The initial phase will also include A/E procurement and design for a complete reconstruction of Beaver Stadium’s west side, which the school says will maintain the traditional bowl-style seating while adding club and loge seats, and suites. Slated for completion in 2027, the full renovation program will also include ongoing code upgrades, improved stadium-wide circulation, additional seating options, and upgrades to restrooms, concessions, Wi-Fi and cellular access.

Penn State Athletics plans to issue bonds to pay for the renovation’s initial phase. The Board must still approve the funding strategy for the remainder of the program, which calls for a combination of stadium-generated revenue, including ticket sales, concessions, naming opportunities and sponsorships, as well as a planned $200-million fundraising campaign. According to the university, Beaver Stadium also has a $200-million deferred maintenance backlog.

Erected at its current site in 1960, Beaver Stadium has undergone multiple renovations and expansions over the years. The most recent upgrade, completed in 2001, increased capacity to more than 106,500 spectators through the addition of sixty skyboxes in a three-level structure above the East stands and completion of an 11,500-seat upper deck in the South end zone. The stadium is named James A. Beaver. A lawyer, a former governor of Pennsylvania and president of Penn State’s Board of Trustees.