Top Menu

Penn State Releases Beaver Stadium Renovation Details

Beaver Stadium renovation rendering

Penn State has unveiled details on a proposed Beaver Stadium renovation that would bring drastic changes to the venerable facility. 

The possible path to an upgraded Beaver Stadium was released on Monday as part of Penn State’s Facilities Master Plan. Under the current proposal, Beaver Stadium would receive new chairback seating–contributing in a reduction in capacity from 106,572 to roughly 103,000–upgraded concourses, new concessions and restrooms, and overhauled premium areas.

In addition to the interior changes, Beaver Stadium would be revamped on the exterior. Once the renovation is completed, Beaver Stadium will be wrapped in brick and limestone materials.

While some of the changes fall in line with some recent college football stadium renovation projects that have taken place, there are still some details to be resolved. The overhaul of Beaver Stadium is not scheduled to take place within the plan’s five-year window for phase one, meaning that it might take until 2023 for the project to get underway.

Once it starts, the project could take three to four years to complete. Officials, including athletic director Sandy Barbour, believe that it will take time to sort information relating to the funding model and final design. More from the Centre Daily Times:

A price for the renovations has not yet been released, and an estimate won’t be available until the project gets closer. The funding will rely heavily upon philanthropic gifts and revenue generated by the athletic department.

In the Facilities Master Plan’s first five years, starting in the 2018-19 academic year, Penn State plans on constructing four new buildings — a Center for Excellence, new indoor practice facility, new natatorium, and indoor tennis facility — and renovating Jeffrey Field, the home to Nittany Lion men’s and women’s soccer.

So, why not include Beaver Stadium renovations in that phase? The specific changes, such as whether the student section will remain bleachers, are not yet fully designed.

“To figure out what Phase 1 is, you have to design the entire thing,” Barbour said. “Based on the complexity, we think there’s a significant amount of time investment in actual design, sequencing and the funding model.”

Penn State collaborated with the design firm Populous on the study.

Rendering courtesy Penn State University. 

, ,

August Publications