House Park
Encyclopedia
House Park is a 6,000-6,500 seat American football
stadium in Austin
, Texas
that is owned and operated by the Austin Independent School District
.
House Park opened in 1939 along Shoal Creek, just down the hill from the old campus of Austin High School
near downtown. The stadium was built on land donated by Edward M. House
, a former diplomat and advisor to Woodrow Wilson
. House Park was later dedicated to the memory of the Austin High students that lost their lives serving in World War I
and World War II
.
Today, the stadium still serves as the home stadium for Austin High, as well as Anderson, McCallum and Lanier High Schools. The absence of a track
sets it apart from most other high school stadiums in large cities, but it does also host soccer games and has in the past been the site of the Texas High School Lacrosse
Championships. It is also home of the Austin Outlaws
of the Women's Football Alliance
.
In 2008 the natural grass playing surface was replaced with artificial turf. Fans were able to take patches of the grass turf as souvenirs.
In February 2010, House Park began construction of brand new locker rooms on the North end of the stadium. The renovation will allow House Park to secure a contract as home field of the Austin Aztex professional soccer team who have had their eye on the prime downtown field location since 2009 but were hindered by several factors including the outdated locker rooms.
“This will be a great venue for us in 2010," says Head Coach Adrian Heath "You’ve got a great view of the beautiful skyline from the stands and it’s very close quarters. The fans are right on top of the players. I expect our fans to be loud at House Park and really give our players a boost.”
, began play at House Park in 2010.
30.27798°N 97.749578°W
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
stadium in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that is owned and operated by the Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. It was established in 1881. Its current superintendent is...
.
House Park opened in 1939 along Shoal Creek, just down the hill from the old campus of Austin High School
Austin High School (Austin, Texas)
Stephen F. Austin High School, or more commonly Austin High, founded in 1881, is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Mississippi River, and was the first public high school in the state of Texas....
near downtown. The stadium was built on land donated by Edward M. House
Edward M. House
Edward Mandell House was an American diplomat, politician, and presidential advisor. Commonly known by the title of Colonel House, although he had no military experience, he had enormous personal influence with U.S...
, a former diplomat and advisor to Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
. House Park was later dedicated to the memory of the Austin High students that lost their lives serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Today, the stadium still serves as the home stadium for Austin High, as well as Anderson, McCallum and Lanier High Schools. The absence of a track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
sets it apart from most other high school stadiums in large cities, but it does also host soccer games and has in the past been the site of the Texas High School Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
Championships. It is also home of the Austin Outlaws
Austin Outlaws
The Austin Outlaws are a women's football team in the Women's Football Alliance. They are based in Austin, Texas. Home games are played at Chaparral Stadium on the campus of Westlake High School....
of the Women's Football Alliance
Women's Football Alliance
The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...
.
In 2008 the natural grass playing surface was replaced with artificial turf. Fans were able to take patches of the grass turf as souvenirs.
In February 2010, House Park began construction of brand new locker rooms on the North end of the stadium. The renovation will allow House Park to secure a contract as home field of the Austin Aztex professional soccer team who have had their eye on the prime downtown field location since 2009 but were hindered by several factors including the outdated locker rooms.
“This will be a great venue for us in 2010," says Head Coach Adrian Heath "You’ve got a great view of the beautiful skyline from the stands and it’s very close quarters. The fans are right on top of the players. I expect our fans to be loud at House Park and really give our players a boost.”
Austin Aztex FC
Austin's professional soccer team, the Austin Aztex FC of the USL First DivisionUSL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, began play at House Park in 2010.
External links
30.27798°N 97.749578°W