‘Legacy Plaza’ project to honor football history, raise money
In an effort to both fundraise and honor the football team’s history, Penn State soon plans to install a “Legacy Plaza” just outside Beaver Stadium on Curtin Road.
The project — announced Thursday by the athletic department — will include separate plaques outlining each of the Nittany Lions’ 136 seasons, with year-byyear information on the schedules, results and team captains.
Fans will also be able to purchase pavers, or granite bricks with personalized inscriptions, that will be located near the plaques and benches, per a provided rendering.
The project is expected to be completed ahead of the 2023 football season, which kicks off at home Sept. 2 against West Virginia.
“Penn State football has rich tradition and history, and we are excited to be able to recognize all of those accomplishments with this new Legacy Plaza at Beaver Stadium,” Penn State Athletic Director Patrick Kraft said in a written statement. “We want our Lettermen, Varsity ‘S’ members, Blue Band members and all of Nittany Nation to be a part of this celebration of Penn State football.”
Costs for the pavers vary from $350 for a 4×8 brick (1-3 lines of text) to $1,000 for a 12×12 brick (1-5 lines of text).
Fans can also purchase replica bricks to display at home, for between $125 and $500, along with separately purchasing a display case for the smaller sizes.
Two athletics spokespeople did not immediately respond to a message asking about the project’s timing or fundraising goal.
But Thursday’s announcement comes less than a month after university President Neeli Bendapudi publicly announced that Beaver Stadium would be renovated — pending a future vote from the board of trustees — and not rebuilt.
It’s still unknown how much renovations might cost, but it’s expected to be significant.
Texas A&M’s Kyle Field was redeveloped in 2015 at a cost of $485 million.
Penn State football’s first season came in the 1880s. The program boasts 920 total wins (8th all-time), two national titles, 13 undefeated seasons, 52 bowl appearances (10th), 31 bowl wins (tied for 4th), 101 first-team All-Americans, 30 national award winners, 25 College Football Hall of Famers and a Heisman Trophy winner in John Cappelletti (1973).
For more information on the project, or to secure a paver, visit PennStateLegacyPlaza.com or call 1-844424-2263.