Penn State Athletics Spearheading Mass Renovations Led By Beaver Stadium Improvements
UNIVERSITY Park, Pa. — Earlier today the Penn State Board of Trustees Finance, Business and Capital Planning Committee moved forward with multiple athletics-based projects including renovations to Beaver Stadium and multiple other facilities across campus.
The Committee approved the first stage of the Beaver Stadium renovation project, which includes; priority maintenance projects, winterizing and architectural and design development. The total expenditure for the first stage is estimated to cost $70 million.
The first round of construction will focus on improving safety and security, including crowd traffic control which has come under fire in recent years, as well as addressing field lighting performance.
Winterization will also be a priority, this entails, “the insulation of pipes and other upgrades to allow the building to be occupied when temperatures are below freezing.”
The building being suited for temperatures below freezing gives Penn State the ability to host a College Football Playoff game beginning in 2024 and play host to other events beyond football in the winter months.
Modernizing one of the largest stadiums in the nation and equipping it to handle events outside of football has been a key point of focus for Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft since his hiring last year.
"There are several funding avenues for this transformational project. The additional revenue generated throughout the renovated stadium will not only offset the costs but also enhance our overall athletics budget in the future," Kraft said.
The preliminary plans for the entire project involve a reconstruction of the west side of the stadium, general accessibility improvements and upgraded fan amenities. This includes improved circulation to ease spectator congestion throughout the stadium, improved restrooms, upgraded concessions, Wi-Fi and service upgrades and additional seating options.
Construction is anticipated to start in January 2025 after the conclusion of the 2024 season with a targeted goal of August 2027 for its completion.
Beyond the renovations to Beaver Stadium, the committee is also moving forward with projects targeted toward improving Penn State’s “student-athlete experience”.
These projects include a revamp of the Greenberg Indoor Sports Center, a $21.25 million Jeffrey Field Soccer “complex” that will allow both the Men’s and Women’s soccer programs to have all facets of their program housed in one area, and improvements to the Lasch Building, East Area Locker Room.
The committee also approved the creation of a new indoor practice bubble.
From January until March, 10 programs currently utilize Holuba Hall, which creates limited practice windows in the early morning or late in the evening in order to comply with academic regulations.
This bubble would alleviate those concerns and expand practice windows for athletes.
“Our ongoing and planned facility projects will enhance our student-athlete experience and position our teams to continue to be competitive on the national stage,” Kraft said.
A full board vote from this afternoon has confirmed that these changes will move forward.
Dylan Price is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email dvp5625@psu.edu.
