Legacy Stadium - Katy Tigers
- David Hegler
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by David Hegler, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Legacy Stadium 1830 Katyland Dr
Katy, TX 77493
Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 12,000
Katy's Legacy Stadium
When it first opened in August 2017, Katy’s Legacy Stadium was the most expensive high school football stadium in America, demanding a whopping $70 million to be completed. While the massive 12,000 capacity stadium hosts numerous teams such as Morton Ranch and Paetow, one tenant in particular stands out among the rest: Katy High School.
Since 1959, the Katy Tigers have won nine state championships (winning twice since moving into Legacy Stadium) while practically being a feeder system for the NFL with alumni such as Andy Dalton, Eric Heitmann, and Danielle Hunter.
The Katy Tigers have a long tradition of a terrific ground attack and a stout defense, arguably the cornerstones of the purest form of the game. In that regard, despite the massive fortress and the surrounding spectacle throughout the game, going to a game at Legacy Stadium brings one back to the roots of the game. Back when it was about beating the other man across from you through muscle and will, and not through an aerial circus.
Food & Beverage 4
Legacy Stadium has a wide variety of food and beverage options from local eateries such as Hungry Howie’s (pizza), Sun City Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, and Chick-fil-A. The prices are pretty standard, with each offering a small selection of their menus, such as 32-ounce lemonades for $7, chicken sandwiches for $7, and personal pizzas for $6.50.
As you wait in line, you can watch the game from the reasonably sized flat screen atop the large brick and cement concession stand. This is a rarity for most of America, as high school football stadiums rarely do this outside the Lone Star State. This only goes to show that everything is bigger in Texas.
Atmosphere 4
It was homecoming on this particular night, but one can surmise that the atmosphere is always this festive whenever the Katy Tigers take the field at Legacy Stadium. What first caught this author’s attention was when he was told that, in Texas, no one ever crosses to the other side. EVER. While one can assume that this is standard for all high schools in America, they would be wrong. Although they set up separate stands for home and away crowds, they often intermingle at the concessions. That’s not the case for Legacy Stadium, where even the concessions are separated in the massive stadium.
Shortly after Katy begins each half by running through a banner, their fans clap along to their fight song. Flag bearers play a huge role as they run across the field after each touchdown, the flags depicting their national and state titles flailing in the wind.
Still, while it seemed like the schools were at war, as the game dragged on in the second half, the camaraderie became apparent on the field. The bands battled it out in song in between plays, and the cheerleaders skipped arm in arm around one end zone to the other side of the field.
Neighborhood 3
As a Houston suburb, Katy can seem both big and small. The neighborhood resides right next to I-10 and, at times, can feel cramped, but once you reach Legacy Stadium, it is clear that everything revolves around the town’s football teams. In fact, Legacy Stadium isn’t the only stadium in town. Just across the parking lot rests Rhodes Stadium, an older, smaller stadium that still brings that old Texas charm to the game.
As a suburb of Houston, Katy is a great place to stay if you are in town for Houston-centric activities such as taking in an Astros, Texans or Rockets game. Katy has several hotels that are more affordable than the many scattered over downtown Houston. The best hotels in the city are located in the outlets of Katy Mills, right next to a massive Bass Pro Shop. These include Springhill Suites by Marriott, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson , and Hilton Garden Inn Houston West Katy.
If you would like a bite to eat before the game, there are lots of choices to choose from in Katy, such as Texas Tradition, Charley’s Cheesesteaks and Wings, Oh Mmm Gyros Katy, and the Cheesecake Factory.
Fans 3
The fans are a dedicated bunch, all clad in red and very serious about the game. They clap along to the school fight song at the beginning of each half and cheer when appropriate. They are a respectful bunch who are there to embrace all that their beloved state encompasses.
The school’s pep squad helps in the pageantry by selling a wide assortment of game-ready items to the fans, painting the stands with red and white.
Access 3
The parking lot is vast and free. While traffic getting into the stadium is a bummer, if you wait a minute after the game, it clears up quickly. There are multiple entrances, and it is possible to have an Uber drop you off. Once inside, it may be easier to find a place to sit on the upper deck. The bathrooms are spacious and clean, too.
Return on Investment 4
If you love studying other cultures, then high school football just may be for you, as every team comes with its own identity and aura. That being said, the $10 this author spent on the ticket was invested well, as it wasn’t just a ticket to a game, but a portal into a different dimension. Everything that this author thought he knew about high school football was multiplied. Whether it was the double-deck stands, the massive marching bands, or the flatscreens on top of the concession stands, everything was bigger.
Extras 4
Most high schools have a band, but again, everything is bigger in Texas. Katy is no exception. Whether it was Katy or Paetow, both schools put great emphasis on their bands before, during, and much after the game, each putting on a lengthy performance after the contest, with both teams taking turns saluting their respective fight songs before going off to find their families.
The scoreboard is a large one, packed with a variety of sponsors' logos while featuring one of the cleanest resolutions in high school sports.
Speaking of videos, the flat screens atop the concession stands are a true rarity in high school football. But not in Texas. In fact, many of the newer stadiums in Tomball and Allen have the same feature, giving fans the unique opportunity to watch the game as they wait in the long lines.
Once the game was over, lights beamed from the base of the stadium’s base giving Legacy Stadium a red hue. In the night’s darkness, the stadium truly stood out in this instance.
Final Thoughts
As this author walked through the stadium, the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” continued to bellow in his head. Indeed, Legacy Stadium is a cathedral compared to most high school football stadiums, and, as a cathedral, it does a great job at highlighting all that is great about the culture.
The bands are good-sized and very lively, the stadium has twice as many levels as most high school stadiums do, the videoboard is of terrific quality and monstrous, and the product on the field is top-notch for that region. There isn’t even a running track around the field as the stadium is clearly dedicated to the gridiron.
With the Cowboys AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the Astros Daikin Park in Houston (to name a few), the Lone Star State has truly done a magnificent job at making stadium building into an art form, and this ideology bleeds out beautifully into the high school level.
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