The Expo Center hosts the commencement ceremonies of about 8 area high schools. I don't know if any if the area colleges/JUCOS use it for their graduation

Do the larger schools limit the number guests a graduate can invite?

Along those lines, is the Expo Center adequate to handle large special events like graduation ceremonies?

The Center was built when Killeen - Temple Metro was probably a little over 200,000. Today it is about 440,000.

They just put a new roof on the thing, but is it time to renovate, improve acoustics, and perhaps expand seating to accommodate growth in the area

Could that be done at the existing facility or would a whole new arena have to be constructed?

Thoughts?












[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 6/8/2014 9:48a).]

I think belton had 8 tickets per graduate. 600+ graduates. Not sure on Killeen or temples numbers.

Area colleges hold their graduations there As well. The Expo is plenty big enough. Belton has he largest graduating classes. While they did have a ticket allotment, Belton will be building a second high school in the not too distant future.

Re: new school
I've heard Fall of '19 or '20

Nothing official or anything, but you can bet BISD will put that off as long as they can, cramming square pegs into round holes until they bust at the seams

You're right, nothing is official yet, but I would say the fall of '19 or '20 is pretty accurate. Converting one of the middle schools into a 9th grade center will help for a few years. However, it wont be long before even that is not enough. If you drive by High Point Elem, there is already a sign up stating "Future site of BISD school."

quote:

---

The Expo Center hosts the commencement ceremonies of about 8 area high schools. I don't know if any if the area colleges/JUCOS use it for their graduation

Do the larger schools limit the number guests a graduate can invite?

Along those lines, is the Expo Center adequate to handle large special events like graduation ceremonies?

The Center was built when Killeen - Temple Metro was probably a little over 200,000. Today it is about 440,000.

They just put a new roof on the thing, but is it time to renovate, improve acoustics, and perhaps expand seating to accommodate growth in the area

Could that be done at the existing facility or would a whole new arena have to be constructed?

Thoughts?

---

This year's seniors were given 9 tickets a piece. I feel sorta responsible. Last year it was so crowded and alot of people were standing a long the rail . I went to the expo Facebook page and sent them a pm about the capacity and safety. This year I froze to death just about but it was much less crowded.

Just my thoughts on graduation. Susan Kincannon is a straw. She enjoys sucking the fun out of life. Too many speeches. Good grief. Maybe the class clown needs to speak too, not just all the kids that are over achievers and think a long speech is a good speech.
There were 629 grads. Just get them in and get us out.

I'm not sure seating could be expanded in the current expo. Maybe better off to build new. That thing is ugly, the concourse is terrible, the bathrooms are drab. It was built for rodeos, not future expansion/aesthetics.

Been to grad ceremonies there and don't think it was that bad. Would like to see expansion though. Never say that can't be done.

While too small for the big schools, our graduation moved to the arena at UMHB. It is really nice in there, and I think our ceremony is pretty nice. Much better than the old days on the football field worry about rain.

The UMHB Mayborn center is great and serves the small schools well

I am in the camp that would like to see the Expo renovated or rebuilt, and expanded.

It's an almost 30 year old facility that served a purpose in a smaller county, but with the metro area set to surpass 500,000 soon, we could do better.

A special events arena with GOOD ACOUSTICS, 9000 seats, decent concourse and sight lines, and comfortable seating would get plenty of use, IMO, and would accommodate events for a growing, urban/suburban population

Of course, it would be another government expense, so ......






[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 6/11/2014 7:37a).]

Something along 190 would be great. Think of the hotel/motel/restaurant tax dollars it could bring .
But by the time they build that, it would be too small for this expanding population. 6 lanes of 190 from HH to Belton shouldn't be too far off. If BISD can keep adding bonds to my tax bill, the county can too.

I'm sure there are several models out there, but I assume an 8000 seat arena (not including floor) suitable for concerts, graduation, and rodeo would run what, $30-40 million?

Cedar Park cost about $60 million (2014$) and is a little smaller, but it is a Cadillac and the County would not have to duplicate that.

Merrell center in Katy cost about $17 million (2005$)

I don't see it happening anytime soon, but if they did it right, I'd probably support it...

The acoustics are terrible, but I don't think they need to expand it. With the exception of a couple of graduations, that thing never sells out.