AISD Trustees, Superintendent receive  update on replacement stadium

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During the December 12 Board study session, Aldine ISD Trustees and Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney received an update on the plans for the district’s new stadium, which is scheduled to open in August 2024.

Representatives of architectural firm Stantec/Smith and Company Architects joined Fred Washington, Aldine ISD’s Chief Operations Officer, and Patrick Mouton, the district’s Executive Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, to provide a progress update.

Live video stream of the construction site

The demolition of Thorne Stadium, which opened in 1979, will begin in January 2023, making way for a new state-of-the-art stadium designed to enhance both the student and community experience. The new stadium will be built in its place and will accommodate up to 10,000 guests with two tiers of seating.

One of its unique features includes customized LED lights on the Westside and Eastside of the stadium that can be used to highlight the hosting team’s school colors. Additional  features include:

• Locker room renovations at the adjoining M.O. Campbell Educational Center; (each locker room can be subdivided in half
• A two-story press box
• A new, larger scoreboard
• Parking lot improvements
• New concession stands and restrooms
• A multi-use community room
• A designated plaza for band and drill team pre-halftime performances
• An open-air concourse with concessions stands
• An officials’ locker room and meeting space
• Multi-use turf designed for both soccer and football

“I hope our community is as excited as I am about the future of our new Thorne Stadium,” said Superintendent Goffney. “Seeing a rendering means we are moving forward with our plans of providing Aldine supporters with a showplace for them and our students, and I am super excited that this dream is becoming a reality. As I’ve said before, Thorne Stadium has served the Aldine community for 43 years, and it holds so many special memories for our community. Our goal and responsibility are to be proactive in ensuring that the venue where we welcome our community meets, if not exceeds, basic safety standards.”

Earlier this year, Aldine ISD utilized a third party, Texas Sports & Civil Engineering, to evaluate the stadium. Texas Sports & Civil Engineering recommended two options for the district. One was a repair option, and the other was a replacement option. The district opted for the replacement option. At their June 24 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the use of $25 million in the fiscal year 2022 and $25 million in the fiscal year 2023 to cover the cost of constructing the new stadium.