Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499919
1 0 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M A fter years of discussion, debate and study, a major renovation project for Beaver Stadium is finally un- derway. Athletics director Patrick Kraft out- lined the plan at a May 4 meeting of the board of trustees, telling the Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Plan- ning that Penn State intends to over- haul the west side of the stadium while also adding amenities throughout the 63-year-old facility. The renovations will include improvements to spectator circulation, restrooms, concessions, pre- mium seating, lighting and more. Under the proposed timeline, con- struction would start in early 2025 and be completed prior to the start of the 2027 season. The total cost of the project could reach as high as $700 million. No portion of the funding will come from tuition dollars or educational budget funds, Penn State said in a prepared statement. Instead, the project will be bankrolled by a combination of private donations, concessions revenue, naming rights fees, sponsorships and ticket sales. In addi- tion, the university might have access to state funding, given that Beaver Stadium has the potential to be used for events that benefit the state and local commu- nity. "After years of studies and careful analysis, I'm happy that these much- needed renovations to Beaver Stadium are about to get underway," university president Neeli Bendapudi said. "I am committed to continuing to grow our intercollegiate athletics program and to keeping Penn State competitive on the national stage. "We have one of only a handful of self- sustaining intercollegiate athletics de- partments in the country, which means that this project can move forward, dis- tinctly, without using the university's overall budget, tuition dollars, student fees or the critical resources available in support of our educational and research missions." Ever since Penn State unveiled its Fa- cilities Master Plan in 2017, the future of Beaver Stadium has been the subject of ongoing speculation, much it centered on whether the aging venue should be renovated or replaced entirely. Recent cost estimates brought an end to the guessing game. According to stud- ies commissioned by the athletics de- partment, it would cost $1.5 billion to build an entirely new stadium and $1.2 billion to do a comprehensive renova- tion. Penn State settled on a more economi- cal approach that addressed the facility's most glaring needs, which included more than $200 million in deferred mainte- nance. The less-ambitious plan also pre- served more of current stadium's char- acter, an important consideration given PSU Moves Forward With Plan For Beaver Stadium Overhaul N A T E B A U E R | N A T E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M NEWS & NOTES Penn State intends to demolish and rebuild the west side of the stadium while also making less-extensive improve- ments elsewhere. School officials are hoping to break ground in January 2025 and be finished with construction by August 2027. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL "I don't think we need a new stadium. I think preserving Beaver Stadium was a really important part of it, just because it means so much." A T H L E T I C S D I R E C T O R P A T R I C K K R A F T