Penn State Sports Magazine
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J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 3 11 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M its place in the hearts of Penn State fans and its status as one of the most well- known venues in college football. "I don't think we need a new stadium," Kraft said. "I think preserving Beaver Stadium was a really important part of it, just because it means so much." Added board chair Matt Schuyler, "Beaver Stadium is a national icon, and parts of the facility are more than 85 years old. This is the right time and the right approach for needed improvements and modernization." Kraft said Penn State officials were able to use the cost estimates as a way to assess their priorities when thinking about the stadium's future. "We dove into the weeds on these studies," he said. "There were things that were not necessary. That's just kind of how we [decide] what's necessary and not necessary. "It's also a question of what you can afford. It's good. We're excited." Kraft said one of Penn State's priori- ties will be to keep the seating capacity above 100,000. With a current capac- ity of 106,572, Beaver Stadium is the second-largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth-largest in the world. Michigan Stadium, with a ca- pacity of 107,601, is the only stadium in college football that is bigger than PSU's home field. Kraft said the stadium's scale helps Penn State differentiate itself from other programs. "That's who we are," he said. "That's part of our identity. What we're doing in season tickets shows why you do that. I think we'll get over 93,000 season tick- ets [this year]. "Beaver Stadium is more than just a football stadium," he added. "I think it's such an important part of the commu- nity, what it means to everybody when you come in from the airport to see it. I just think as many people as we can get in that building, we're going to get them in there, no matter how we do it." At its May meeting, the board ap- proved $70 million in funding to start the renovation process. Of that total, $29 million will be used for winteriza- tion of the present stadium. The rest is for design costs, consultants, permits and other related expenses. Penn State has invited 10 stadium- design firms to submit proposals. A top three will be selected for review, leading to the choice of a designer to begin the process. That is set to take place over the next year, followed by a "pre-con- struction" phase expected to begin in June 2024. PSU hopes to break ground on the project in January 2025. The west stands will be completely demolished and re- built. During the 2026 season, the stadi- um's seating capacity will be diminished, but Kraft said the impact will be minimal even with construction ongoing. "We will never be under 100,000," he said. Kraft said the plan to finish the proj- ect by August 2027 is partly driven by a desire to avoid spiraling construction expenses. "The longer you wait, we're seeing such an escalation in costs," he said. "We wanted to get it done as quick as we can, but we feel good that that's a standard timeline." ■ Additional Facilities Projects Win Trustees' Approval In addition to approving the first tranche of funding for Beaver Stadium's overhaul, Penn State's board of trustees green-lit five other facilities projects in May. Those projects include: Greenberg Indoor Sports Center Training Table: At a cost of $31.9 million, the former Greenberg Ice Pavilion will be converted into a 38,000-square-foot facility to be used throughout athletics. It will include dining areas, as well as fitness and recovery spaces, and will be connected to both the Morgan Academic Center and the Lasch Building. Construction will begin in August 2024, with a completion date set for August 2025. Jeffrey Field: A 24,400-square-foot addition will serve as headquarters for both the men's and women's soccer programs, whose offices are currently located across campus in Rec Hall. The new facility will feature home and visitor locker rooms, spaces devoted to hydrotherapy and weight training, coaches' offices and a team lounge, along with concessions stands and public restrooms. The cost is estimated at $21.25 million. Indoor Practice Air Bubble: Yet to be named, the 106,000-square-foot indoor air bubble will serve as a practice facility for athletes in the Olympic sports programs. It is expected to cost $9.8 million and will be located just south of Jeffrey Field along University Drive. The bubble will allow PSU's football team to have exclusive access to Holuba Hall through the winter and spring. East Area Locker Room: This facility will be renovated to include sports performance offices, nutrition stations, a lounge and other improvements. The estimated cost is $5.2 million. Lasch Building: Following the completion of a $48 million weight room expansion, Penn State is set to upgrade the coaches' offices and meeting areas on the second floor. In addition, the outdoor patio over- looking the practice fields will be converted into a new event space. The project cost is estimated at $22 million. — Nate Bauer Now that the upgraded weight room is finished, the next phase of renovations to the Lasch Building is set to begin with improvements to the coaches' offices and meeting rooms. PHOTO BY NATE BAUER