Price tag set on Beaver Stadium renovations
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The plans to renovate Beaver Stadium are finally public. The 63-year-old facility also has a price tag, according to Blue White Illustrated insider Nate Bauer’s reporting on Thursday. After years of debating, several administrations, and dozens of surveys, the plan is officially in place to renovate Penn State’s iconic stadium.
At least most of it.
Check out Bauer’s conversation with host Thomas Frank Carr about the next stage of the process for Penn State to get it’s stadium up-to-date with modern times.
Penn State focuses on specific sections of Beaver Stadium
Bauer, who broke the news earlier Thursday, outlines the main thrust of his reporting.
“So the gist is really a $700 million capped project, right? That they don’t expect it to exceed $700 million, with a focus like a heavy focus on the west side of the stadium. So the press box and the stands on the west side of the stadium with a push for luxury amenities and luxury suites,” he says.
The plan does not touch most of the stadium, instead focusing on one section of seating and then updating the structure’s guts to provide fans better access and amenities. Bauer points to a specific reason that luxury suits are the focus of this plan.
“And I think that a callus interpretation of that is, “oh, this is just a money grab” This is just an opportunity to squeeze more juice from untapped resources [luxury suites]. Partnerships like those different types of things that I think probably in some cases rightfully get a bad rep right in the sports world, like it drives ticket prices up, all of those things.
But my understanding and really the framing that I think makes the most sense is Penn State is committed to remaining a self-sustaining athletic department. And so this is an attempt to fund this in-house, to be able to do this.”
The renovations should also give Penn State a chance to host more events in the 100,000-seat venue, aside from the other resources it can provide. However, this process is just the beginning.
“They’re not going to ask for $700 million to be approved by the board of trustees on May 4th and 5th. That’s not how this is going to work. It’s actually, hey, ask for 200 million upfront. Get one phase of this done.”
There is no timeline for renovations to start at this time.
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