Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544665
M A Y 2 0 2 6 13 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T he renovation of Beaver Stadium continues this spring, with the steel frame of the new upper deck starting to take shape and the lower levels that will house the Marzano and Schuyler clubs, among other amenities, steadily coming together. Because of all the construction work around the stadium, large portions of the facility were off limits to fans on Blue-White Weekend. The construction is slated to continue through the 2026 season, so Penn State will bring back the temporary seating that it used to maintain the stadium's 106,000-plus capacity last year. The $700 million project isn't expected to be complete until the summer of 2027. Among those watching the stadium's progress with interest has been NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Beaver Stadium played host to its first hockey games in January, when the PSU women faced Robert Morris and the men wel- comed Michigan State. The latter game drew 74,575 fans, the second-most ever for an ice hockey game of any kind, seemingly serving as an intriguing proof-of-concept for the NHL. Would the league ever consider stag- ing an outdoor game between its two Pennsylvania rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, both of which have sizeable followings on cam- pus? Bettman said recently that NHL officials have indeed considered bring- ing the league's Stadium Series to State College. "There have been discussions over time," he said. "At some point, that is something we're interested in pursuing. The renovations there have put things, for a period of time, on hold. But I would envision, at some point, we will make our way out to Happy Valley." ■ Beaver Stadium Renovation Continues To Take Shape M A T T H E R B | M AT T. H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M With construction cranes towering above them, mem- bers of the Penn State football team worked out at Beaver Stadium on April 18. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS Workers have been filling in the parts of the stadium's west side that will eventually house the Marzano and Schuyler clubs. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS