That was also the year of the fewest DFW area teams in the State Championships. So DFW fans did not travel to Houston. One of the DFW 5A teams was new and did not have an established fanbase either. Not trying the Alamodome is unfair as well.
Its interesting they keep on saying this, but lookie here 2015 vs 2022 6A games
Westlake vs Northshore 28842 6A D1 vs Desoto vs Vandy 35000
Lake Travis vs Katy 43718 6AD2 Duncanville vs NS 41412
Despite popular thinking, Westlake's fan base is not a well traveled fan base for a 6A and that hurt some. But to suggest the DFW area just blew Houston out of the water with the showcase games which get promoted the most is just hogwash.
The 5A games were indeed hampered by schools that were new just like Katy Paetow didn't pack the stands last year for their game for the very same reason. And this year, SOC was the draw and had a number of those team had knocked them off which a few came close to doing, that 28k number would've looked closer to the 17k that were attendance for the Boerne/China Springs game before. For which both of the 5A games in Houston averaged 15k. Again both with schools with not too established fan bases in George Ranch, Lake Ridge, and Lone Star.
The lower division games took hits which is true. But because they continue to use this argument that attendance "sucked" in Houston that it will suck in San Antonio is just a red herring. Houston is NOT a tourist draw. Fact. And that's a reason why major sporting events a rare thing there unless it involves a Houston team. San Antionio IS a tourist draw so much the NCAA has hosted both the Women's/Men's Final Fours on several occasions and the NCAA volleyball Championships. If the UIL really wanted to move them, they would press the San Antonio to get it done.
I was able to find the top 27 largest TX HSFB crowds and most were either at AT&T, the old cowboys stadium, or even the cotton bowl. Only about 5 of these games were at other stadiums.
That said, I've no doubt SA could draw huge crowds for title games if afforded the opportunity to have them.
I've said for years there is no reason in the world not to split them up and alternate them between the DFW Metromess, Houston, & SA.
www.pngindians.com/football/texas-high-school-football-all-time-highest-attendance/1. 54,347 Allen vs Pearland
2. 52,308 Allen vs Cy Ranch
3. 49,953 Plano vs PNG 1977 (Single Game Record)
4. 48,421 Longview vs West Brook 2018
5. 48,379 Allen vs Houston Lamar 2012
6. 46,339 SLC vs Euless trinity 2006
7. 46,289 Cedar Hill vs Katy 2014
8. 45,790 Highland Park vs Waco 1945
9. 45,000 Dallas Adams vs Richardson 1967
10. 45,000 Houston Washington vs Galveston 1968
11. 43,718 Katy vs Lake Travis 2015
12. 43,369 Aledo vs Manvel 2011
13. 43,321 Pearland vs Euless Trinity 2010
14. 42,896 SLC vs FB Hightower 2011
15. 42,621 Katy vs Cedar Hill 2012
16. 42,363 North Shore vs Duncanville 2018
17. 41,368 Katy vs Pearland 2010
18. 40,318 DeSoto vs Steele 2016
19. 40,281 Aledo vs Temple 2014
20. 40,000 Euless Trinity vs Allen 2010
21. 39,102 Garland vs Katy 1999
22. 39,102 Stephenville vs PNG 1999
23. 38,570 PNG vs Houston Kashmere 1977
24. 38,374 Plano vs Highland Park 1980
25. 38,000 Odessa vs SA Jefferson 1946
26. 37,744 Steele vs Denton Guyer 2010
27. 36,000 FB Willowridge vs Houston Yates 1988