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Beaver Stadium reconstruction thread

Alphalion75

Alphalion75

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
15,119
4,222
113
NittPicker said:
I found these on Facebook. Good photos. I didn't want to copy and share the photos and not give the guy credit.

Click to expand...

Thanks!! I'm sure the amenities of the stadium will be a welcome upgrade, however Beaver Stadium's all 4 sections will be asymmetrical......hence the giant erector set.
 
B

BCS PSU

All-Conference
Jun 2, 2001
1,176
2,012
113
Alphalion75 said:
Thanks!! I'm sure the amenities of the stadium will be a welcome upgrade, however Beaver Stadium's all 4 sections will be asymmetrical......hence the giant erector set.
Click to expand...
Texas' stadium is not the same on the sides, and neither is Camp Randall, Byrd Stadium, or Ben Hill Griffin, and many others. That's because when these stadia first were built, it never was dreamed that over a 100,000 people would fill them. Therefore, expansions were done on a piecemail basis, which caused a lot of the expansions to look asymmetrical.

If PSU knew back in the early 90s when the North upper deck was built as what it knows now, I'm sure that they would have made at least both end zone upper decks the same. My guess is that PSU was thinking that the North end zone might have completed the Beaver Stadium expansion. However, interest just kept growing, as well as the need to incorporate corporate suites. Also, unless you wanted to totally rebuild the stadium and have PSU play home games in Pittsburgh and Philly for several seasons, they did the best that that they could.

As it stands now, the West side and the South end zone are modern and look very good.
 
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Alphalion75

Alphalion75

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
15,119
4,222
113
BCS PSU said:
Texas' stadium is not the same on the sides.

If PSU knew back in the early 90s when the North upper deck was built as what it knows now, I'm sure that they would have made at least both end zone upper decks the same. However, unless you wanted to totally rebuild the stadium and have PSU play home games in Pittsburgh and Philly for several seasons, they did the best that that they could.

As it stands now, the West side and the South end zone are modern and look very good.
Click to expand...
I wonder what work is planned for the East side. Do you know if they will be installing similar lighting to the West side?
 
B

BCS PSU

All-Conference
Jun 2, 2001
1,176
2,012
113
Alphalion75 said:
I wonder what work is planned for the East side. Do you know if they will be installing similar lighting to the West side?
Click to expand...
I don't know anything about the lighting, and suspect that there will be no major changes to Beaver Stadium after this current phase is completed for a long, long time just because of financial reasons. Also, considering that a lot of the East side is made up of student sections, PSU might just want to let that side remain as it is.
 
Alphalion75

Alphalion75

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
15,119
4,222
113
BCS PSU said:
I don't know anything about the lighting, and suspect that there will be no major changes to Beaver Stadium after this current phase is completed for a long, long time just because of financial reasons. Also, considering that a lot of the East side is made up of student sections, PSU might just want to let that side remain as it is.
Click to expand...
I just read that the only work to be done on the east side is taking down the light poles and installing new lighting. The exterior of the east side will remain the same with all the steel beams etc. So it will look nothing like the exterior of the new west side.
 
B

BCS PSU

All-Conference
Jun 2, 2001
1,176
2,012
113
Alphalion75 said:
I just read that the only work to be done on the east side is taking down the light poles and installing new lighting. The exterior of the east side will remain the same with all the steel beams etc. So it will look nothing like the exterior of the new west side.
Click to expand...
I'm not an architect or structural engineer, so I don't know if it would be possible at least to put some kind of facade on the exterior of the East side to cover up the beams. At this point, I guess that it is what it is. IMO, most of the exterior of Beaver Stadium now looks as good as it ever has.

Like I said, when Beaver Stadium first was moved to where it is now and gradually expanded in the late 70s, it probably wasn't contemplated that college football stadia would have to be the same quality as a NFL stadium. A lot of college football stadia, because they were used so infrequently, were just utilitarian structures with no luxury boxes and very small press boxes. Just look at photos of Bryant-Denny Stadium before Bama turned that place into a Taj Mahal; it basically was an erector set just like Beaver Stadium, as well as Doak Campbell Stadium.
 
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MtNittany

MtNittany

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,515
4,934
113
I'm curious what the attendance numbers will be. I haven't seen a capacity announcement, unless I've missed it. It seems bigger to me.

I wonder if SCum could be digging their big hole deeper in the coming years - bringing them even closer to their creator.
 
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NedFromYork

NedFromYork

Freshman
Aug 29, 2001
84
99
18
MtNittany said:
I'm curious what the attendance numbers will be. I haven't seen a capacity announcement, unless I've missed it. It seems bigger to me.

I wonder if SCum could be digging their big hole deeper in the coming years - bringing them even closer to their creator.
Click to expand...
That's funny.
 
E

Efejle

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2023
1,042
2,349
113
So I am wondering if the television cameras will set up in the press box level? Or on top of the West side upper deck? I'm thinking here about Ohio State, and the game cameras are set up VERY HIGH and that's why the games are always from a birds eye view. At press box level the actual game view will be much closer now than before, think Purdue or Michigan State level
 
S

SleepyLion

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2022
2,812
4,308
113
BCS PSU said:
I'm not an architect or structural engineer, so I don't know if it would be possible at least to put some kind of facade on the exterior of the East side to cover up the beams. At this point, I guess that it is what it is. IMO, most of the exterior of Beaver Stadium now looks as good as it ever has.

Like I said, when Beaver Stadium first was moved to where it is now and gradually expanded in the late 70s, it probably wasn't contemplated that college football stadia would have to be the same quality as a NFL stadium. A lot of college football stadia, because they were used so infrequently, were just utilitarian structures with no luxury boxes and very small press boxes. Just look at photos of Bryant-Denny Stadium before Bama turned that place into a Taj Mahal; it basically was an erector set just like Beaver Stadium, as well as Doak Campbell Stadium.
Click to expand...
A facade could be put on the east side for sure. As I tell my wife when she wants a house project done, "there is nothing need to accomplish this other than time and money."
 
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W

Wilbury

Junior
Oct 28, 2021
212
285
63
RolexKong said:
Remember when Hot Rod Erickson promised transparency at Penn State? That lasted all of five minutes.

Penn State's deal with West Shore was the largest at the time only because politics got in the way of USC's deal with United Airlines.
Click to expand...
"only because politics got in the way of USC's deal...".

Right - that's what we're saying. It was the largest at the time because to that point, no one had been able to sign a larger one. Other than the USC deal, it was also the largest because 100+ other schools hadn't been able to find someone to give them that much money. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been the largest.
 
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Wilbury

Junior
Oct 28, 2021
212
285
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step.eng69 said:
I assume they have the start-up $$ Wilbury,

Penn State currently doesn't have the money; they are relying on following:

"The university has structured the renovation funding through:
a mix of state and federal resources, loans, fundraising, naming rights, sponsorships, premium seating, and a major philanthropic campaign."

If the school can cough-up $100,000,000 in fundraising donations (strictly for the stadium) per year for the next 20 years, PSU will have paid around
$1.5 billion+/- for the $700 million price tag.

View attachment 1378371

View attachment 1378418
Historic investment from nearly 20,000 annual supporters is helping position Penn State Athletics to lead in the next era of college sports

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —With the closure of the 2025-26 fiscal year, the extraordinary commitment of nearly 20,000 annual supporters has helped Penn State Athletics complete one of the most successful four-year periods in department history. More importantly, it has helped position Penn State to become one of the premier athletics programs in America for generations to come.

Over the past four years, Penn State Athletics generated $353.1 million in philanthropic commitments, nearly doubling the $181.8 million raised during the previous four-year period. The 94.2 percent increase reflects far more than fundraising success. It represents a shared belief that Penn State should continue setting the national standard for competitive excellence, the student-athlete experience and long-term sustainability across all 31 varsity sports.

That commitment has resulted in four of the five largest gifts in department history, eight of the department's 12 largest gifts overall and three of the four strongest fundraising years ever recorded.

Since 2022-23, Penn State has secured 27 commitments of $1 million or more, including a record 13 during the 2024-25 fiscal year. Gifts of $100,000 or more have more than doubled over the past several years, demonstrating remarkable confidence from supporters at every level.

“This isn't simply a fundraising milestone,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. “It's a reflection of what makes Penn State different. Every gift represents someone who believes in our student-athletes, our coaches, our people and our future. Together, our supporters have created the momentum that allows Penn State not only to compete at the highest level today, but to build one of the strongest and most sustainable athletics programs in the country for decades to come.

College athletics is changing rapidly, but our mission remains the same: provide an extraordinary experience for our student-athletes while pursuing championships with integrity. Because of our supporters, Penn State is exceptionally well positioned to lead through this new era. On behalf of everyone in Penn State Athletics, thank you. Your generosity, your passion and your belief in Penn State are the reason our future has never been brighter.”
Click to expand...
So again, when does this go belly up?
 
R

RolexKong

Senior
Aug 15, 2025
627
536
93
Wilbury said:
"only because politics got in the way of USC's deal...".

Right - that's what we're saying. It was the largest at the time because to that point, no one had been able to sign a larger one. Other than the USC deal, it was also the largest because 100+ other schools hadn't been able to find someone to give them that much money. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been the largest.
Click to expand...
Is it the "largest" if Penn State isn't paid the full amount?
 
R

RolexKong

Senior
Aug 15, 2025
627
536
93
step.eng69 said:
I assume they have the start-up $$ Wilbury,

Penn State currently doesn't have the money; they are relying on following:

"The university has structured the renovation funding through:
a mix of state and federal resources, loans, fundraising, naming rights, sponsorships, premium seating, and a major philanthropic campaign."

If the school can cough-up $100,000,000 in fundraising donations (strictly for the stadium) per year for the next 20 years, PSU will have paid around
$1.5 billion+/- for the $700 million price tag.

View attachment 1378371

View attachment 1378418
Historic investment from nearly 20,000 annual supporters is helping position Penn State Athletics to lead in the next era of college sports

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —With the closure of the 2025-26 fiscal year, the extraordinary commitment of nearly 20,000 annual supporters has helped Penn State Athletics complete one of the most successful four-year periods in department history. More importantly, it has helped position Penn State to become one of the premier athletics programs in America for generations to come.

Over the past four years, Penn State Athletics generated $353.1 million in philanthropic commitments, nearly doubling the $181.8 million raised during the previous four-year period. The 94.2 percent increase reflects far more than fundraising success. It represents a shared belief that Penn State should continue setting the national standard for competitive excellence, the student-athlete experience and long-term sustainability across all 31 varsity sports.

That commitment has resulted in four of the five largest gifts in department history, eight of the department's 12 largest gifts overall and three of the four strongest fundraising years ever recorded.

Since 2022-23, Penn State has secured 27 commitments of $1 million or more, including a record 13 during the 2024-25 fiscal year. Gifts of $100,000 or more have more than doubled over the past several years, demonstrating remarkable confidence from supporters at every level.

“This isn't simply a fundraising milestone,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. “It's a reflection of what makes Penn State different. Every gift represents someone who believes in our student-athletes, our coaches, our people and our future. Together, our supporters have created the momentum that allows Penn State not only to compete at the highest level today, but to build one of the strongest and most sustainable athletics programs in the country for decades to come.

College athletics is changing rapidly, but our mission remains the same: provide an extraordinary experience for our student-athletes while pursuing championships with integrity. Because of our supporters, Penn State is exceptionally well positioned to lead through this new era. On behalf of everyone in Penn State Athletics, thank you. Your generosity, your passion and your belief in Penn State are the reason our future has never been brighter.”
Click to expand...
What is the source of these "state" and "federal" resources, how much are they, and what is the purpose of the monies?
 
R

RolexKong

Senior
Aug 15, 2025
627
536
93
Wilbury said:
So again, when does this go belly up?
Click to expand...

If by "this" you mean Penn State, sooner than people might think if it continues to exhibit the lack of fiscal discipline it has over the last 5-10 years. That extends beyond borrowing for the stadium renovations.

On the other hand, if you mean what happens if ICA can't generate enough cash to service the inter-company loans from the University, that's another kettle of fish. Penn State will have to get it from somewhere.
 
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