Beaver Stadium

	Capacity		107,282
	Opened		1909
	Owner		The Pennsylvania State University
	Operator		The Pennsylvania State University
	Surface		Grass
	Location		University Park, Pennsylvania

Beaver Stadium is an outdoor football stadium located on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. The stadium is named for James A. Beaver, a former governor of Pennsylvania (1887-91) and president of the university’s board of trustees.

Beaver Stadium has a capacity of 107,282, making it the largest stadium in the United States at least until 2010, when the renovation of Michigan Stadium is planned to be complete. (It was announced on March 11, 2008 that Michigan Stadium, previously the largest, will have a capacity roughly 1,300 less than in 2007 as a result of an accessibility-related lawsuit). It is also the second largest stadium in North America, and the sixth largest stadium in the world. The natural grass playing field sits at an elevation of 1170 feet (356 m) above sea level.

Due to its large size, Beaver Stadium is widely known as one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in collegiate athletics. Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN says that Penn State has one of the best student sections in the nation and Gameday at PSU is “The Greatest Show in College Sports”. A 2007 ESPN article ranked Beaver Stadium 5th in its top 10 list of “Scariest Places to Play”.

Recently, there have been rumors to hold an outdoor National Hockey League match between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Beaver Stadium, citing the popularity of other outdoor matches.

Predecessors

Until 1893, Penn State teams participated in sporting events on Old Main lawn, a large grassy area in front of the primary classroom building of the time. Beaver Field, a 500-seat structure located behind the current site of the Osmond Building, was the first permanent home for Penn State’s football team, and the first game played there was a Penn State victory over Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) on November 6, 1893. In 1909, New Beaver Field opened just northeast of Rec Hall, roughly in the current location of the Nittany Parking deck. It served as Penn State’s stadium until 1960, when the entire 30,000 seat stadium was dismantled and moved to the east end of campus, reassembled and expanded to 46,284 seats, and dubbed Beaver Stadium.

Expansions

Expansions in 1969, 1974 and 1976 increased capacity to 60,203. In 1978, 16,000 seats were added when the stadium was cut into sections and raised on hydraulic lifts, allowing the insertion of seating along the inner ring of the stadium where the track had previously been located. In 1980, maximum capacity increased to 83,770. An expansion was completed for the 1991 football season, placing an upper deck addition over the north end zone and raising capacity to over 90,000.

A major and somewhat controversial construction project took place in 2001, raising the stadium’s total capacity to 107,282. An upper deck was added to the south end of the stadium, blocking the view of neighboring Mount Nittany (which had sentimental value for some fans), but making Beaver Stadium the largest stadium in the United States.

The stadium is home to what many consider to be the best student section in the country. In 2007, over 22,000 student tickets sold out in 59 minutes.

In 2006, the stadium underwent major structural and aesthetic upgrades. Old steel beams supporting the upper seats in the east, north and west were replaced and strengthened, and new railing was installed, stronger than the old railing which collapsed following the 2005 Ohio State game.

The appearance of the stadium has been enhanced with the addition of large blue letters spelling out “The Pennsylvania State University” on the west-facing suites, and a list of Penn State’s undefeated, national championship, and Big Ten championship years underneath. On the opposite side of the stadium, letters spelling, “Penn State Nittany Lions” have been added to the press box, with “Beaver Stadium” running below. Nine markers depicting the various traditions of Beaver Stadium, including the Blue Band, the student section, and the blue buses which bring the team to the stadium, have been placed around the stadium as well. In late October, the walls surrounding the field were refaced with Pennsylvania limestone. An iron gate has replaced the old chain-link face at the players’ entrance into the stadium. On the new gate the words “PENN STATE” in blue.

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The ACC.com – The Official website of the Atlantic Coast Conference
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association website
The Pennsylvania State University
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