BREAKING: Penn State Trustees approve naming rights deal for Beaver Stadium field

Amid a massive renovation, more changes are now in store for the longtime home of Penn State football. On Monday morning, the Penn State Board of Trustees approved by a 22-8 vote recommendations regarding the future naming rights to the field at Beaver Stadium.

In a presentation to the Board of Trustees Finance and Investment Committee, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft revealed that the university had received a $50 million gift from the Penn State alumnus BJ Werzyn (1999) to name the playing surface at Beaver Stadium “West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.” The naming rights will begin this fall and run for 15 years through the 2039 season. The recommendations passed the committee by a 7-2 vote.

News of the proposed change was first reported on Saturday morning. This winter, construction crews began demolition on the stadium’s West side as part of a $700 million revitalization project set to be completed by the 2027 Penn State football season.

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Of course, the naming rights partnership opens up a new source of revenue to help fund the project. The $50 million gift is the second-largest in Penn State athletics history. According to Kraft, the athletics department has raised $130.7 million of its $134 million fundraising goal for the renovation over the last 10 months.

In the past, several Board of Trustees members have pushed for the Beaver Stadium field to be named after legendary coach Joe Paterno. For those members, Monday’s decision was not received warmly.

“This is a very sad and sobering day in the history of Penn State,” said trustee Anthony Lubrano, who introduced a resolution to rename the Beaver Stadium playing surface Paterno Field last year. “Today, the Penn State we know and love is no more. Because today, we are about to commit the ultimate betrayal.”

Several trustees with ties to Penn State football voted against the issue, including Brandon Short, Matt McGloin, and Jay Paterno.

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