In some American towns, high school football (or American football to the rest of the world) is a big deal. In the state of Texas alone, there are 50 stadiums (with a capacity of 11, 000 are more) that were built with the purpose of hosting high school football games. To many Americans, this is no news story, but many others across the world likely have many questions. How large is high school sport exactly? When did this frenzy over youth sport begin? And how much money is being spent on the game?
For many towns across the United States, there is little to do on a Friday night. Take the example of Aledo, Texas. It has a population of just under 3,000 and, therefore, is understandably void of the amenities found in a major city. The town's eponymous high school provide the entertainment on a Friday night with weekly American football matches in the autumn. The Aledo Bearcats, as they are named, are something of celebrities in this rural community; how else would they fill their 9,000-seater stadium?
According to Eric Sondheimer, a sports journalist for the Los Angeles Times, the American obsession with high school football predates the television. He states that "when there were no TVs crowds would be huge to games." This is easily explained by the United States' low population density, there are far fewer people living in large cities, and far more people living in towns of a few thousand residents. A small town is far more likely to be a tight-knit community, meaning that residents are more likely to be interested in the affairs of the youth. Given that just 21 states have NFL teams, fans that want regular American football might find that a local high school game, in which the players are more passionate, is a viable alternative to spending $100 (£79) on a ticket to a game.
Sondheimer also explained to me that now, people are primarily interested in high school football as the game is the only route to the university game (and then eventually the professional one) for players. In the US, all major sports primarily acquire university (college) players in annual selection processes or "Drafts." The universities select players through a scouting system, similar to the English football academy scouting system. The hope that a teenager from a town of a few thousand might play in front of tens of millions of viewers national television creates a strong support base around high school teams.
Although it operates at a loss for most schools, it is incredibly profitable for some, with the brand New Balance paying $500, 000 to refurbish a stadium in Massachusetts and to get its naming rights. In the city of Allen, Texas, a $60 million, 18,000-seater stadium (left) was opened in 2012. The California Interscholastic Federation, the organisation responsible for high school sport in California, signed an $8 million dollars deal to televise high school football playoff games. At Lake Travis High School, the football coach, Hank Carter earned $155, 156 -- $30, 00 more than the school's principal, and triple that of the average teaching salary at the school. The school district's superintendent stated that it was partially market-driven, but that it was also to do with what "the community desired."
Many argue that far too much money is being invested in high school sport and that the money should instead be used to fund academics. Others state that high school football is essential to the culture of many communities and that as long as the expenditure is approved by the taxpayer, there is no reason why it should end. It is clear that high school sport, and high school football, in particular, has the potential to generate significant revenue. But can the cost of a 60 million dollar stadium for teenage athletes be justified?
For many towns across the United States, there is little to do on a Friday night. Take the example of Aledo, Texas. It has a population of just under 3,000 and, therefore, is understandably void of the amenities found in a major city. The town's eponymous high school provide the entertainment on a Friday night with weekly American football matches in the autumn. The Aledo Bearcats, as they are named, are something of celebrities in this rural community; how else would they fill their 9,000-seater stadium?
According to Eric Sondheimer, a sports journalist for the Los Angeles Times, the American obsession with high school football predates the television. He states that "when there were no TVs crowds would be huge to games." This is easily explained by the United States' low population density, there are far fewer people living in large cities, and far more people living in towns of a few thousand residents. A small town is far more likely to be a tight-knit community, meaning that residents are more likely to be interested in the affairs of the youth. Given that just 21 states have NFL teams, fans that want regular American football might find that a local high school game, in which the players are more passionate, is a viable alternative to spending $100 (£79) on a ticket to a game.
Although it operates at a loss for most schools, it is incredibly profitable for some, with the brand New Balance paying $500, 000 to refurbish a stadium in Massachusetts and to get its naming rights. In the city of Allen, Texas, a $60 million, 18,000-seater stadium (left) was opened in 2012. The California Interscholastic Federation, the organisation responsible for high school sport in California, signed an $8 million dollars deal to televise high school football playoff games. At Lake Travis High School, the football coach, Hank Carter earned $155, 156 -- $30, 00 more than the school's principal, and triple that of the average teaching salary at the school. The school district's superintendent stated that it was partially market-driven, but that it was also to do with what "the community desired."Many argue that far too much money is being invested in high school sport and that the money should instead be used to fund academics. Others state that high school football is essential to the culture of many communities and that as long as the expenditure is approved by the taxpayer, there is no reason why it should end. It is clear that high school sport, and high school football, in particular, has the potential to generate significant revenue. But can the cost of a 60 million dollar stadium for teenage athletes be justified?
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