Penn State board approves full Beaver Stadium renovation plan; what else did we learn about the project Tuesday?

The Penn State athletic department can officially move forward with its plan to renovate Beaver Stadium. The university’s Board of Trustees overwhelmingly but not unanimously approved the project request on Tuesday to release $630 million more for the project after $70 million was approved in 2023 to begin the design and planning phases. A vote to delay this vote to July was defeated. The project was then approved by a full board vote of 26 yes votes, 2 no votes (from trustees Anthony Lubrano and Barry Fenchak), and three abstentions (from trustees Ted Brown, Jay Paterno, and Alvin de Levie).

The planned work will cost no more than $700 million when it is complete. That is expected to be before the 2027 football season begins. Construction will start once the 2024 season ends.

Last spring, Blue-White Illustrated reported that the plan was to renovate the 64-year-old, 107,000-seat venue rather than building a new place for the home of the school’s most recognizable sport. This project will focus on the west, or press box, side of the stadium.

Tuesday’s approval means that at least part of school president Neeli Bendapudi and Penn State athletic director Dr. Patrick Kraft’s legacy will be tied to the project’s short—and long-term outcomes. After years of discussions about how to use the venue to create more revenue and modernize it before both arrived, the duo needed less than two years to get to this point.

“It is vital to substantially transform the fan experience and the community experience,” Bendapudi said. “It will drive economic development throughout the region. So many lines are dependent on the success of Penn State. And, this will set us up for a successful future, specifically athletics.”

Added Kraft:

“It is time for Penn State to catch up to its peers. It should be a model for the college and NFL world with innovation, experiences that are different and exciting, and technology. To put it simply, renovations to Beaver Stadium are long overdue. It’s time to act. And, it’s time to act now.”

What new things did we learn about the Penn State Beaver Stadium project on Tuesday?

The new $630 million was an expected number based on the past number of not spending more than $700 million on the renovation combined with the already-released $70 million. We also learned the previous timeline of construction starting in Jan. 2025 and finishing by Aug. 2027 is still the goal. A supporting document says the renovation will provide the following increases in the stadium:

–15 percent more restrooms

–24 new elevators, 12 new escalators, and four-plus stair towers

–102 new point-of-sale stations, a 70 percent increase

–New suites, addition of loge seating boxes

–Addition of a broadcast level and added press box capacity

The supporting document also includes an image of what the front of a renovated Beaver Stadium could look like. It’s labeled as “an early draft for illustration purposes only.” The school’s presentation coined it as creating “a “front-door” experience through [a] new welcome center” at the stadium. It would be “a 21,000 square-foot facility for events and other uses.” You can see it below:

Penn State is also looking to raise money, $134.3 million to be exact, for the project through a number of avenues. They include, per the supporting document:

–Founder suit donations: $80 million

–One-time capital donations: $4.3 million

–Philanthropy/naming opportunities: $50 million