Huckabee

Close your eyes and imagine - It's a crisp Autumn evening. It's dusk. The sound of fire flies are zipping past you and the smell of popcorn and hot dogs are faint in the distance. The lights come up and 11,000 fans dressed in your school's colors are cheering and roaring. The band begins playing the "Fight Song" and cheerleaders, football players and coaches begin to run out on the field.
        Welcome to the new Vernon Newsom Stadium.
        In 2003, voters in Mansfield ISD overwhelmingly approved a $228,000,000 bond election to keep pace with the rapidly growing student population. One of the challenges a "fast-growth" school district faces, particularly a district that will have five high schools by 2011, are accommodations for athletics and extra-curricular events.
        The District made a strategic financial commitment to construct a "multi-use" athletic complex including a stadium and a natatorium for their four, and soon-to-be five high schools, as well as the entire community, to utilize.
        The complex uses smart materials such as a pre-cast concrete super structure and king-size brick and split-face block veneer due to the grand scale of the facility. Interior high performance products utilized include a laminate paneling system for durability in the high traffic areas of the press box and a biodegradable carpet tile system for ease of maintenance. Low-E glass in all applications including the East-facing press box as well as high seer rated roof-top units that serve the facility all combine to turn out an energy-efficient facility that produces a lifecycle cost model that maximizes each of the system's useful lives.
        The stadium is centered in the heart of the District and features a split, two-level Press Box and a spacious, mid-level concourse that provides a means of entrance and egress from any of the four flanking ticket booths. The spectator grandstands for both Home and Visitors are designed with a slight skew on both ends that give the facility a "bowl effect" for maximum viewing angles for each fan. Additionally, the grandstand seating structure is constructed with three different, yet slight, rise dimensions, again giving each spectator a closer, more intimate seat for viewing.
        The playing field is situated in a North/South direction slightly angled to the west to take advantage of the prevailing winds and sun angles for participants and is surfaced with the latest, state-of-the-art artificial turf with fully inlaid yard lines and markings. The grounds are modestly landscaped and controlled by a series of ornamental and chain link fences.
        The office complex is approximately 10,000 square feet and also accommodates a large Community Center that is utilized by the entire district for specialized functions. Both Home and Visitor sides have the use of two full-sized locker rooms that can be subdivided for large soccer tournaments as well as football events and have accommodating showers and dressing areas. Coaches and referees also enjoy separate offices located nearby and a central athletic training facility will also be in close proximity to the locker areas for full-district use. The stadium's split two-level press box is a comfortably-sized 6,000 square foot arrangement that houses a multi-use Community Center, offices, restrooms and full coaching and communication booths for game time events.
        The stadium is anchored by the highest of ‘high-tech' scoreboard/message centers in the state of Texas. Modestly referred to as the Jumbotron, it stands over 40-feet tall with a 15-by-20-feet message center viewing screen that enables teams to show school spirit animations, local cable feeds and instant replay. The District partnered with a Methodist Hospital in a venture that included portions of the cost and advertising associated with the Jumbotron. The relationship is evident each time patrons arrive at the stadium as it is aptly named for this joint venture.