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Sheldon ISD picks Fort Bend Epicenter for 2026 graduation after NRG unavailable
Summary
District staff told the Board of Trustees they will hold the class of 2026 commencement at the Fort Bend Epicenter on Saturday, May 23, citing capacity, cost and rehearsal logistics after NRG Stadium became unavailable because of the World Cup events.
Sheldon ISD staff told the Board of Trustees they plan to hold the class of 2026 commencement at the Fort Bend Epicenter on Saturday, May 23, with a start time to be determined by district logistics.
The district began searching regionally after NRG Stadium became unavailable because of World Cup scheduling, and staff said they prioritized a site that fits nearly 1,000 graduates, offers floor rehearsal space and reduces rental costs compared with NRG.
District staff said the Epicenter’s floor seating accommodates about 1,120 graduates, the fixed seating is about 8,606 and there are 200 standing locations. The facility rental runs from May 22–23, which staff said would allow for a rehearsal the day before. Staff also reported the venue leases 2,350 parking spots with additional lots available on request, and parking at $5 per car. Staff said Rosenberg Police Department would be contracted for exterior security and that Sheldon must contract for interior security per the venue’s requirements.
Staff provided the board an expense estimate that they said is roughly half of what the district paid for NRG: about $48,000 to rent the facility plus $12,000–$15,000 for audio-visual, catering and other event services, for a total estimated range of $60,000–$62,000. The presenter described the Epicenter as having conference and VIP rooms and said the layout should allow staff to manage ticketing and avoid turning away guests if the district controls entry.
Board members and staff discussed travel time for families and ticket allocations. Staff noted the district projects 972 graduates and estimated as many as 8,800 guests; preliminary thinking discussed issuing about nine tickets per graduate based on venue capacity. The presenter contrasted the Epicenter’s controlled seating with limitations they described at the district stadium, where bench seating and fireworks restrictions reduced practical capacity in prior years.
No formal vote or board action on the venue was recorded in the meeting transcript; the presentation closed with staff asking for board support and indicating they would begin detailed planning.
The district plans to finalize logistics — including start time, ticketing details and security contracts — in advance of the 2026 ceremony. Staff said they will proceed with planning and report back to the board as arrangements are finalized.
