Beaver Stadium

Beaver Stadium
"Happy Valley"
Beaver Stadium during a night game in 2018.
Map
Full nameBeaver Stadium
Address1 Beaver Stadium
University Park, Pennsylvania
LocationPennsylvania State University
Coordinates40°48′44″N 77°51′22″W / 40.8121°N 77.8560°W / 40.8121; -77.8560
OperatorPennsylvania State University
TypeCollege football stadium
Genre(s)College football
Seating typeStadium seating
Executive suites60
Capacity106,572 (2011–present)

Former capacity:

List
    • 107,282 (2001–2011)
    • 93,967 (1991–2001)
    • 83,370 (1985–1991)
    • 83,770 (1980–1985)
    • 76,639 (1978–1980)
    • 60,203 (1976–1978)
    • 57,538 (1972–1976)
    • 46,284 (1969–1972)
    • unlimited (1907–1969)
Record attendance111,030 (November 2, 2024, vs. Ohio State)[1]
SurfaceNatural grass
ScoreboardLED Videoboards
Screens2
Construction
Broke ground1959
Opened17 September 1960 (1960-09-17)
Capacity 69,000
Renovated2024 Videoboards changed
2008 Marquee boards added
2001
1985 Walkways and ramps added
1984 Lights added
Expanded1969, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1991, 2001, 2011, 2024-2027
Construction cost$1.6 million[2]
($16.5 million in 2023 dollars[3])
$93 million (2001 expansion)
ArchitectMichael Baker Jr, Inc.[4]
HOK Sport (2001 expansion)
Populous (2024-2027 renovation)[5]
Project managerBarton Malow, AECOM Hunt, Alexander Building Construction Co. (2024-2027 renovation)[5]
Tenants
Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA)
(1960–present)
Website
gopsusports.com/beaverstadium

Beaver Stadium is a college football stadium on the campus of Pennsylvania State University in Penn State University Park. It has been home to the Penn State Nittany Lions football of the Big Ten Conference since 1960, though some parts of the stadium date back to 1909. It was also the site of university commencements until 1984.[6] The stadium, as well as its predecessors, is named after James A. Beaver (1837–1914), a governor of Pennsylvania (1887–91), president of the university's board of trustees,[7] and native of nearby Millerstown. Officially, the stadium is part of the municipality known as College Township, Pennsylvania, although it has a University Park address.

Beaver Stadium has an official seating capacity of 106,572,[8] making it currently the second largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth largest in the world. Its natural grass playing field is aligned northwest to southeast at an approximate elevation of 1,150 feet (350 m) above sea level.

Beaver Stadium is widely known as one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in collegiate athletics. In 2008, it was recognized as having the best student section in the country for the second consecutive year. In 2019, it was named student section of the year by a committee of ESPN broadcasters and writers.[9][10]

In 2016, Beaver Stadium was voted the number-one football stadium in college football in a USA Today poll, garnering over 41 percent of the vote.[11] In March 2019, USA Today conducted another poll asking voters to decide the best stadium in the United States during "Bracket Madness", which coincided with the 2019 NCAA basketball tournament. Hundreds of thousands of fans voted for their favorites throughout the week. In the championship match-up, Beaver Stadium beat Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse to claim the title of Ultimate Stadium.[12]

Beaver Stadium was the first to have its interior included in Google Street View.[13]

  1. ^ Lavey-Heaton, Mary. "Penn State sets all-time attendance record at Beaver Stadium against Ohio State". pennlive. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "Beaver Stadium History Essay". Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  3. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Baker Firm designed New Grid Stadium". The Beaver County Times. September 26, 1961. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Architect, construction manager, consultant selected for stadium renovations". gopsusports.com. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  6. ^ Rushton, Geoff (September 12, 2011) [June 13, 2011]. "Beaver Stadium: The Home of Penn State Football". Penn State News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  7. ^ Musselman, Ron (September 16, 2008). "Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  8. ^ "Facilities". Archived from the original on November 26, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  9. ^ Herbstreit, Kirk (August 25, 2008). "The Nation's Best: Eighth Annual Herbie Awards". ESPN.
  10. ^ "Live Más Student Section | Taco Bell® | ESPN". promo.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  11. ^ Best college football stadiums
  12. ^ Nick Schwartz (March 30, 2019). "Penn State's Beaver Stadium wins the 2019 Ultimate Stadium Bracket". For the Win!. USA Today.
  13. ^ "Google Maps' Street View captures University Park, including stadium". Penn State Live. January 21, 2010.