UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 9/8 Penn State Football hosts No. 19/21 Illinois in Beaver Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for its annual Homecoming and Generations of Greatness Game. The contest will air on NBC with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline) on the call. Saturday’s game is presented by Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council.
Fans are encouraged to visit Game Day Central for all information as it relates to Penn State Football game day traffic, parking and information on the match up. Real time traffic, parking and gate information will be shared on the Beaver Stadium X (formerly Twitter) account (@beaver_stadium).
Beaver Stadium’s family-friendly entrance, located at the ADA entrance, will open 2.5 hours before kickoff at 5 p.m., while the rest of the gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early to ease the entry process.
Honoring the 30th Anniversary of the 1994 Team
- Penn State will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1994 team in between the first and second quarters on Saturday.
- The 1994 squad finished the season with a 12-0 record, won the Big Ten and won the Rose Bowl, going on to finish No. 2 in the final Associated Press rankings.
- All-American running back Ki-Jana Carter will serve as the honorary captain for the game.
Generations of Greatness
- Penn State is turning back the clock for its “Generations of Greatness” game, as the Nittany Lions will don uniforms with design elements from uniforms past.
- Penn State is wearing its “Generations of Greatness” uniforms for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. The threads debuted in 2017 against Indiana (W, 45-14) and Penn State donned them again against Purdue in 2019 (W, 35-7), Iowa in 2020 (L, 21-42), Illinois in 2021 (L, 18-20, 9OT), Minnesota in 2022 (W, 45-17) and UMass in 2023 (W, 63-0).
On-Field Pregame Show Begins at 7:10 p.m.
- Fans are asked to arrive for the start of the on-field pregame show beginning at 7:10 p.m.
- The show features the Penn State Traditions video, the Penn State Blue Band, cheerleaders, Lionettes and The Nittany Lion.
Gate A and Gate E Escalators Operational
- Fans will notice the escalators at Gates A and E will be operational for the Illinois game. The addition of these escalators will aid in ingress and egress circulation.
Team Arrival and Beaver Stadium Block Party
- The Beaver Stadium Block Party, taking place on Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter Road, begins at noon on Saturday.
- Fans can expect food, football and fun each week with different activities along Curtin Road such as live music, inflatable games, fan photobooths, food trucks, caricature artists and more.
- Pour Decisions will perform live on the Block Party stage from 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m., followed by OK Otter from 3:15-5 p.m.
- Team arrival is scheduled for approximately 5:15 p.m.
- The team will come off the Blue Buses and walk along Curtin Road from Porter Road to the South Tunnel.
- The Penn State Blue Band will march down the middle of the Block Party approximately one hour before the start of each game.
- There will be eight different pork vendors and businesses competing in the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council Rib Cook-Off with the judging occurring between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Fan Assistance Shuttle Service
- Through Penn State's partnership with SP+, a fan assistance shuttle program are available on game days to assist fans needing mobility assistance in getting form the parking lots to the stadium and then back to the lots after the game.
- The shuttle service begins two hours before kickoff and resumes at the beginning of the fourth quarter for return trips. Service ends one hour after the game ends.
- A map of shuttle locations can be found here.
Happy Valley Hospitality/Tailgating Reminders
- Penn State Athletics reminds fans to be respectful, show their Happy Valley Hospitality and exhibit the behaviors to make Beaver Stadium game day safe. Be loud, proud, respectful, responsible, great fans and gracious hosts.
- Fans are asked to please be alert to cars entering and exiting the parking lot.
Tailgating Recycling Reminders
- Intercollegiate Athletics has also worked diligently on recycling and sustainability across ICA events and activities. Those sustainability efforts include 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.
What's New at Beaver Stadium
- A variety of Beaver Stadium game day improvements are in effect for the 2024 season.
- Most notably, located in the southeast (Gate A) and northeast (Gate E) corners of Beaver Stadium, the upper concourse expansion of Gates A and E will improve fan circulation. The expansion adds a combined 15,050 square feet of concourse space.
- Located on the East side of Beaver Stadium, Gate F is home to a new, open-air 34,000 square-foot space where fans can enjoy food and drink options in a lounge area.
- There will be a new entry process at Gates E and F this year to assist in circulation and congestion at those gate entries. Fans will scan their tickets prior to walking through the magnetometers in order to limit lines and waiting.
- A total of 135 new access points have been installed on the concourses at Beaver Stadium. The access points are part of a new stadium network, “PSU Fan,” which is available on the concourse, but not in the stadium seating bowl.
- As part of the first phase of the Beaver Stadium Revitalization project, fans will see 50 new concession points of sale and 80 new walk-up self-service non-alcoholic beverage units.
- For more information on what is new in Beaver Stadium this season, please visit here.
Mobile Ticketing
- Mobile ticketing continues to be the exclusive delivery method for Penn State Football tickets for all games in Beaver Stadium. Mobile ticketing allows for improved ticket delivery, management and security.
- Fans are asked to please make sure to download mobile tickets to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay on your phone in advance of game day.
- For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, please visit here.
- Multiple charging stations are 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.
- To assist in the gate entry process, mobile ticket scanners and walkthrough metal detectors are at every entry point.
- Fans are asked to make sure they have the newly updated Penn State Athletics Mobile App downloaded ahead of the home opener. The app was updated in July and requires an update on Apple and a new download for Google Play store. Download the Penn State Nittany Lions App: Apple Android.
Penn State University's Bag Policy
- Penn State University's bag policy remains the same for the 2023 season.
- Clear tote bags, which can be sized 12" x 6" x 12" or smaller, will be permitted.
- In addition, a 4" x 6" x 1" small clutch or wristlet will continue to be permissible.
- Complete information on the University's bag policy can be found here.
- For questions or additional details, please contact the Office of the Associate Vice President, Police & Public Safety.
Game Day Traffic Pattern
- Penn State football's game day traffic pattern will be in place once again this season.
- Please visit here to get to know your route to Beaver Stadium before you depart for the game.
- One-way traffic patterns will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. One-way traffic pattern is subject to be moved earlier based on traffic flow and operational needs.
- Atherton Street construction is ongoing between College Avenue and White Course Drive. Atherton Street will have two lanes open in each direction Saturday.
- Fans can stay up-to-date on travel restrictions by visiting penndot.gov. Motorists can also stay up-to-date on the latest travel conditions by visiting www.511PA.com.
- Fans can follow @beaver_stadium on Twitter for traffic and parking updates on game day.
Beaver Stadium Student Entry
- The following protocols will remain in effect for student entry this season.
- Students should have their mobile season ticket and Penn State ID ready as they begin the entry process.
- After presenting their mobile season ticket, students will receive a non-transferable wristband to validate their entry into the student section.
- At each portal, students will be required to show their wristband each time they enter to ensure only students are in the student section.
- Students are required to wear their wristband throughout the entirety of the game, including while sitting in their seating section.
- Students will also see an operational change in how the student section is filled, which will improve safety and ease entry.
- Students and fans are encouraged to report any issues by texting NITTANY to 69050 and demonstrate their Happy Valley Hospitality by exhibiting behaviors to make Beaver Stadium game day safe.
- Weis Markets, the Official Grocer of Penn State Athletics, is the presenting sponsor of the Student Section within Beaver Stadium this season.
Parking
- Parking lots will open at 8 a.m. Saturday.
- Day of game parking can only be purchased (credit or debit only) at both Lot 25 and Lot 36.
- Game day parking sales will begin when lots open until sold out or kickoff, whichever comes first.
- General parking purchased in advance of the Illinois game will be $60, while day of game parking will be $80, pending availability. Advance parking sales are only available at the Bryce Jordan Center box office and conclude at 4 p.m. Friday.
- Fans are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance to not only to benefit from 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, pending availability.
- Parking Zone colors are as follows this season: West (green), North (blue), East (orange) and South (purple).
- More information on parking and traffic can be found at: com/gameday.
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 2024 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 are encouraged to review RV policies and procedures before heading to Happy Valley.
- Fans interested in parking their RV at Grange Park can reserve a spot by calling 814-364-9212.
Guest Services Booths
- Penn State has guest services booths located inside Beaver Stadium 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.
Postgame One-Way Traffic Pattern in Effect for Approximately 90 Minutes
- University Police has indicated to Intercollegiate Athletics that the vast majority of pedestrian traffic typically clears the Beaver Stadium area approximately 90 minutes after a game ends.
- The outbound one-way traffic pattern will be in effect from the of end of the contest for approximately 90 minutes and fans will be required to leave their lot via the directions for their specific traffic zone. During the vast majority of the game, there is a normal traffic pattern around Beaver Stadium.
- Once the one-way out-bound traffic pattern ends (approximately 90 minutes after the game), fans will be able to exit their lot and leave the stadium vicinity via any route.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2024 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit https://gopsusports.com/tickets, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.