UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – With a return to full capacity in Beaver Stadium this fall, there will also be a return to traditional pre-game festivities to include tailgating, team arrival and traffic patterns. However, as the 107k strong return for the first time since the 2019 season, fans will see a variety of game day improvements during their visit.
Most notably, Gates E and F have been expanded to ease the entry process and reduce congestion near the Beaver Stadium ticket office. The expansion will also improve the fan circulation around the outside of the stadium with extended walkways.
As previously announced, Penn State Athletics has fully converted to mobile tickets for all fans and all sports to allow for improved ticket delivery and management, as well as fewer physical contact points. Fans have been provided a variety of resources regarding mobile ticketing this summer to ease the transition, including a mobile ticketing guide at GoPSUsports.com/mobiletickets.
To assist in the gate entry process, mobile ticket scanners and walkthrough metal detectors have been added at every entry point. Fans are encouraged to download their mobile tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay prior to leaving for the game. To ease entry, fans are asked to enter the stadium as early as possible and they will receive a concessions discount ($1 off of every $5 spent) for the first 45 minutes after gates open.
Multiple charging stations will be located in and around Beaver Stadium, as well as the external customer relations booths. The kiosks have charging units and adapters for iOS and Android devices.
Inside Beaver Stadium, the ribbon boards have been replaced to upgrade programming capabilities and visual appearance. Additionally, there have also been numerous operational upgrades since fans were last in Beaver Stadium, including upgrades in the security cameras, emergency evacuation system, natural gas heaters and fire suppression system.
The game day traffic pattern will return to the 2019 plan. The one-way traffic pattern will begin four hours prior to kickoff and 8:30 a.m. for noon games. New this year, day of game parking can no longer be purchased at select lots and can only be purchased (cash or credit) at the Innovation Park Building 100 parking lot (subject to availability). Game day parking sales will begin when lots open until sold out or kickoff, whichever comes first. More information on parking and traffic can be found at: https://gopsusports.com/sports/2020/7/30/football-game-day-home.aspx.
General parking purchased in advance is $40 per car, while paying to park on game day when arriving to the general lots will cost $60. Fans are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance to not only realize the savings, but to assist in smoother traffic and parking operations by displaying the pass as they approach roads to stadium parking. Fans can purchase up to three advance single-game parking passes per account, per game.
Fans will also see the addition of a 50/50 Raffle during all home games. One lucky fan will win 50% of the funds collected at the game with the proceeds used to support athletic scholarships through the Penn State's Nittany Lion Club Levi Lamb Fund. Sellers will be located throughout the stadium wearing bright green vests. Ticket sales will conclude in the third quarter and a winner will be announced before the end of the game. The winner does not need to be present to claim their prize. For complete information go to: gopsusports.com/50-50.
While not related to stadium and game day upgrades, fans may also engage the GoPSUsports.com chatbot for 24/7 assistance with parking, mobile ticketing assistance, permitted items and other game day-related topics.
Intercollegiate Athletics has also worked diligently on recycling and sustainability across ICA events and activities. Those sustainability efforts include moving to mobile tickets and making recycling bags available in the Beaver Stadium parking lots. 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. Bottles and cans only should be placed in the blue recycling bags. All other items should be placed in the clear trash bags.
Penn State returns nine starters and 19 letterwinners (10 lost) on offense. Senior wide receiver Jahan Dotson, redshirt junior OL Mike Miranda and Walker all return after having earned second-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago. The Nittany Lions return seven starters and 19 letterwinners (7 lost) on defense. A total of five All-Big Ten selections are back for 2021 including third team selections in Brisker and redshirt sophomore cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and honorable mention selections in senior cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, Mustipher and junior linebacker Brandon Smith.
The Nittany Lions make their return to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 11 vs. Ball State, a 3:30 p.m. ET start on FS1. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2021 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
The 2021 Penn State Football season is presented by PSECU.
