NITTANY LION SOFTBALL PARK
Games Played at Beard Field
It will be a facility years in the making, state-of-the-art and second to none. That is what the new Nittany Lion Park will provide to the Penn State athletic community in 2011. With numerous donations and the Penn State's Board of Trustees' approval, construction has already begun on a $10.2 million complex that will house the Nittany Lion softball team and allow the program to compete with the best in the country.
The facility, which broke ground on March 28, 2010, will feature 1,084 permanent seats with fantastic sight lines, handicap-accessible seating, concession stands, permanent bathrooms and merchandise areas for fans. On the softball side of things a brand new field with irrigation, dugouts, batting cages and tunnels, bullpens, scoreboard and a brand new lighting system will make the new Nittany Lion Park a collegiate softball gem.
"The project getting started is exciting," Penn State head coach Robin Petrini said on Apr. 23, 2010. "We see it everyday at practice and everyone from the coaching staff to the student-athletes are excited about it. I walk out on the construction site after practice with my hard hat on and it makes me very proud of what will be built."
"It's wonderful to finally see the dirt flying and seeing that it's becoming a reality," PSU Director of Athletics Tim Curley said. "It's taken a while to get to this point, but the end result is going to be tremendous and everyone is going to be really pleased with the quality of the facility we have for our softball program."
The complex will allow the team to consolidate its resources into one area with new training rooms, media center, video room, study space, locker rooms and coaches' offices all housed at the softball park. Additionally, a new press area will be constructed, which will further enhance the amenities inside the park and allow Penn State to host NCAA Tournament action as well as PIAA championships. Penn State has already been awarded the 2011-14 PIAA Softball Championships. The Nittany Lions have become regulars to NCAA postseason play, capturing seven at-large berths in the past 10 years. As the pre-eminent stadium in the Northeast and one of the finest in the nation, Nittany Lion Park will have the opportunity to become a frequent host for softball's highest competition.
Key benefactors of the project have allowed Nittany Lion Park to take shape and get off the ground. The playing field will be named Beard Field in recognition of a generous donation from Lee and William Beard in October 2009. The Penn State locker room will be named the Fran Vanden Locker Room, recognizing a gift from George and Frances Vanden. Another major donation came from the James M. and Margaret V. Stine Foundation to name both the Softball Office Complex and Media Center in honor of the Stine Family. Art and Paige Nagle also contributed to the project and will have one of the assistant coaches' offices don their names.
Nittany Lion Softball Park is being built adjacent to the old Nittany Lion Field near the East Area dorms, on the corner of Park Avenue and University Drive. The new field will face the Bryce Jordan Center, Mount Nittany and University Drive to the southeast, providing spectacular views and a gorgeous setting for all that attend softball games in the future.
QUOTABLES
"We will finally have a stadium that's worthy of the program. Nittany Lion Park will clearly impact our recruiting efforts in the future. We are truly excited to be in the stadium and play on Beard Field for the 2011 season. The Beards' support is phenomenal.
I had the Michigan State head coach [Jacquie Joseph] say to me, `you're going from worst to first' in terms of facilities in the conference. Nittany Lion Softball Park will bring recruits here who will find the complex and amenities accommodating to the level of the program. Where we can go from here is unlimited in terms of recruiting and success on the field year in and year out. I think people will really enjoy coming to a brand new facility, have a place to sit and see the games in a beautiful setting."
Robin Petrini, Penn State Head Coach
"The new Nittany Lion Softball Park will mean an awful lot for our Penn State program, the University in general and the community. It will give us an opportunity to give our student-athletes and coaches a first-rate facility that will be second-to-none. Additionally, It will give the community the opportunity to attract regional and national softball tournaments such as the NCAA Tournament and PIAA high school championships, while adding to the other athletic venues that we have on campus, which are top quality sporting venues."
Tim Curley, Penn State Athletic Director
"Nittany Lion Softball Park will benefit our student-athletes by providing them with a centrally located locker room, training room, practice and competition facility. It will greatly enhance our coaches recruiting efforts and allow us to host softball tournaments and championship events. We are thankful to all of our donors who are helping to make this facility a reality for our softball program. Everyone is very excited for the 2011 opening of Nittany Lion Softball Park and the start a new era of Penn State softball."
Susan Delaney-Scheetz, Associate Athletic Director
CONSTRUCTION PHOTO GALLERY INDEX
Photo Galleries
GoPSUsports.com Tour of the Facility
WTAJ Behind the Scenes Tour
FACTS AND FIGURES
Construction Groundbreaking: March 28, 2010
Ceremonial Groundbreaking: May 7, 2010
Opening: March 27, 2011 vs. Wisconsin (PSU win, 8-5)
Cost: $10.2 million
Capacity: 1,084
Dimensions: 200' (LF), 220' (CF), 200' (RF)
AMENITIES
• 1,084 permanent seats with terrific sight lines as well as handicap accessible seating
• New clubhouses and dugouts
• Permanent press box with dedicated broadcast booths as well as working space
• Full concourse with concession stands and bathrooms and merchandise areas
• New scoreboard
• State of the art lighting system
• Ability to host NCAA Tournaments as well as PIAA competition
Softball-specific building that will house...
• New locker rooms
• Training room
• Media center with adjoining telecom and video room
• Study space and players' lounge
• Outdoor and indoor training areas including batting cages and bullpens
ON BEARD FIELD DEDICATION
On October 9, 2009, Penn State and the Beard Family were proud to announce long-time plans for a new softball facility, dubbed Nittany Lion Softball Park, would come to fruition in 2011. Thanks to a large donation from Lee and William Beard, Nittany Lion softball will enter the new decade in prime position to own one of the finest facilities not only in the Northeast and Big Ten but also in all of the United States.
The $500,000 gift by the Beards is one of the largest made by individuals to support a Penn State athletic facilities project. With the generous gift, the facility's surface will bear the name of the family, Beard Field. The new Nittany Lion Softball Park gives Penn State the opportunity to host major competitions such as the NCAA Tournament, which has not taken place in Happy Valley since 1985. In the past decade, Penn State has become a regular in the NCAA Tournament, making seven appearances, all since 2000, in the sport's highest competition.
The future home of Nittany Lion softball is broke ground on March 28, 2010 in order to be ready for games in 2011. Ceremonial groundbreaking will take place on May 7, 2010 with several dignitaries of the Penn State University and athletic community. The new Nittany Lion Softball Park will be located on the same site as the current Nittany Lion Field, with the diamond being shifted from its current place facing the southwest to now face the southeast and Mount Nittany.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"The Beards have been wonderful friends and supporters of the program since the day I arrived. Their support through the years has been tremendous. The Beards are helping us to move forward on a stadium that is long overdue. For our student-athletes to finally have an opportunity to compete in a facility that is state-of-the-art, and on par with many of the schools we compete with, will be fantastic. The program has waited many years for this to come to pass and the Beards have been a catalyst in this process from day one."
Robin Petrini, Head Coach
"We are pleased to help support the Penn State softball program. This softball field and the stadium are important parts of this program being attractive to young women who can benefit from being Penn State student-athletes. Coach Robin Petrini and her staff provide valuable leadership and need a first-class facility to help recruit national-caliber players to the program. We hope this contribution entices others to join us in providing the facilities needed to help the softball program reach its goals within the Big Ten Conference and nationally."
Bill and Lee Beard, Lead Benefactors
"The opening of Nittany Lion Softball Park is sending waves of excitement through our locker room. As we all anxiously await for the opening of this stadium we also understand just how lucky we are to have the opportunity to play on what I believe will be the best field in college softball. Though only 18 of us will be lucky enough to say we were bearing the Blue and White on the day the first pitch is thrown at this beautiful facility, we all fully understand what a monumental step this is for our program. Penn State has always had the reputation of offering the best of the best in all areas and now we will have a stadium that we, as players, will be extremely proud of. When I step on Beard Field for the first time I will be playing for "those who came before me" more than ever before because without the past success of Penn State softball this opportunity would not be possible. While I will be playing for my teammates of the past I will also be playing my teammates of the present and future. This stadium is only one of the many great things to come from Penn State softball. The breathtaking facility will serve as a visual reminder to all people in the Penn State community of just how much hard work and heart is put into this program each and every year. We hope the opening of this stadium will ignite an unprecedented interest in Penn State softball on campus."
Ellen McNair, Sophomore Catcher
"We cannot thank the Beard family enough for their financial support of the project that will allow our coaches and student-athletes to compete in a first class facility. Beard Field will help with recruiting and allow us to host tournaments and championship events."
Susan Delaney-Scheetz, Associate Athletic Director
"Bill and Lee Beards' generosity allows us to move forward in bringing a first-class softball stadium to Penn State, the community and Central Pennsylvania."
Tim Curley, Director of Athletics
"The current field seats only 300 spectators, which is below the minimum for NCAA tournaments and the National Club Softball Association World Series. An improved facility will mean a better game day experience for everyone. These improvements also allow Penn State to host high school and collegiate tournament competition."
Al Horvath, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business.
NEWS
March 25, 2011 (The Collegian) Interactive Stadium View
March 23, 2011 (GoPSUsports) Home, Sweet Home: Nittany Lion Softball Park
January 26, 2011 (GoPSUsports) Nittany Lion Park: Snowballs Now, Softballs Later
July 26, 2011 (Centre Daily Times) Centre Stage: PIAA Picks PSU Venues for Baseball, Softball
July 23, 2011 (GoPSUsports) Penn State Named Host for PIAA Softball Championships
May 7, 2010 (The Collegian) Administrators Break Ground on New Facility
Mar. 24, 2010 (The Collegian) Old Field to See Final Opener
Mar. 19, 2010 (GoPSUsports) Penn State's Board of Trustees Approve Final Plans for Beard Field
Mar. 19, 2010 (Penn State Live) New Softball Park Plans Receive Approval of Trustees
Jan. 22, 2010 (Penn State Live) Board of Trustees Officially Dub Beard Field
Dec. 9, 2009 (Penn State Live) E. Lee beard Named 2009 Penn State Fundraising Volunteer of the Year
Oct. 13, 2009 (The Collegian) Donors give $500K for stadium
Oct. 9, 2009 (GoPSUsports) Penn State Receives $500,000 Gift From William & Lee Beard for New Softball Facility
