Penn State Athletics Releases Renderings of Practice Bubble and Soccer Operations Center

Penn State Athletics released renderings on Tuesday evening showcasing a better look at the incoming soccer operations center and the multi-sport seasonal indoor practice bubble, both to be located next to Jeffrey Field.

The operations center is part of a $21.25 million project approved last year by the university’s Board of Trustees for renovations and additions to the home of the Nittany Lion men’s and women’s soccer team. “This project will allow the teams to have all facets of their program to be housed in one area, while also improving the student-athlete experience with permanent facilities,” the university wrote in a news release last year.

Plans for the new operations center, which will be constructed immediately southeast of Jeffrey Field, include offices for the coaching staffs, locker room and training facilities and restrooms. Both programs currently are housed across campus in Rec Hall and on game days are transported by bus to Jeffrey Field, where they use temporary trailers without indoor plumbing.

The new headquarters for the soccer programs is expected to be completed in 2026.

The second project, an inflated practice structure to be used by the soccer, field hockey and lacrosse programs, will be erected adjacent to the operations center. Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved the project at a cost of $9.8 million in May 2023 as part of about $68 million worth of capital projects spanning various aspects of athletics’ infrastructure.

The air-supported structure would be operational roughly six months out of the year and then taken down during spring and summer months, leaving behind just the turf field, according to Michael Vaow, project manager for Stahl Shaeffer Engineering.

College Township has approved land development plans for both projects.