Penn State University's Beaver Stadium is squarely in the middle of a $700 million renovation project that began last year and should be completed by the start of the 2027 football season.
As part of this transition, temporary seating has been erected on the stadium's west side and in two east-side corners to accommodate fans displaced from seats they've long occupied.
As reported by the Reading Eagle, PSU athletic director Pat Kraft assured fans Tuesday that the temporary seating has been inspected by an engineering firm, the actual seating provider InProduction and an independent third party, and deemed safe. Fans had expressed concern over safety after seeing photos and video of the temporary seating.
“The structure is safe,” Kraft said, as reported by Rich Scarcella of the Eagle. “It’s been looked at. It’s been inspected. L&I (licensing and inspection) has to approve any construction process. They’ve signed off. We’re in that building and off and running. We’re good to go.
“They’re awesome seats. The view is spectacular from there. I get that there has been a lot of fanfare around that. Before and after every game, it will continue to be inspected. We don’t just throw things up and leave them there.”
Per Scarcella's reporting, InProduction is the largest provider of temporary seating in the United States, with a client list that includes the PGA Tour, Formula One, Women’s Tennis Association, NASCAR and the Kentucky Derby. Florida State, Northwestern and Hawaii have all employed the company's services.
Kraft said the official capacity of Beaver Stadium will be 106,304 when Penn State opens the 2025 season Aug. 30 against Nevada, or a few hundred under the former capacity of 106,572.
“We are ready to go,” he said. “It was very important to me and our team that we did not want anything to get in the way of the greatest environment in all of sports.”
Kraft also applauded fans for their attitudes during the temporary displacement.
“Our fans who have sat on the west side for a long time have been incredible,” he said. “It’s a testament to Penn State and the people we are. That’s hard. They’ve been sitting in those seats. I’d say 99% of the people have been really understanding.
“I cannot express enough how great our fans have been.”
