Change is underway at Beaver Stadium, and Penn State fans attending Saturday's game will notice moderate improvements. More alterations, including the location of the Blue Band within the student section, are still being discussed.
On the luxury suite side of the stadium, strong blue lettering now spells out "The Pennsylvania State University" while just below it are a slew of years representing Penn State success.
"There's no identification up there," Penn State director of marketing and branding Guido D'Elia said of the years. "People will look at it and wonder what it is, and the answer is it's the undefeated and championship teams."
On the press box side the same type of blue letters spell out "Beaver Stadium," and a large Nittany Lion logo will be placed on top of the box.
Another change put in place already this season is the new railing separating the seats from the field. The railings are significantly stronger than those that were there before, making it less likely that students will be able to destroy the only barrier between them and the field. After last season's emotional win over Ohio State, some of the old railings in
front of the student section proved unable to hold back the crowd.
Nine markers now posted outside the stadium represent various Penn State traditions, from the rowdy student section to the practice of the team disembarking the blue busses on game day. Eventually, fans will also find that unloading area more aesthetically pleasing than it currently stands.
"We want to have a gate at the players entrance that says 'Penn State' on it, as opposed to our current chain-link fence," D'Elia said.
Since these updates are part of an ongoing process, changes will be seen from home game to home game. Before the contest with Michigan on Oct. 14, for example, Penn State banners will be hung from the outside of the stadium.
During the three week stretch between the Illinois (Oct. 21) and Temple (Nov. 11) home games, the side walls around the playing field will be replaced with limestone that is indigenous to the region.
According to D'Elia, the work will cost several hundred thousand dollars.
Perhaps of more interest to Penn State fans, D'Elia spoke of his desire to eventually move the Blue Band from it's current location above the tunnel, in section SE, toward the middle of the student section, in SB. This potential move, D'Elia said, would allow for the band to get more face time on television and might guard against the winds that sometimes drown out the noise from the band.
D'Elia also has interest in draping white sheets over the railings of the student section during white outs, a touch used by the Miami Heat in the NBA playoffs.
"What we want to do is show people that they are part of something pretty special," he said.
