Penn State Studies Beaver Stadium Expansion

12-19-97
University Park, Pa. -- With one of the nation's longest streaks of sold out home football games, some Nittany Lions fans are frustrated that football tickets are hard to get. But more seats may be on the way.

Penn State recently engaged an architectural firm specialized in sport facilities to look into the feasibility of adding 6,000 to 12,000 additional seats to Beaver Stadium. The renovation would also upgrade rest rooms and concession stands and improve access for the handicapped.

The marketing division of a financial services firm has also been engaged to look at ways to finance the expansion on a completely self supporting basis, using funds principally from ticket sales, donations, and contributions from businesses. The firm is also canvassing Nittany Lion Club members and the corporate community to gauge their interest in private box, club and regular bench seating.

"Beaver Stadium holds 93,967 people, but this year was sold out for all home games before the season began, breaking attendance records three times this fall. In 1991 we added 10,033 seats on the north end, making it the third largest in college football after Michigan and Tennessee," said Tim Curley, director of athletics.

"Since then, the demand for seats has grown so that even some of our Nittany Lion Club members, faculty and staff are unable to get tickets," he said.

Architects are now considering several different options for new seating that could affect the east, west, and/or south sides of the stadium. Among the goals of the study are to explore adding considerably to the number of regular seats sold at the lowest prices. The study will also determine the overall interest in club and private box seating.

"The possibility of bringing private boxes and club seats to Beaver Stadium has attracted a lot of attention and it seems there is some support for them among ticket holders, but we really won't know until later this winter after the surveys are completed," said Curley.

Sports consultants with Coopers & Lybrand are conducting the survey, and HOK of Kansas City is working on preliminary designs. Should the University decide to go ahead with the expansion, construction would not begin until after the 1998 season.

**cr**

Contact: Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 237-9046 (home) cmr7@psu.edu