Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted 22-8 Monday morning to approve a $50 million, 15-year deal with West Shore Home for the naming rights of the field at Beaver Stadium.
Beginning with the 2025 season, the venue will be called West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
Discussions began last summer. It was the only proposal made for naming rights, according to vice president of intercollegiate athletics Pat Kraft.
West Shore Home is a home improvement company based in Mechanicsburg that was founded in 2006 by B.J. Werzyn, the current CEO who is a 1999 Penn State graduate.
“We are incredibly grateful to B.J. and West Shore Home for this game-changing gift as their commitment to Penn State Athletics and the institution will have a lasting impact on our student-athletes, fans and community,” Kraft said. “As an alumnus of our great University and a business owner in Central Pennsylvania, B.J. understands the critical role that Beaver Stadium plays in our community, as well as the importance of preserving the great traditions of Penn State while helping us build a strong future.”
The company will make an annual payment to Penn State over the next 15 years. The gift, though, will be front-loaded to reduce the borrowing required for the $700 million stadium renovation, which is scheduled to be completed before the 2027 football season.
“Penn State is a global brand with the largest and most enthusiastic alumni network in the world,” Werzyn said. “We’re honored to partner with Penn State in supporting the university and its student-athletes.
“Penn State’s commitment to achieve academic, philanthropic and athletic excellence mirrors our dedication to our customers and the communities we serve. The entire West Shore team cannot wait to see the Nittany Lions storm West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.”
The trustees approved an initial $70 million for the project in 2023 and authorized up to $630 million more last year.
Penn State has said that no tuition or tax dollars will be used and that the project is being financed through university-backed debt paid by the athletic department along with donations.
Penn State has raised $130.675 million in 10 months, Kraft said. That includes several donations that will result in the naming of the sideline club, field club, tower and welcome center on the west side of the stadium.
The deal compares favorably with ones at other colleges, according to Kraft.
Iowa State has a 10-year, $15 million naming rights deal for its football stadium. Washington State has a 10-year, $11 million deal and Ohio State a two-year, $5 million deal.
He listed five schools that have deals in perpetuity: North Carolina, $25 million; Purdue, $15 million; Wisconsin, $13 million; and Duke, $13 million.
Factions of Penn State alumni wanted to see Beaver Stadium’s field named in honor of Joe Paterno, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who died in 2012 after guiding the Nittany Lions to 409 wins and two national championships from 1966-2011.
