UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.– The No. 12 Penn State football team concludes the regular season when it hosts Maryland for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Playing their final home contest, Penn State's senior class will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony at approximately 3 p.m. The group has been instrumental in lifting the Nittany Lions into the nation's Top 15 in each of the past three years, with a 2016 Big Ten Championship and 2017 Fiesta Bowl victory, and extending Penn State's streak of consecutive winning seasons to 14.
Saturday's game is presented by Be The Match and will air on ABC, GoPSUsports.com, the Penn State Sports Radio Network (2 p.m. airtime) and SiriusXM Ch. 196.
Grass Parking Lots Closed Due to Historic Precipitation
On Monday, Penn State announced that historic wet conditions on the University Park campus have resulted in significant damage to the grass parking lots used for home football games. For the safety of fans, to prevent further damage to intramural fields and Ag fields, as well as fans' personal vehicles, grass parking lots will be unavailable for Saturday's contest with Maryland, including the Overnight RV (ORV) lot. No additional single game parking permits will be sold for the Beaver Stadium lots (see below).
Similar to the Wisconsin game on Nov. 10, six free shuttle routes, in addition to CATA from the Red A lot, will be available from off-campus lots to Beaver Stadium starting at 11 a.m. Saturday until approximately 60 minutes after the conclusion of the game. A color and route number have been established for each shuttle route and fans will receive a wristband that corresponds with their shuttle.
Shuttle route 10 will drop off and pick up fans near the intersection of Park Avenue and Fox Hollow Road. The Grange Park and shuttle routes 11, 12, 13 and 21 will drop off and pick up fans on University Drive. Fans should note that Grange Park will only be available for RVs for the Maryland game due to wet ground conditions.
Fans are reminded that umbrellas are not permitted in Beaver Stadium.
General Parking Information for Fans
Fans who have purchased a parking permit with a white stripe through their permit have a paved parking space and will not be impacted by this Saturday's lot closures.
ADA parking will be unaffected; single-game ADA parking remains available to park. Fans will be directed to the Katz Building lot and take the normally scheduled ADA shuttle.
Fans with Reserved or Preferred parking permits on grass are encouraged to park in the suggested alternative on-campus locations detailed below.
Patrons with prepaid Yellow parking permits, will have their permits honored at Nittany Mall, the Penn State Golf Courses, Tech Support, Mt. Nittany Elementary/Middle Schools and Red A lot. Yellow permits will be accepted at Red A until 10 a.m., or earlier, if the lot is filled. (see Shuttle Route listings for all lots).
Fans who still need gameday car parking should park in a downtown or State College area parking lot/deck and walk, take the CATA Game Day Shuttle or Fullington Football Express, taxi or Uber (see below).
Penn State is asking patrons for their patience and understanding. Fans are being asked to avoid bringing an RV for the Maryland game, unless the RV parking is on pavement, and urged to carpool, use the CATA, Fullington and Penn State shuttle services. Those fans who can walk to the stadium should do so.
The remote parking lots not normally operated by Penn State University are drug, alcohol and tobacco free. Fans who park in these lots are guests and Penn State asks that fans respect these guidelines and township regulations.
The one way traffic pattern on streets leading to Beaver Stadium will begin Saturday by 8 a.m. For more specific information about the parking changes for the Maryland game, including alternate parking locations, along with street addresses for GPS navigation, go to: https://gopsu.info/2018MDParking .
For a complete list of all game day information, including an interactive parking map and the shuttle pick up and drop off locations, for the Maryland game, go to: GoPSUsports.com/gameday. Fans with questions can call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and this Saturday from 8 a.m. until one hour after the conclusion of the game.
Before traveling to the State College area, fans are encouraged to check for traffic and parking updates. Fans can check GoPSUsports.com, @GoPSUsports on Twitter and local radio stations (1450 AM, 93.7 FM, 970 AM) for updates prior to kickoff. Fans can follow the Twitter hashtag #PSUparking for further updates.
Dieffenbach Honorary Captain for Senior Day Game
Former Nittany Lion co-captain Miles Dieffenbach will be the honorary captain for the Maryland game. Dieffenbach, who battled cancer earlier this year, and the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl trophy will be available for fan photos Saturday from 12-1 p.m. near the south tunnel of Beaver Stadium.
Outstanding Educators to be Recognized
At halftime, Penn State Athletics will recognize nine outstanding educators during its third annual Educator Appreciation Day. The nine educators will be recognized for the dedication and service they have shown to their local community. Nominations were submitted by students, parents, fellow educators and community members.
For the list of outstanding educators to be honored go to:
https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/11/19/general-penn-state-to-recognize-outstanding-educators-on-educator-appreciation-day.aspx?path=football
Beaver Stadium Gates open at 1:30 p.m.; Fans can Enter at Gates B, C, D, E, F; Students at Gate A
Penn State Athletics reminds patrons that Beaver Stadium gates will open two hours before kickoff for all games and strongly encourages fans to arrive early to Beaver Stadium. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for every game and reminded they can enter Beaver Stadium at any gate except the student gate - Gate A. Early arriving fans will have an opportunity to receive up to a 20 percent discount at the concession stands (see below).
All-Sports Museum Open from 9 a.m.-Noon; Fan Fest Begins at 11 a.m. and Team Arrival at 1 p.m.
The Penn State All-Sports Museum will be open Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon. Fan Fest on Curtin Road begins at 11 a.m. and the Beaver Stadium ticket office, near Gate E, opens at 11:30 a.m. Team arrival presented by Lion Country Lodging is scheduled for approximately 1 p.m. All Beaver Stadium gates will open at 1:30 p.m. The band Velveeta will play from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Fan Fest near the south tunnel.
During the team arrival, the Nittany Lions' team captains will hand out footballs signed by the captains and head coach James Franklin to fans lined up on Curtin Road.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for every game and reminded they can enter Beaver Stadium at any gate except the student gate - Gate A.
Concessions Discounts for Early Arriving Fans; Beaver Stadium Gates Open at 1:30 p.m.
Some of the incentives Penn State Athletics implemented in 2016 to encourage fans to enter the stadium early remain in effect:
- Fans will receive up to a 20 percent concessions discount ($1 off a $5 purchase, $2 off a $10 purchase etc.) during the first 45 minutes after the gates are open. Cash, credit card and LionCash purchases are accepted at the concourse concession stands.
- Other college football games will be shown on the stadium videoboards and stadium concourse TVs starting two hours before kickoff until approximately 70 minutes before the game. The Michigan-Ohio State is scheduled to air on the videoboards and concourse TVs starting at 1:30 p.m.
Fans reminded to Display Parking Permit
Fans are asked to please display their parking permit from their rear-view mirror as they enter the traffic pattern and continue to display the permit once parked. Cars are sorted in traffic by University Police to lanes leading to appropriate lots. Patrons should approach their parking lot as directed on the back of their parking permit.
New Additional Security Measures This Season in and Around Beaver Stadium
Changes for this season were outlined in the 2018 Penn State Football season ticket book. Some of the changes include:
-Fans will see an increase in police visibility on game day. Fans can expect to see police officers outfitted in tactical gear at each Beaver Stadium entry gate. Additionally, members of the Centre County Tactical Response Team, uniformed in full protective gear, will conduct patrols in and around the stadium throughout game days.
-A 300-foot security buffer zone has been established around Beaver Stadium. Vehicles, other than a car, parking within 300 feet of the stadium are subject to search by University Police once the vehicle is parked.
-Knives and razor blades of any size, including folding blades or Swiss army knives, are not permitted inside Beaver Stadium.
Fans reminded of Security Screening and Penn State Athletics Bag Policy
Penn State will provide security screening for all guests at the entry gates using metal detection wands. With this security measure in place, all public gates, including the ADA and student gates, will open two hours prior to kickoff to provide ample time for all fans to pass through security. Fans will be asked to remove items from their pockets upon entering the stadium. Umbrellas are not permitted in Beaver Stadium.
Backpacks, bags, and purses are not permitted in Beaver Stadium. Personal items can be placed in a clear bag that is no larger than 11" x 11" x 0" (one gallon) and wristlets (no larger than 4" x 6" x 1"). Patrons can expedite the entry process by not bringing a bag into Beaver Stadium. For fans with medical or childcare needs, please place those items in an 11" x 11" x 0" clear bag or a one-gallon clear bag prior to arriving at the stadium gates. All items are subject to inspection. Any items left unattended at the gates will be discarded and unrecoverable.
For parking maps, the bag policy (GoPSUsports.com/clearbagpolicy), a listing of restricted vehicles and a complete list of items prohibited from entry into Beaver Stadium, fans should go to Penn State Football Game Day Central: GoPSUsports.com/gameday.
Fans Encouraged to Participate in Game Day Recycling; Bottles and Cans in Blue Bags
Fans are encouraged to be environmentally responsible and participate in Penn State's recycling and sustainability efforts by separating recyclable items before, during and after the game. Blue recycling bags and clear trash bags are located throughout the Beaver Stadium parking lots, including the entrance to most lots.
New for this season, bottles and cans only should be placed in the blue recycling bags. All other items should be placed in the clear trash bags. Bags should be securely closed and left where fans parked and they will be picked up after the lots close.
Highway Projects Could Impact Football Traffic
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is alerting drivers that they could encounter delays as they travel to Beaver Stadium this fall, with restrictions and changes coming from the Harrisburg area via U.S. 322, Altoona, Williamsport, and via I-80 in western Pennsylvania and at the Bellefonte/State College interchange with Route 26/I-99 (Exit 161).
For information about the construction and travel restrictions, visit www.penndot.gov. Motorists can stay up-to-date on the latest travel conditions by visiting www.511PA.com.
Fans Can Ride Uber To and From Beaver Stadium
Earlier this year, Penn State Athletics and Uber announced a rideshare partnership. Penn State and Uber have established pick up and drop off zones with custom signage outside Beaver Stadium. The Uber zones have been integrated into the Uber app, so that riders and drivers will have precise directions on where to meet.
RV Parking Sold Out; RV Spaces and Weekend Shuttle Available at Grange Park
All game day, season RV and Overnight RV is sold out for the 2018 season. Fans who do not have a RV parking permit will need to make other arrangements and Penn State Athletics has identified Grange Park as an economical alternative with hook-ups and shuttle service to campus on Friday and Saturday of home football weekends. Fans interested in parking their RV at Grange Park can reserve a spot by calling 814-364-9212.
Fans who have not already purchased an RV parking permit should not attempt to park in the official lots near Beaver Stadium. Those fans will be asked to turn around by police and traffic personnel, which will disrupt the flow of traffic heading to Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Athletics is working with Grange Park, site of the Grange Fair, to provide an economical alternative with 1,500 RV spaces, hook-ups and shuttle service to campus on Friday and Saturday of home football weekends.
For the Maryland game, the Friday shuttle will depart Grange Park for downtown State College at 5 and 6 p.m. The return shuttle Friday from downtown to Grange Park will depart at 7, 7;30, 10 and 10:30 p.m.
Fans can Call 1-800-NITTANY for Assistance Weekdays and Game Day
Before traveling to the State College area, fans are encouraged to check for traffic and parking updates. Fans can check GoPSUsports.com, @GoPSUsports on Twitter and local radio stations (1450 AM, 93.7 FM, 970 AM) for updates prior to kickoff. Fans can follow the Twitter hashtag #PSUparking for further updates.
Penn State Customer Relations representatives are available at 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and this Saturday from 8 a.m. until one hour after the conclusion of the game.
Inside Beaver Stadium, guest services booths are located at Gates B, C, E and F on the field level. There also is a guest services booth on the North concourse, two on the South concourse and one in the North upper deck.
Fan assistance also is provided by the customer relations staff, by texting the word "Nittany"
your issue and location to the phone number 69050, or by calling 1-800-NITTANY.
Tickets for the Maryland game are available. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit via ticketmaster.com, call 1-800-NITTANY (weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). The Beaver Stadium ticket office will open Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday and with Penn State classes not being held this week, fans should note that the University is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Nov. 23 and the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office will be not be open. 1-800-NITTANY will be open Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.