Penn State football to see $7.5M in renovations to its practice fields. What we know
UPDATE: Penn State’s full board of trustees approved the proposal Friday.
James Franklin and Penn State football could soon be looking at significant improvements to their practice facilities, with renovations that should help better mimic gameday-like atmospheres.
The board of trustees will vote Friday afternoon on whether to approve up to $7.5 million in renovations to the outdoor fields at the Lasch Football Building and the indoor Holuba Hall facility, such as a permanent video boards and sound systems. The measure is expected to pass, as the trustees’ Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the move.
The proposal comes two years after the board of trustees approved $48.3 million in a 27-6 vote to renovate the football building itself.
“This project will significantly improve practice conditions and technology with various practice and support equipment and field infrastructure,” said Bill Sitzabee, chief facilities officer and vice president for facilities management and planning. “Gameday-like simulations will be possible with a permanent video board and sound system at the outdoor practice field; play clocks, goal posts and netting at the artificial turf field; and a video board, sound system and filming cameras inside Holuba Hall.”
The improvements would be fully funded by the athletic department and would designed by HOK in Philadelphia, an architect that has worked with the university on numerous projects.
Although 118,000-square-foot Holuba Hall is primarily used by the football team, Sitzabee added that it is also used by at least a dozen other sports at varying times. Soccer workouts, lacrosse games, softball practice and even indoor golf has taken place there.
This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 2:27 PM.
