The tab for rebuilding the home stands at McEachern High School’s Cantrell Stadium has surged to nearly $24 million, after the Cobb County School District signed off on a major construction contract and earlier demolition and site work this spring. Demolition is set to wrap this summer, with new home stands not slated to be substantially complete until 2027. The rising bill has boosters, taxpayers and district budget planners watching closely to see whether other SPLOST-funded projects feel the pinch.
Board trustees voted 5-0 this month to approve the contractor selection, as reported by the Marietta Daily Journal. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale told the paper that “at the raising of three hands, this has increased by millions, multiple millions of dollars, the cost of construction moving forward.” The vote locked in a broadened project scope that district officials say required extra enabling work and safety upgrades.
Board approves $8.23M construction GMP and timeline
According to the Cobb County School District, the district’s agenda packets list a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) #2 to Parrish Construction Group of $8,230,877 to build the replacement home stands, restrooms and concessions. Substantial completion is targeted for August 2027. The same agenda materials reference an earlier March packet that approved a $4,566,437 GMP for demolition and a separate stormwater-improvements award tied to the McEachern site. Those prior approvals are detailed in meeting documents from the Cobb County School District, which together help push the total project cost sharply higher.
Why the total climbed
When the construction GMP is combined with the earlier demolition and stormwater contracts, the overall package approaches roughly $24 million, a figure that caught some in the community off guard, according to the Marietta Daily Journal. The paper reports that the McEachern Endowment Fund has committed about $7.5 million toward the effort and that the rebuilt home stands are expected to hold roughly 6,800 fans. That is fewer seats than before, but officials told the paper it will still be the largest home-side capacity in the Cobb County School District.
District documents state that the work is budgeted through SPLOST VI, and officials plan to keep the public updated on demolition progress, construction milestones and spending at future school board meetings. For now, school leaders and local boosters say they will be watching contractor invoices and timelines carefully as the stadium overhaul plays out over the next several years.
