New seating, sound system & more: What’s happening at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Beaver Stadium is in phase two of a three-phase reconstruction set to finish before 2027.
- The project costs up to $700 million and has already delivered a major facelift.
- Phase II adds seating 30 feet higher, a new bowl sound system, and a north scoreboard.
Beaver Stadium is in the second of three phases in its reconstruction project, with the renovation set to be complete ahead of the 2027 season. The project, which is set to cost up to $700 million, has had the venue already undergo a major facelift.
Now, the biggest difference passersby notice is a structure for new seating that reaches 30 feet higher than what was there previously. Those bleacher seats are expected to have fans sitting in them for the 2026 season.
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft recently spoke with the Centre Daily Times about the project, including providing a list of what all will be done during Phase II. That list includes:
- New bowl sound system
- New north scoreboard
- Upper stadium and seating completed during the season
- New restrooms on the main concourse on the west side
- Expanded east main concourse
- Two new middle stairs on the east side
- Permanent Gate F video board (pending board approval)
- New field lighting on the east and west sides
- Removal of old field lights and poles on the east side
The third and final phase, which will take place next year ahead of the 2027 season, will see the project’s completion — including a welcome center, all new premium seating and indoor event space on the west side.
Here’s what Kraft said about this phase, including information on potential west side seats opening up as the season goes on.
Centre Daily Times: Will people be able to sit in the bleacher seats on the upper west side this season?
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft: Yes. We will have fans in them. And then as they are put in over the course of the year, we will put them up on for sale. We’re projecting this year’s capacity to be north of 108,000. And it could get higher because we’re gonna have the bleachers on the bottom. We’ll hone in on that closer to August on what we really — from a manifest perspective — what we actually can have and sell, but projections now look like we’re going to be over 108,000, at least.
CDT: What change are you most looking forward to this season?
Kraft: My favorite thing is the east concourse. ... I think one of the most valuable things we have done in the building is the east upper concourse expansion, and that’s more than doubled the concourse space up there. And when you go up there, you’re going to be like, ‘holy cow.’ You don’t realize how much of a big deal that will be until you actually go up and see it. And I know it’s not the new side, and I know it’s not a sexy story, but for the people on the east, that will help the flow and the traffic on that side exponentially. And it’s something I’ve wanted to do since day one, because our concourses just are so tight up there. We’re running so many people via concessions and bathrooms. This will help people breathe over there.
CDT: What changes do you think fans will be most excited about?
Kraft: I think fans will appreciate the new sound. Because if you’re way up on the south end, it vibrated up there. Technology has gotten so good, it’ll be a total recalibration. We’re recalibrating the whole building and how the sound will work, so I think the sound will be most noticeable. That’s number one. I think it’s brighter with the new lights. That’ll be, I think, very noticeable. And then the one thing I am most excited about is just the sheer noise when we can get, if we can get all the benches done and people in them, with the seats being closer, and basically the entire building enclosed, how the sound will echo through that building for games and game day. I’m really excited to see how it works, how it will go. Because last year was great with the temps and it was awesome, but not with this kind of structure.
