Penn State receives $25 million donation for Beaver Stadium project

A design rendering shows the planned new west side of Beaver Stadium. Image by Populous

Penn State has received an eight-figure donation for the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation projectthe sports department announced on Wednesday.

The $25 million donation from longtime supporters the Misitano family and PAM Health is the second largest in Penn State athletics history, second only to Terry and Kim Pegula’s $102 million donation to the varsity hockey programs and Pegula Ice Arena.

“We are extremely grateful to the Misitano family and PAM Health for their generous donation to the Beaver Stadium revitalization project,” said Patrick Kraft, vice president of university athletics, in a statement. “The Misitano family has a long history of involvement with Penn State athletics and has provided incredible support to a number of athletic programs. This tremendous founder’s gift is another example of their dedication to Penn State. Words cannot express how grateful we are to the Misitano family and PAM Health for their commitment to taking the lead on this important project to make Beaver Stadium even more iconic than it already is.”

Donations of $10 million or more to the project will be called “founders’ gifts” and will be recognized in a plaza in front of the stadium after completion, which is planned for summer 2027.

According to a press release, the Misitanos and PAM Health will also be honored with the naming of the planned new West Tower. The tower will include a welcome center, expanded concourses with field views, private luxury suites, boxes and two separate club seating areas with lounge access, as well as more than 59,000 square feet of public event space.

Anthony and Catherine Misitano and their daughter Brittany are longtime Penn State football fans and suite owners.

Anthony Misitano, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State in 1977 and 1981, respectively, is the founder and CEO of PAM Health, which is based in Enola and provides post-acute care services. Catherine Misitano is the CEO of Life Saver CPR, Inc., which trains people in immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rapid defibrillation. Brittany Misitano is a 2015 graduate of Penn State and is president of PAM Health.

“The Misitano family and PAM Health have put us in an extraordinary position with this generous donation to the revitalization of Beaver Stadium,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement. “The Misitano family’s understanding of the importance of Beaver Stadium to our campus and community, as well as the broader importance of football and college sports as a gateway to our institution for so many, is truly inspiring. I am deeply grateful to the Misitano family for their remarkable generosity and leadership in supporting the revitalization of Beaver Stadium, which will uphold Penn State’s unwavering commitment to excellence on and off the field and positively impact the local economy for many years to come.”

Pennsylvania State University’s Board of Trustees has approved up to $700 million for the Beaver Stadium project, which the athletic department says will preserve the stadium’s history while modernizing it to improve the fan experience and make the stadium a year-round facility.

The project is expected to include improved transport links, new restrooms, improved food outlets, Wi-Fi, amenities and more premium seating, which university officials say is key to generating revenue. The focus of the renovations will be on the west side of the stadium.

First works Work began this spring and summer and includes winterization, restroom improvements, more concessions, a new video board for the south end zone, new hoardings, and the expansion and improvement of three gate entrances.

Further phases of the renovation will begin after the 2024 season and continue through the first half of 2027.