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Beaver Stadium - home of Penn State in College Township, PA
NCAA FBS

Beaver StadiumCollege Township, Pennsylvania

Penn State

👥
Capacity
106,572
🏆
Conference
Big Ten
📅
Opened
1959
🌱
Surface
Natural grass

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📖About Beaver Stadium

Beaver Stadium is the second-largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and fourth-largest in the world, with a capacity of 106,572. Named for Governor James A. Beaver, it's home to the legendary "White Out" games where over 100,000 fans dressed in white create one of college football's most electric atmospheres.

🏛️History

Origins

Penn State's original Beaver Field opened in 1893 with 500 seats. The current stadium opened in 1960 when the structure was literally disassembled and moved piece by piece to its present location to accommodate campus expansion. It's been expanded multiple times since.

Major Renovations

1969South end zone upper deck added
1978Capacity expanded past 76,000
2001Upper decks expanded to 107,282 capacity
2024$700M renovation approved; west press box demolished January 2025

Notable Moments

Nov 14, 1981Penn State beat #1 Pittsburgh 48-14 in front of 85,000
Oct 27, 2018White Out vs Ohio State drew 110,889—program record at time
Nov 2, 2024Record crowd of 111,030 watched Penn State lose to Ohio State 20-13

🎟️Visitor Guide

Best Seats

Sections between the 30-yard lines offer best sightlines. East sideline (student section) has the most energy; west sideline suits families. Sections WC/WD/WE are ideal for watching the Blue Band halftime show. Bleacher seats are tight (13" wide)—rent seatbacks ($15 cash) at gates B-F.

Parking Tips

Parking passes sell out—buy on StubHub or Facebook groups before game day. East Deck is closest ($40 flat). Downtown garages (Beaver, Fraser, Pugh) offer alternatives. Arrive 3+ hours early; post-game traffic rivals NYC rush hour. Use Pegula Ice Arena for rideshare pickup.

Game Day

Download mobile tickets to your wallet before arriving—no physical tickets accepted. PSUFan WiFi works on concourses but not in seats. For White Out games, wear white head-to-toe. The atmosphere when 100,000+ fans jump in unison is unforgettable—you'll feel the stands shake.

🗺️Local Recommendations

🍺Bars & Drinks

Champ's Sports Grill

$$

Premier sports bar with numerous TVs, pub menu, and wide beer selection. Gets very crowded on gamedays.

📍 1.5 miles108 S Pugh St

💡 Often features a DJ during games. May have cover charge.

The Phyrst

$

Electric atmosphere with live music and Irish drinks. A local favorite since 1967.

📍 1.5 miles111 E Beaver Ave

💡 Penn State tradition. The live music is legendary.

Café 210 West

$$

Popular for outdoor seating and relaxed vibe. Various draft beers and mixed drinks.

📍 1.5 miles210 W College Ave

💡 No pitchers on gamedays. Great patio for people-watching.

The Saloon

$$

Iconic underground bar known for its "Monkey Boy" cocktail pitchers and spirited gameday crowd.

📍 1.4 miles101 Heister St

💡 A Penn State rite of passage. Try a Monkey Boy if you're with a group.

🍽️Restaurants

The Field Burger & Tap

$$

Farm-to-table restaurant featured on ESPN College GameDay. Signature hamburgers and award-winning fries.

📍 1.5 miles114 E College Ave

💡 Local craft beers on tap. The burgers are worth the wait.

The Corner Room

$$

State College tradition since 1926. American classics and contemporary cuisine.

📍 1.5 miles100 W College Ave

💡 Historic Penn State gathering spot.

Primanti Bros. State College

$$

Pennsylvania staple famous for their massive sandwiches topped with fries and coleslaw.

📍 1.4 miles130 Heister St

💡 Great gameday energy and a legendary "Tall Boy" beer selection.

The Deli & Zeno's Pub

$$

State College institution since 1970 with a massive menu and world-famous beer selection at Zeno's downstairs.

📍 1.4 miles113 Heister St

💡 Zeno's is a must-visit for craft beer lovers.

🏨Hotels

The Nittany Lion Inn

$$$

Historic on-campus hotel run by Penn State. Walking distance to stadium.

📍 0.5 miles200 W Park Ave

💡 THE Penn State hotel. Books up a year in advance for big games.

Carnegie Inn & Spa

$$$

Boutique hotel in downtown State College with spa services.

📍 2 miles100 Cricklewood Dr

💡 Quieter option away from campus crowds.

🎭Attractions

Nittany Lion Shrine

$

The most photographed spot on campus. A limestone statue of the Nittany Lion mascot.

📍 1 mileNear Rec Hall

💡 Essential gameday photo op. Expect a line.

Berkey Creamery

$

World-famous ice cream shop on campus. Ben & Jerry both took a course here!

📍 1 mileRodney A. Erickson Food Science Building

💡 Try "Peachy Paterno" or "Death by Chocolate." They only allow one flavor per cone (mixes are not allowed).

Penn State All-Sports Museum

$

Museum located within Beaver Stadium celebrating the history of all Penn State varsity sports.

📍 0 milesBeaver Stadium

💡 Great pre-game activity. Enter through the southwest corner.

🅿️Parking Options

🏢

East Deck

$40
Garage📍 0.3 miles

💡 Closest covered parking. Arrives early - sold out by game time.

🎉

Yellow Lot

Permit Required
Tailgate📍 0.5 miles

💡 Classic tailgating spot. Post-game traffic is brutal.

🅿️

Bryce Jordan Center Lot (Lot 33)

$50
Lot📍 0.2 miles

💡 Close to the stadium bowl. Arrive at least 4 hours before kickoff.

Suggest a Tip

Know a great bar, restaurant, hotel, attraction, or parking spot near Beaver Stadium? Share it with us.

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References

Content sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and official team sites. Additional information verified against public sources.