PENN STATE

Sandy Barbour has a huge job in front of her. The Penn State athletic director knows full well that aging Beaver Stadium is in desperate need of a face lift — at minimum. Beaver Stadium has been in its current location since 1960. In the 55 years since, it’s undergone a series of expansions and renovations to the point where it now has a listed capacity of 106,572 (third largest in the nation). The tight quarters with the bleacher-style seating is a constant source of irritation among many fans. Reducing capacity and improving other amenities and infrastructure, however, will not be Barbour’s biggest problem. The real difficulty comes down to one word — money. An extensive renovation will certainly cost tens of millions — probably hundreds of millions — of dollars. A complete rebuild will likely soar even higher. Where will the cash come from? Barbour can ask the state for help, but that’s probably a pipe dream. That leaves Penn State with the task of footing the bill – a daunting endeavor, especially for an athletic department and university that is still struggling to emerge from the shadows of the Sandusky debacle. “We are not going to take on anything that we can’t afford to build,” Barbour said. -Steve Heiser, York Dispatch, Read More