Penn State Board of Trustees approve $7.5 million practice field renovation for Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Board of Trustees has approved a funding plan to upgrade the Nittany Lions’ football practice facilities. Thanks to a vote taken Friday during the group’s February meeting, new amenities are on their way to both the fields outside the Lasch Building and inside Holuba Hall.
According to the BoT’s previously posted agenda, the debt-funded work will include the following renovations: “a permanent video board and sound system at the practice fields, play clocks, goal post, and netting at the artificial turf field, and a video board, sound system, and filming cameras inside Holuba Hall.”
The Board of Trustees’ Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning first approved the measure on Thursday. It will now move into the design phase, which will be completed by HOK of Philadelphia.
A construction start date and project timeline are not yet available. Neither is a completion date. But, undoubtedly, the program would like everything in place before preseason camp in August, if possible.
“This project will significantly improve practice conditions and technology with various practice and support equipment and field infrastructure,” Penn State vice president for facilities management Bill Sitzabee said Thursday, per StateCollege.com
“The upgrades will also provide better video to record practices for the team assessments.”
Penn State has previously used portable video screens outside Holuba Hall. It allows for real-time replay and correction. The permanent fixtures and cameras, however, will eliminate the need for those.
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Penn State has plan for future of Beaver Stadium
The news about the Penn State practice facility comes on the day the university announced its intent to renovate Beaver Stadium.
“After extensive research and consultation, renovation for Beaver Stadium is the direction we want to take as it is far more economical than a new build. In addition, it’s important to note that no part of this project will be funded by tuition, student fees or any of our educational budget,” said University President Neeli Bendapudi. “I know there is a lot of interest in this project, and we are at the beginning of a multi-year journey, which still must include proposal review and approval by the Board of Trustees. Athletics also will need to put the project out for bid.
“Penn State has some of the most dedicated and loyal fans in the world and they deserve a facility that has upgraded amenities and improved circulation around the facility to enhance the fan experience. It is my commitment that we will do what we must to preserve one of our most iconic spaces in the most economical way possible.”
There is no timetable for when that could happen, however. But, building a new stadium no longer appears to be an option.
