Penn State's planned facelift for Beaver Stadium is at least five years away.The university announced Monday some of the details of a 20-year plan to address program needs for a variety of sports, with some sports upgrades prioritized in the next five years -- men's and women's soccer, tennis, swimming and lacrosse.

Penn State also has a long-term plan for a Beaver Stadium makeover -- parking and general upgrades. However, the football stadium upgrades are at least five five years away.

An estimated cost for the Beaver Stadium renovations was not included in Monday morning's release.

The plan for Beaver Stadium, which will not go into effect until the priority upgrades have been addressed, includes:

An increase in chairback seating.

New concessions and food options.

New restrooms.

Wider concourses and additional premium seating options.

After the renovations at Beaver Stadium are completed, the venue is still expected to have a capacity of at least 100,000.

Beaver Stadium, constructed in 1960, was last renovated in 2001.

In addition, the long-term Penn State master plan calls for a parking structure west of Beaver Stadium and upgrades to Penn State football's Lasch building.

A public presentation of Penn State's 20-year sports plan, set to begin no earlier than the 2018-19 academic year, is scheduled for Monday at 3:30 p.m. at Robb Hall in the Hintz Alumni Center. Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour will lead the presentation and address questions from the audience.The Penn State presenting will be streamed live on GoPSUsports.com and on the Penn State Nittany Lions Facebook page.

Financial support for the Penn State plan is expected to include philanthropy and corporate partnerships. Barbour said in Monday's release that Penn State is seeking a minimum of $120 million in philanthropic gifts before the short-term, prioritized projects begin.

Penn State also released details of the prioritized sports upgrades set to begin in the next five years -- a center of excellence, an indoor practice facility for smaller sports, a new natatorium, a new indoor tennis facility and renovations to Jeffrey Field, home to Penn State's men's and women's soccer field.

*The center of excellence, a 450,000 square-foot facility to be constructed where the East Area locker room is currently located, will provide locker rooms and office space for the soccer, tennis, lacrosse and field hockey programs as well as a 500-space parking facility.

*The indoor practice facility, which can host select Penn State sports camps, will be connected to the center of excellence and provide space for the baseball, softball, golf, lacrosse and soccer programs and workout space for all 31 Penn State sports.

*Penn State's planned 100,000 square-foot tennis facility will include 10 courts, training areas for both men's and women's tennis, seating for 500 fans and a pro shop. The tennis facility will be located west of the field hockey complex.

*The new swimming area is expected to include 130,000 square feet of space, a 10-lane, 50-meter competition pool, a diving well for competition and seating for 2,500 spectators. The new natatorium will be located at the current swimming location on the corner of Bigler and Curtain roads.

*The Jeffrey field renovations include upgrade home and visiting locker rooms, chairback seating for fans, concessions and restrooms, total seating for 4,000 spectators and a video board.

 

Source:pennlive.com

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