Some people think size doesn’t matter.
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft isn’t one of them.
The Nittany Lions’ Beaver Stadium is undergoing a $700 million overhaul that will make it the biggest in the U.S..
Michigan Stadium currently holds the honor with 107,601 seats.
Kraft confirmed that the work — set to be completed in time for the 2027 season – will take the record.
New bleacher seats should be in pace in time for the clash against USC on October 10, which should take the capacity past 109,000.
“I want to be as big as we can be,” Kraft said. “That’s the answer.
“I can’t give you a guaranteed number because we’re (still) finding areas where we can put temporary (seating) in. Anywhere I can put a seat in that building, we’re going to put a seat.
“Our volume, in general, makes Penn State who Penn State is. The size of our alumni, the institution itself.
“Why would I limit the capacity and limit the ability for fans to come in and experience a college football game day in Happy Valley?
“A lot of people (in college football) are shrinking (stadium) size, but I think that’s because they have to. We don’t have to.”
The project will replace seating areas on the west side of the stadium and add new suits and club spaces.
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Lighting and sound systems will also be approved during the overhaul.
Last season, Beaver Stadium could hold 106,304 fans and all eyes will be on the final number once work is complete.
Penn State has fallen out of the running for national championships and new coach Matt Campbell is trying to build the program from the ground up.
“At Penn State, we choose a culture to do what is hard rather than what is easy, and we want people who want something more than just winning football games,” he said at Big Ten Media Days.
New Ryan Field goes quality over quantity
At the other end of the scale, the Ryan Family is building the most expensive stadium in college football history with room for just 35,000 fans despite the $862 million price tag.
“I truly believe it’s the best stadium in all of football,” Northwestern coach David Braun said. “We’re not trying to be the biggest. We delivered on being the best.”
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With steep banks of purple seating and a standing-only student section it gives off distinct soccer vibes.
“This entire fan base will literally be on top of you,” Braun added. “The excitement that’s created when we’re scoring touchdowns on offense, the environment that it’s going to create for our special teams with the way that ultimately, you know, the stadium protects you from some of the outside elements that we are also familiar with in the Chicagoland area.
“And ultimately, you know, the arena that it provides for us to really redefine game day.”
