You had a lot of questions about Beaver Stadium renovations. Penn State’s AD answered them
Since Penn State’s Beaver Stadium renovation was announced early last year, there have been many questions and concerns about the major project and its impact on the fans.
Why was an emphasis placed on premium seating? When will fans know how their seats will be impacted? When will the design be released?
Recently, we asked Centre Daily Times readers to send in their questions about the $700 million project, which was approved by the university’s board of trustees in May, though final design of the multi-million dollar makeover has not been completed. Questions centered around seating, capacity, amenities and timeline.
The Centre Daily Times sat down with Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft and several of his staff members to discuss questions submitted recently by our readers, and more about the project.
Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Centre Daily Times: We received emails expressing concern that the project was focused on more on luxury and less on the “every man.” What is your response to that idea?
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft: We were very intentional, even in design, to make sure first and foremost, that we’re providing amenities for everybody and enhancing the amenities. If we’re just speaking about the west side, there is premium in that space. ... But there’s different levels of premium. But I can also tell you there are general seating opportunities. We have heard that, we understand that. We have added premium, there’s suites, club level, loge — but that is not the entire west side. There is enough non “premium” for fans.
CDT: Why was there an emphasis on luxury seating?
Kraft: We don’t have (it) other than the south end zone club, which is where you really don’t want to have premium seats, and our suite level — which is why they came in and built that suite level, because you need that. So there is a revenue component to premium and people want premium. People want to have that opportunity. What makes our stadium so special and unique is that we can cater to so many different constituents and fans. This just gives us a more refined opportunity for a certain fan that wants that experience. But you will have ample opportunity to not take part in that. But you will have better concessions, you’ll have all of the amenities that you deserve being a fan of a big-time college football program.
Deputy AD for External Affairs and Engagement Adam Miller: And I would say it’s not a focus on premium suites. Suites is a very small chunk of what’s going on. There’s way more price points, which is part of it, too. You’re not just talking suites in there.
CDT: What other types of premium seating are there?
Deputy AD for Internal Operations Vinnie James: We used data from previous fan surveys that were done, we put out our own fan survey. We’ve got tens of thousands of responses; I think the most important thing that we’d heard in this was chair back — so chair backs were important. That was probably the number one most requested product.
Kraft: In premium and non-premium seating.
James: Exactly. So there are club, there are field level club, there’s different levels of club. There are some suites built into it. But all of the suites, I’ll tell you right now, are being designed right flexibly, so we can pivot based on what it is that our fan base wants.
Kraft: Loge box, field level club, traditional club — indoor/outdoor-type where you have the amenities inside but you sit on the outside of the club — the standard stuff you would see at stadiums.
CDT: Will there be stadium chairs with chair backs?
Kraft: The lower bowl (on the west side) will all be chair back. And that is not all premium. But there’s lower bowl, then you have club, and then there’s another level above that. But yes the lower bowl will all be chair back. (The upper level) will be bleachers with the appropriate tread depth and seating area.
CDT: How will the stadium capacity change? (Beaver Stadium has 106,572-seat capacity, making it the second-largest stadium in the United States.)
Kraft: We will be over 100,000. We are trying to minimize, if any, seat limitation. It’s just too early to tell right now. But our goal is to maximize what our potential is.
CDT: Why would you lower it, if you do?
Kraft: It’s simple — the seats. Chair backs, they’re a certain seat size. When you add that up there’s only so much space you can put. Our focus, though, and it’s too early to tell, is to not minimize the 106 and change. It’s to get there and then if we can get bigger, we will get bigger. We just don’t know yet.
CDT: Was the prestige of the stadium’s size considered in the process? (Question submitted by Bob B.)
Kraft: No one is more proud of that. I am as proud of that as our fans are. And I know (Penn State head coach) James (Franklin) is too. I think we want to put in the building — much like (former head coach) Joe (Paterno) when they were building it — as much of our community that can be in that building in some way, some form, we want to keep them in that building. I mean, we have 94,000 season ticket holders. That’s a great badge of honor. That’s not normal. That’s amazing. And we’re going to do everything in our power to keep that.
CDT: Will fans see an increase in ticket costs? If so, when will they find out how much it will be?
Kraft: We will have a plan. We have such a big building there’s so many different areas. ... Our goal is later this fall to roll out what this is gonna look like.
CDT: When will fans on the west side know how seating will be affected? (Question submitted by Mary Beth Z.)
Miller: Later in the fall. It would certainly be before any renewal information went out. They’re going to know an idea of what’s going on the next couple of years prior to them having to make a decision.
CDT: Will the Wi-Fi be improved? (Question submitted by Kim J.)
Kraft: Wi-Fi in the concourses — you’ll be able to get it, but when you get in the bowl that is going to be more of a challenge. AT&T invested $5 million to fix the cellular.
Note: The athletic department shared a document outlining some of the key points about the internet changes, including the following:
- The project purchased 135 new wireless access points for concourse fan Wi-Fi. These will replace many outdated and lower capacity units. This will provide a dedicated fan Wi-Fi network throughout the concourse. This will continue to be improved throughout the next two years.
- Currently undergoing a multi-million dollar project, in partnership with AT&T, to provide full cellular DAS coverage throughout the stadium. The capacity will be large enough to handle a full stadium worth of concurrent users. There will be enhancements experienced in 2024 and the full project will be realized in the 2025 season.
- In addition to enhancements within the stadium, this will provide significant enhancements to the cellular connectivity around the stadium, extending to parking lots.
CDT: Will the sound system be updated? (Question submitted by Kim J.)
Kraft: Not now, but in the renovation by 2027, yes it will be updated.
CDT: Will there be escalators to take fans to the upper level of the north end zone? How will seating in the north end zone be affected? (Question submitted by Brian S.)
Kraft: Not at this moment.
James: We’re putting escalators and elevators and circulation really focused on the corners. That way they can help service the north and south. ... Circulation in north and south for that matter, both of those things are things that we’re still in design on.
CDT: Is the design done? If not, when will it be done?
Kraft: No, not yet. You’re really never done designing a building of this size. Probably, October.
James: For the most part. The packages will be released about October. But you’ll continue design all the way through June.
CDT: When will the public see images of what it will look like?
Kraft: We’re gonna start to roll out more and more of the images. We’re starting to hone in on exact seat numbers, exact seat counts. ... We are gonna start moving right after the last game.
James: October is when we know, like, there will be a wall there. And it’ll be about June when we know what’s on that wall. That’s the easiest way I can explain it.
CDT: What is the fundraising target? And how close are you to that goal?
Senior Associate AD for Advancement Alyssa Francona: $135 million.
Kraft: We’ve had really good momentum behind fundraising. People understand the importance of it. We’ve really had a very laser focus on the early fundraising gifts, eight-figure gifts. But it’s been very positive.
Note: The athletic department has announced three eight-figure gifts so far. One $25 million gift from the Misitano family and PAM Health, and two $10 million gifts from separate anonymous donors.
CDT: Is there anything else you thinks fans should know about the project that may not be public knowledge yet?
Kraft: For game one, the escalators aren’t gonna be working yet.
James: Game one, the escalators, you’re gonna see the shafts that are all built. That’s already up, that’s existing. There needed to be new electrical rooms that are built that service those. They’re a process.
Kraft: The super ribbon board won’t be up and running. Just from a tech standpoint, it’s not ready to go for game one.
James: You may see some areas that are still a little bit under construction, that’ll still have some signage up. But most everything else should be completed.
Kraft: What I will also tell you, is Gate F is gonna be a transformed experience. That east side of the concourse, what used to be back of house, is now going to be opened up and have more concession opportunities, grab-and-go. We flipped some spaces in the building to be more markets and grab-and-go’s. I think Gate F, and obviously northeast and southeast corners, will be the biggest change people will see.
