The nation's largest stadium could look even snazzier and even be safer come Aug. 30 when Penn State hosts Coastal Carolina in its 2008 season opener.

In addition to routine maintenance, Beaver Stadium and Office of Physical Plant staff are adding ribbon scoreboards to each end zone and a 1,000-piece speaker system to the concourse level of the stadium.

"We're just trying to make sure that all the fans who are attending a game at Beaver Stadium have the best experience possible," Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson said. "That's why after every season there are improvements and upgrades, some of which are visible to the fans when they come back for the next season."

Nelson said the ribbon boards will hang in the end zones on the lower portion of the upper decks and report scores, game times and other "interactive things for the fans."

The new boards will replace the old message boards that occupied the same spots last year.

Marv Bevan is the supervisor of the current project and said once installed, the new ribbon boards

should be in place for a long time. Bevan said every summer, his crew works on the stadium, whether that includes painting seats or the underside of the stands, repairing concrete or replacing railings.

The new speaker system is a major upgrade Bevan said Penn State could use for years before it would need to be replaced. The new speakers are intended as a safety feature.

"If we have to make a broadcast to get out to everybody to leave the stadium or get a message out, if you're on the concourse or on the lower level in the restrooms you'll want to hear it," Bevan said. "Now we have that set up throughout the entire stadium."

Safety crews and law enforcement will operate from a new emergency services command center that is being added to the press box.

Fans who watch from home will also get a chance to experience another major upgrade. New, brighter stadium lights will contribute to a cleaner look on high-definition TVs.

Bevan said the old lights that were outdated and prone to burning out are being replaced by new, "100-foot candles."

Beaver Stadium will be lit up for the first time when the Nittany Lions host Illinois in the Big Ten opener on Sept. 27.

"There's a minimum standard that you have to have in order for network television to even consider airing a night game from your facility," Nelson said. "We're obviously above that minimum, but we're always looking to try and improve our lighting."

In addition to the aesthetic and safety upgrades, Nelson said Penn State is always trying to improve the stadium. He said for the past few years crews have been cleaning and repairing sections of the stadium that have worn or rusted over time.

"We had a project ongoing for the past several summers where sections of the stadium are being powerwashed," Nelson said. "If you're in the stadium and you look all around, you can see a little bit where that's taken place over the last few years and the sections that still need to be done."

The last major upgrades to Beaver Stadium were completed in 2006. Then, blue lettering was added to the press and luxury boxes, the walls surrounding the field were replaced by limestone and the chainlink gate at the players entrance was replaced by the large iron gate that says Penn State.