Beaver Stadium Renovation Refresh
Lots of steps.
As you have almost certainly seen/heard by now, Penn State knocked over blew up the press box on Saturday morning marking the most significant and noticeable step so far in the Beaver Stadium renovation project.
Truthfully, beyond the fact that the press box isn’t there anymore, there isn’t much new to talk about when it comes to the overarching project.
TLDR: The entire thing is slated to be completed by 2027 and it’s happening in stages, it only involves the west side of the stadium.
That being said I get a ton of questions about the project on a fairly regular basis and as much as I would like to tell people “YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS” that’s not very nice. So I don’t.
But…
As a bit of a refresher, here is what we known right now, starting with a few basics.
How much of the stadium does this encompass?
Just the west side, or rather, the side of the stadium with the press box. There are some stadium-wide improvements, but the main deal is just the west side of the stadium.
How much has been raised?
Penn State’s latest total of announced gifts is around $66 million [1/4/24]. The athletic department is paying for the rest, whatever that ends up being. The whole price tag is around $700 million. Penn State determined that it would be cheaper to renovate than rebuild.
Tickets and things?
I don’t know, I’m sure Penn State will tell everyone about tickets about two weeks later than fans would like.
IN 2025
Work will include the removal of the press box and upper level seating. Temporary bleachers will be in place for the 2025 season.
“[This] includes removing the press box and the top half of the left side and building a superstructure in its place*** to include suites and club seating with temporary bleachers installed during the estimated two seasons during which a structure will be built,” Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft said. “In 2026, the third phase would begin, which will include removing all lower bowl seating [on the west side] and replacing it with club seating. The goal would be to complete all phases by 2027.”
*** As you can see, the hypothetical rendering below [Penn State hasn’t committed to any renderings as being anything more than concept] there is a new upper bowl on the stadium.
IN 2026
Temporary bleachers will be in place for the 2025 season. Lower bowl seating will be removed with temporary seating in place. That will be replaced with club seating.
Penn State hasn’t indicated what those temporary seating structures will look like, how many people they will hold or anything other than they will exist.
IN 2027
The whole thing will be done. Yay.
Why google when you can @benjones