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CORVALLIS (AP) -- Talk about an extreme home makeover.
Oregon State unveiled the newly expanded Reser Stadium Saturday when the Beavers host the Portland State Vikings in the season opener for both teams.
The $80 million project dubbed "Raising Reser" brought capacity to 43,000 and significantly altered the Corvallis skyline, adding an expansive second tier of seats and luxury boxes rising above the home sideline.
"We're anxious to see how the stadium's going to react. I think it's an explosion waiting to happen, and I think it's going to be crazy," safety Sabby Piscitelli said prior to Saturday's game. "I'm excited just to see the environment."
Well before Saturday's game starts at 3 p.m.PDT, the Beavers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Current football coach Mike Riley, former coach Dennis Erickson, all-time leading Oregon State rusher Ken Simonton and former quarterback Jonathan Smith were on hand.
A concert by the country duo Montgomery Gentry was scheduled following the game.
The Raising Reser project, said to be the largest construction project in the history of Benton County, got underway back in May, 2004 with groundbreaking at the annual Spring Game.
The players watched with curiosity over the 15 months of construction. Receiver Mike Hass even admitted to sneaking into the new east grandstand, joking, "I don't know if the construction guys want to hear it."
Less than a decade ago, mired in a string of losing seasons that would eventually reach 28 in a row, the Beavers averaged less than 25,000 fans per game at then-Parker Stadium. Built in 1953, the stadium was renamed in 1999.
But the program's recent successes -- the team went 11-1 in 2000 and finished the season No. 5, notably -- brought the Beavers new fans and Reser sold out 28 consecutive games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
That streak ended on Saturday despite a record crowd at the game, which drew 42,263.
Prior to the expansion, Reser seated 35,362 and was the smallest stadium in the Pacific-10 Conference.
"This is obviously a great step in Oregon State football history opening up this new stadium, which is really what it is, and its a big, big factor and hopefully our home record continues as its been," coach Riley said.
And it's likely just begun. The Raising Reser project includes two future phases that would renovate the existing visitor's side to match the east side, and add a second deck to the south end zone -- bringing total capacity to 55,000 seats.
"It's a big, nice venue. Really exciting to play in. I'm just interested in seeing how loud we can get it," said defensive tackle Alvin Smith.
On a more somber note, fans at the game Saturday will have the opportunity to contribute the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. More than 60 volunteers, including university staff and student-athletes, will collect donations at the stadium.
There was also a moment of silence before gametime.
Redshirt freshmen Keenan Lewis and Dennis Christopher are both from New Orleans.
Lewis, a cornerback, said his parents were able to escape to Texas. Christopher, a reserve linebacker, was able to contact his mother -- a deputy sheriff in New Orleans involved in rescue efforts -- by cell phone text message.
Oregon State unveiled the newly expanded Reser Stadium Saturday when the Beavers host the Portland State Vikings in the season opener for both teams.
The $80 million project dubbed "Raising Reser" brought capacity to 43,000 and significantly altered the Corvallis skyline, adding an expansive second tier of seats and luxury boxes rising above the home sideline.
"We're anxious to see how the stadium's going to react. I think it's an explosion waiting to happen, and I think it's going to be crazy," safety Sabby Piscitelli said prior to Saturday's game. "I'm excited just to see the environment."
Well before Saturday's game starts at 3 p.m.PDT, the Beavers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Current football coach Mike Riley, former coach Dennis Erickson, all-time leading Oregon State rusher Ken Simonton and former quarterback Jonathan Smith were on hand.
A concert by the country duo Montgomery Gentry was scheduled following the game.
The Raising Reser project, said to be the largest construction project in the history of Benton County, got underway back in May, 2004 with groundbreaking at the annual Spring Game.
The players watched with curiosity over the 15 months of construction. Receiver Mike Hass even admitted to sneaking into the new east grandstand, joking, "I don't know if the construction guys want to hear it."
Less than a decade ago, mired in a string of losing seasons that would eventually reach 28 in a row, the Beavers averaged less than 25,000 fans per game at then-Parker Stadium. Built in 1953, the stadium was renamed in 1999.
But the program's recent successes -- the team went 11-1 in 2000 and finished the season No. 5, notably -- brought the Beavers new fans and Reser sold out 28 consecutive games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
That streak ended on Saturday despite a record crowd at the game, which drew 42,263.
Prior to the expansion, Reser seated 35,362 and was the smallest stadium in the Pacific-10 Conference.
"This is obviously a great step in Oregon State football history opening up this new stadium, which is really what it is, and its a big, big factor and hopefully our home record continues as its been," coach Riley said.
And it's likely just begun. The Raising Reser project includes two future phases that would renovate the existing visitor's side to match the east side, and add a second deck to the south end zone -- bringing total capacity to 55,000 seats.
"It's a big, nice venue. Really exciting to play in. I'm just interested in seeing how loud we can get it," said defensive tackle Alvin Smith.
On a more somber note, fans at the game Saturday will have the opportunity to contribute the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. More than 60 volunteers, including university staff and student-athletes, will collect donations at the stadium.
There was also a moment of silence before gametime.
Redshirt freshmen Keenan Lewis and Dennis Christopher are both from New Orleans.
Lewis, a cornerback, said his parents were able to escape to Texas. Christopher, a reserve linebacker, was able to contact his mother -- a deputy sheriff in New Orleans involved in rescue efforts -- by cell phone text message.
