Texas Southern Lays Out Plans for New Stadium
Texas Southern University is laying out a vision that includes a new football stadium, upgraded facilities and a decade-long plan to reshape the campus of the Houston HBCU.
The university has launched a Campus Master Plan that outlines roughly $1.7 billion in long-term capital priorities. The plan includes more than 20 phased projects over the next decade.
One of the biggest athletics pieces is a proposed 10,000-seat football stadium. The stadium would give Texas Southern a more defined on-campus football home as part of a broader effort to modernize the university before its centennial.
Texas Southern currently plays football at Shell Energy Stadium, a Major League Soccer venue in Houston. An on-campus stadium would shift the game-day experience closer to students, alumni and the Third Ward community.
Pelican Bay Aquatic Center Reopens After $7M Renovation
Pelican Bay Aquatic Center has completed a $7 million renovation project and will reopen to the public July 18 with updated facilities, improved accessibility features and new amenities.
The renovation was funded through Edmond’s 2017 Capital Improvement Projects Tax and marks the first major upgrade for the aquatic center after nearly 25 years of service.
Edmond leaders will hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. July 17 at Pelican Bay Aquatic Center, located at 1034 S. Bryant Ave.
“Pelican Bay is more than a pool—it’s where Edmond families and friends create lasting memories and learn water safety,” said Maggie Murdock Nichols, Ward 1 Edmond City Councilor. “This renovation ensures it remains a vibrant, inclusive space.”
The project included a new concrete pool deck, Myrtha RenovAction System pool liner, ADA-compliant lifts and stairs, new play structures, refinished slide supports, plumbing repairs, new drains and LED in-pool lighting.
Dothan, Ala., Gets New $6.2M Pickleball Facility
Dothan city leaders on Saturday opened a $6.4 million pickleball complex at the Rip Hewes Athletic Complex that officials said is designed to draw players and visitors from across the Southeast.
The facility features 25 covered courts with overhead fans, ADA accessibility, and an LED lighting system. City officials said the indirect lighting design — which they described as the first of its kind for pickleball championship play — is intended to eliminate direct overhead light on the court surface. The complex also includes a dedicated championship court and is equipped for year-round play and large-scale tournament hosting.
Billy Powell, the city’s director of leisure services, said planning began about two and a half years ago after staff toured other facilities and consulted organizers and operators across the region.
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