.
“For 50 years, Mustang-Panther Stadium has been a fixture of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD,” Superintendent Dr. Robin Ryan said.
In October 2016 during a football game between both schools, the district unveiled an initial rendering of the stadium, as well as some photos of what fans could expect. The renovations started in December 2017. Updated exterior, new press box, restrooms, concession stands and spirit shops were among the new additions.
MPS was set to open for the 2018 football season, but due to weather, the construction’s completion was pushed back which meant the football teams played home games elsewhere, including Dragon Stadium and Coppell Stadium.
“This extended construction time meant that our current seniors watched as their stadium was torn down and rebuilt while playing game after game in every location, but their home field,” Ryan said. “I know this process has impacted them and their families most of all and I’d like to sincerely thank them for their patience and support.”
GCISD used funds the district received through a $26 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) payout resulting from the 1996 TIF agreement with the City of Grapevine to bring Grapevine Mills Mall to the area. Approved by the GCISD Board of Trustees and the Grapevine City Council, the funds were used on renovations to MPS, joint-use educational facilities and the joint fiber project with the City of Grapevine.
In the end, stadium renovations came out to a total of $24,816,632.43 with some of the funds coming from voter approved bonds and the rest from TIF funds. But the facilities were a total upgrade.
“It’s beautiful. I love how it all ties everything into Grapevine and Colleyville,” Grapevine principal David Denning said. “The press box will blow you away. They did an amazing job with all the thought and designing they put into it.”
Throughout construction MPS was used for football, soccer and track practice, but no one could access the home stands or the press box. Friday night was the first opportunity to watch the game from the home side.
“I’ve been in the old stadium and to see the upgrades and to know that the community and our kids will get to experience this for many years to come, it’s just a blessing to be apart of,” Heritage principal Lance Groppel said. “It gives that prestige look and wow factor that GCISD has always been about.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2019 at 3:49 PM.
