‘A significant moment.’ Here’s the latest on construction at Penn State’s Jeffrey Field

Construction at Penn State’s Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex is continuously progressing, and took a big step forward this week.

On Tuesday, the final beam was put into place after members of both the Penn State men’s and women’s soccer teams signed their names on it. The $21.25 million project includes renovations to the stadium and a new soccer operational facility.

Women’s soccer coach Erica Dambach wrote “for those who came before us” on the beam, recognizing those who laid the groundwork for the current state of Penn State soccer.

“We’re a part of something bigger than ourselves, and not only the current team, but former teams, and this program and Penn State Athletics and Penn State University as a whole, and that’s a symbol for excellence,” Dambach told the CDT Wednesday.

Student-athletes and coaches watched from the ground as the beam was lifted and put into place.

“This is such a significant moment in the history of our programs — to see that beam go into place was more impactful than even I expected it was going to be,” men’s soccer coach Jeff Cook said.

The estimated $21.25 million renovation started in August 2024 with an October 2025 as an initial estimate for completion. It is still expected to be completed by early fall, but that is contingent on any weather impacts or construction unpredictability, according to Penn State Athletics. The 2025 season schedules haven’t been announced yet but will start in mid-to-late August.

Athletic director Pat Kraft was there for the ceremony and said “this was the number one priority, from the very beginning,” as heard in the video posted by Penn State Athletics marking the occasion. Both Dambach and Cook expressed how impactful Kraft has been in bringing this vision to life.

“Pat’s passion comes through in the first moments that you meet him,” Dambach said. “He’s a doer and he follows through on his word.”

Dambach and Cook worked with Kraft contributing their ideas of what was important for them in a facility early on in the process, and they are both pleased and filled with gratitude with how everything is coming along.

“When I think about Dr. Pat Kraft I think of energy, relentlessness, enthusiasm, and he was going to get this done and no one was going to stand in his way,” Cook said.

This facility will serve as a way to unite the men’s and women’s soccer programs.

“I would argue that we have one of the most uniquely positive relationships between the women’s program and the men’s,” Cook said. We’re very different, we do things our own way but we support each other — there’s deep respect across the staffs and across the student-athletes.”

The soccer complex will create an operational facility for both programs. It is currently in Rec Hall and the team takes a bus over to Jeffrey Field on game days. The new facility will be home for the coaching staffs, locker rooms and meeting rooms.

“For me and our staff, who have been here since 2007, this is going to give us hours back in our day,” Dambach said.

Everything the student-athletes need training and academic wise will now be more conveniently located and allow for more time with their coaches.

“We’ve been imagining this moment for many years since I’ve arrived, and now having a place that we can call home that is state of the art and best in class in the entire country makes us obviously so proud to be part of this program and leading these programs,” Dambach said.

Additionally, new home and visiting team locker facilities will be put in place, which is an upgrade from the temporary trailers that don’t have indoor plumbing.

As for the stadium itself, indoor bathrooms will be added as well as entry plazas and updated concession stands according to details listed by Penn State Athletics.

“When we have our fans, our students, the Park Avenue Army, all the families in Centre County that come out to support, it makes Jeffrey Field one of the best venues, if not the best venue in the country,” Cook said. “When you think about a night game at Jeffrey in the fall, it’s amazing.”

This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM.