Penn State is getting ready to move forward with a major renovation project for Beaver Stadium.
The agenda for the Board of Trustees’ May 5 meeting includes a proposal to authorize spending up to $70 million on the first phase of the overhaul to the Nittany Lion football team’s longtime home, which would focus on the stadium’s west side.
A separate proposal to authorize $22 million for the next phase of Lasch Football Building renovations is also on the agenda. They are among six athletic department projects totaling $160 million on the board’s agenda, including an overhaul of the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex, Jeffrey Field renovations, construction of an indoor practice air supported structure and East Area Locker Room renovations.
No tuition dollars will be used for any of the projects, according to the proposals.
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in February that, after years of study, university officials decided to renovate Beaver Stadium, which has undergone several additions and renovations since it opened in its current form in 1960, rather than build a new facility.
“The current proposed Beaver Stadium renovation will extend the life of the existing facility, generate new revenue, and greatly improve the quality of the fan experience,” according to the proposal on the trustees agenda. “As envisioned, the Beaver Stadium renovation will align Penn State Football facilities and operations with the highest competitive level within the Power 5 and Big 10.”
Renovations will provide improved access for broadcasting, improved circulation, new restrooms, upgraded concessions and “much-needed” premium seating on the west side of the stadium, the proposal states
Improvements to the rest the stadium will include improved vertical circulation, upgraded concourses, renovations to enhance accessibility, restroom additions and upgraded concession quality and capacity. Field lighting upgrades to meet NCAA standards are in the plans, as well.
The project also will address the stadium’s myriad maintenance needs, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and telecom work “to optimize integration with campus systems,” according to the proposal. Most utilities are located or have their entry point in the west side of the stadium.
Stadium capacity will be maintained at more than 100,000 spectators.
No timeline for the project is listed in the proposal.
The request asks the board to authorize funds for “design costs, professional consultant expenses, acquisition of permits, stadium winterization costs and related
expenses.” Athletic Department revenue will pay for the debt associated with the project.
While not discussed in the agenda, the overall Beaver Stadium renovation project is expected to occur in multiple phases totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Next Phase of Lasch Renovations
Trustees are also expected to consider the latest in a series of renovations and additions to the Lasch Football Building, which most recently included a $48 million project approved in 2021 for a first-floor weight room expansion, strength training and conditioning upgrades, a new lobby entrance, and mechanical and electrical systems upgrades.
The new project would renovate second-floor meeting and office spaces “with a focus on functionality and efficiency,” and create new offices for staff who currently share space.
Plans also include an expansion of the building over the patio to create new event space.
It “will be funded exclusively by Intercollegiate Athletics,” according to the proposal
