Penn State Beaver Stadium renovation FAQs: Early illustrations, capacity questions, and more

Penn State has released the first photo illustrations of what the outside of part of Beaver Stadium could look like following the completion of a $700 million west side renovation project. The plan was officially approved by the school’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday. Some work started when the board approved $70 million of funding last year. Per the university, it includes:

“Initial construction has prioritized safety and accessibility through the widening of select concourses and the installation of new escalators, as well as field lighting performance and videoboard replacements. Winterization work also is ongoing, which entails the insulation of pipes and other upgrades to allow the building to be occupied when temperatures are below freezing, giving Penn State the ability to host a College Football Playoff game beginning in 2024 and other potential events beyond Penn State football games in the winter months.”

The steps that could cost up to the $630 million approved Tuesday will start after the 2024 season. Penn State expects the work to be complete by the start of the 2027 season. The west side plans include new loge and additional luxury and/or premium seating. A new press box and broadcast level, new bathrooms and point-of-sale locations are also on the list. So, too, is a 21,000-square-foot facility designed as a welcome center that can be used year-round.

Beyond the increased ability to host major events year-round as we winterize the stadium and build inventory, the experience for our fans will be greatly enhanced while providing the facilities our football program needs to continue competing at the highest level,” Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft said in a news release.

What could the outside of Beaver Stadium look like after the west side renovation?

Two photos were shared on Tuesday, plus one seen in a video the university released. All were described as early illustrations. They may not even up being the final version. But, they’re probably close. You can view them below:

Will capacity at Penn State home games be impacted? Will ticket prices go up?

This question continues to be left open-ended. It is logical to expect that ongoing construction from the end of the 2024 season through the start of the 2027 slate will ensure that some seats will be slashed due to the work that is being done. But, a final number of possibly or definitely impacted seats, both for those seasons and once the work is done, has not yet been released. The school did say, “These improvements are anticipated to result in a small reduction in seating that will occur during the 2025 season.”

The current capacity is 106,572, though it is commonly referenced as 107,000. The largest crowd in the venue to date was the 110,889 fans on hand for the Lions’ loss to Ohio State in 2018.

“Penn State takes great pride in having one of the largest stadium capacities in the world. Which, we plan to continue,” the university wrote in a FAQ page on its website. “This is one of the reasons why we are pursuing a renovation rather than a rebuild, which would have been significantly more expensive and resulted in a facility with a much smaller seating capacity.”

The FAQ website also offers no true insight into whether ticket prices will go up due to the renovations. It seems likely, however. In answering that question, Penn State writes on May 21, 2024: “It’s too soon to confirm at this time. However, growth in premium seating and other new seating options are expected to create new revenue streams.”

Why is only the west side being renovated?

Simply put, it’s the side Penn State opted to do work on first.

“The west side of the stadium is the part of the stadium that is in need of significant work,” the FAQ site says. “However, the entire stadium is part of the overall project with winterization, priority maintenance and circulation improvements.”

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