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Beaver Stadium

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Beaver Stadium

West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, commonly known as 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. 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, and native of nearby Millerstown. The stadium is part of College Township and has a University Park address. Beaver Stadium has an official seating capacity of 106,572, 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. 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. 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". Since 2025, the stadium has been officially known as West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium after Penn State entered into a naming rights deal with West Shore Home. Beaver Stadium was the first to have its interior included in Google Street View.

Infobox

Address
1 Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, Pennsylvania
Location
Pennsylvania State University
Coordinates
mw- 40°48′44″N 77°51′22″W / 40.8121°N 77.8560°W / 40.8121; -77.8560
Operator
Pennsylvania State University
Type
College football stadium
Event
College football
Seating type
Stadium seating
Executive suites
60
Capacity
106,304 (2025–present) Former capacity: List 106,572 (2011–2024) 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)
Record attendance
111,030 (November 2, 2024, vs. Ohio State)
Surface
Natural grass
Scoreboard
LED Videoboards
Screens
2
Broke ground
1959
Opened
17 September 1960 (1960-09-17)Capacity 69,000
Renovated
2024 Videoboards changed2008 Marquee boards added20011985 Walkways and ramps added1984 Lights added
Expanded
1969, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1991, 2001, 2011, 2024–2027
Construction cost
$1.6 million($17 million in 2024 dollars)$93 million (2001 expansion)
Architect
Michael Baker Jr, Inc.HOK Sport (2001 expansion)Populous (2024–2027 renovation)
Project manager
Barton Malow, AECOM Hunt, Alexander Building Construction Co. (2024–2027 renovation)

Tables

· Attendance records › All-time Beaver Stadium records
1
1
Rank
1
Attendance
111,030
Date
November 2, 2024
Game result
Penn State 13, Ohio State 20
2
2
Rank
2
Attendance
111,019
Date
September 27, 2025
Game result
Penn State 24, Oregon 30 (2OT)
3
3
Rank
3
Attendance
110,889
Date
September 29, 2018
Game result
Penn State 26, Ohio State 27
4
4
Rank
4
Attendance
110,856
Date
November 11, 2023
Game result
Penn State 15, Michigan 24
5
5
Rank
5
Attendance
110,830
Date
September 23, 2023
Game result
Penn State 31, Iowa 0
6
6
Rank
6
Attendance
110,823
Date
October 21, 2017
Game result
Penn State 42, Michigan 13
7
7
Rank
7
Attendance
110,753
Date
September 14, 2002
Game result
Penn State 40, Nebraska 7
8
8
Rank
8
Attendance
110,747
Date
September 2, 2023
Game result
Penn State 38, West Virginia 15
9
9
Rank
9
Attendance
110,669
Date
October 19, 2019
Game result
Penn State 28, Michigan 21
10
10
Rank
10
Attendance
110,233
Date
November 9, 2024
Game result
Penn State 35 Washington 6
11
11
Rank
11
Attendance
110,134
Date
October 27, 2007
Game result
Penn State 17, Ohio State 37
12
12
Rank
12
Attendance
110,078
Date
September 8, 2007
Game result
Penn State 31, Notre Dame 10
13
13
Rank
13
Attendance
110,047
Date
October 5, 2024
Game result
Penn State 27, UCLA 11
14
14
Rank
14
Attendance
110,033
Date
November 7, 2009
Game result
Penn State 7, Ohio State 24
15
15
Rank
15
Attendance
110,017
Date
October 18, 2008
Game result
Penn State 46, Michigan 17
Rank
Attendance
Date
Game result
1
111,030
November 2, 2024
Penn State 13, Ohio State 20
2
111,019
September 27, 2025
Penn State 24, Oregon 30 (2OT)
3
110,889
September 29, 2018
Penn State 26, Ohio State 27
4
110,856
November 11, 2023
Penn State 15, Michigan 24
5
110,830
September 23, 2023
Penn State 31, Iowa 0
6
110,823
October 21, 2017
Penn State 42, Michigan 13
7
110,753
September 14, 2002
Penn State 40, Nebraska 7
8
110,747
September 2, 2023
Penn State 38, West Virginia 15
9
110,669
October 19, 2019
Penn State 28, Michigan 21
10
110,233
November 9, 2024
Penn State 35 Washington 6
11
110,134
October 27, 2007
Penn State 17, Ohio State 37
12
110,078
September 8, 2007
Penn State 31, Notre Dame 10
13
110,047
October 5, 2024
Penn State 27, UCLA 11
14
110,033
November 7, 2009
Penn State 7, Ohio State 24
15
110,017
October 18, 2008
Penn State 46, Michigan 17
· Attendance records › Attendance record by Beaver Stadium capacity
46,284
46,284
Capacity
46,284
Record
50,144
Broken Date
November 21, 1964
Game result
Pittsburgh 0, Penn State 28
48,284
48,284
Capacity
48,284
Record
52,713
Broken Date
October 11, 1969
Game result
West Virginia 0, Penn State 20
57,723
57,723
Capacity
57,723
Record
61,325
Broken Date
September 13, 1975
Game result
Stanford 14, Penn State 34
60,203
60,203
Capacity
60,203
Record
62,554
Broken Date
September 17, 1977
Game result
Houston 14, Penn State 31
76,639
76,639
Capacity
76,639
Record
78,019
Broken Date
November 4, 1978
Game result
Maryland 3, Penn State 27
83,370
83,370
Capacity
83,370
Record
86,309
Broken Date
October 22, 1983
Game result
West Virginia 23, Penn State 41
93,967
93,967
Capacity
93,967
Record
97,498
Broken Date
November 9, 1997
Game result
Michigan 34, Penn State 8
107,282
107,282
Capacity
107,282
Record
110,753
Broken Date
September 14, 2002
Game result
Nebraska 7, Penn State 40
106,572
106,572
Capacity
106,572
Record
111,030
Broken Date
November 2, 2024
Game result
Ohio State 20, Penn State 13
Capacity
Record
Broken Date
Game result
46,284
50,144
November 21, 1964
Pittsburgh 0, Penn State 28
48,284
52,713
October 11, 1969
West Virginia 0, Penn State 20
57,723
61,325
September 13, 1975
Stanford 14, Penn State 34
60,203
62,554
September 17, 1977
Houston 14, Penn State 31
76,639
78,019
November 4, 1978
Maryland 3, Penn State 27
83,370
86,309
October 22, 1983
West Virginia 23, Penn State 41
93,967
97,498
November 9, 1997
Michigan 34, Penn State 8
107,282
110,753
September 14, 2002
Nebraska 7, Penn State 40
106,572
111,030
November 2, 2024
Ohio State 20, Penn State 13

References

  1. pennlive
    https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2024/11/penn-state-sets-all-time-attendance-record-at-beaver-stadium-against-ohio-state.html
  2. "Beaver Stadium History Essay"
    https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/PSUSportsMuseum/Beaver+Stadium+History+Essay
  3. 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
    https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44525121.pdf
  4. The Beaver County Times
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=krkvAAAAIBAJ&pg=3807,3592322&dq=en
  5. gopsusports.com
    https://www.psu.edu/news/office-physical-plant/story/architect-construction-manager-consultant-selected-stadium-renovations/
  6. Penn State News
    https://news.psu.edu/story/157346/2011/06/13/beaver-stadium-home-penn-state-football
  7. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08260/912571-215.stm
  8. "Facilities"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20111126205433/http://www.gopsusports.com/facilities/beaver-stadium.html
  9. "The Nation's Best: Eighth Annual Herbie Awards"
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/preview08/news/story?id=3548678
  10. promo.espn.com
    https://promo.espn.com/espn/contests/tacobell/2021/index
  11. Best college football stadiums
    http://fanindex.usatoday.com/2016/11/17/fan-index-week-2-the-best-stadiums-in-college-football/?hootPostID=77bded9e24971afe1c19efcc69ae1d67
  12. For the Win!
    https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/penn-state-beaver-stadium-wins-the-2019-ultimate-stadium-bracket
  13. Penn State Live
    http://live.psu.edu/story/44011
  14. The Daily Collegian
    https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1960-09-17/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=01%2F01%2F1958&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F1960&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=sn85054904&index=2&words=BEAVER+Beaver+FIELD+Field+new&county=&frequency=&ortext=New+Beaver+Field%2C&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
  15. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8671564/penn-state-nittany-lions-attendance-lowest-2001-beaver-stadium-renovation
  16. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/13784030/penn-state-nittany-lions-pursuing-options-replace-renovate-beaver-stadium
  17. Onward State
    https://onwardstate.com/2021/09/09/penn-state-dedicates-beaver-stadium-seat-in-honor-of-pow-mia-soldiers/
  18. GoPSUSorts
    https://gopsusports.com/news/2024/05/21/trustees-approve-beaver-stadium-renovation-plans
  19. "New videoboards are all fired up 🔥😍"
    https://x.com/PennStateFball/status/1837270490345533947
  20. The Daily Collegian
    https://www.psucollegian.com/news/campus/beaver-stadium-press-box-demolition-advances-renovations-to-next-phase/article_74b30812-cac5-11ef-a451-a7137fe1e08c.html
  21. Penn State Nittany Lions On SI
    https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-trustees-approve-naming-rights-deal-for-beaver-stadium-field-01jnxzpgfva6
  22. "Penn State-Ohio State Clash Delivers ESPN's Second Largest College Football Audience"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090125164647/http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101205aaa.html
  23. "Penn State Fans Earn Top Four Finish in NCAA Football Attendance For 15th Consecutive Year"
    https://archive.today/20130120053052/http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022706aaa.html
  24. pennlive
    https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/08/penn-state-ranked-as-one-of-top-25-tailgate-colleges.html
  25. Lion Ambassadors - Penn State Student Alumnai Corps
    http://www.lionambassadors.com/s-zone.html
  26. Onward State
    http://onwardstate.com/2013/11/07/what-goes-into-creating-the-s-zone/
  27. The Daily Collegian
    http://www.collegian.psu.edu/football/article_ec0dc24e-5b5e-11e4-912a-001a4bcf6878.html
  28. The Daily Collegian
    http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_28da2af3-0f2c-5986-97da-c480d7011873.html
  29. "Auburn vs. Penn State - Game Summary - September 18, 2021 - ESPN"
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401282070
  30. "Zombie Nation - Penn State football blog"
    http://zombienationpsu.blogspot.com/
  31. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17841835
  32. Penn State University Athletics
    http://gopsusports.com/news/2005/10/12/Penn_State_Ohio_State_Clash_Delivers_ESPN_s_Second_Largest_College_Football_Audience.aspx
  33. pennlive.com
    https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2017/08/espns_kirk_herbstreit_ranks_pe.html
  34. former conference member
  35. venue's use predated team's membership in the conference
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