It hit me a few days ago that we’ve got a solid guide and warehouse of information about Penn State football on the blog.
But we don’t have a one specifically designed around Beaver Stadium – and everything you should know when it comes to gameday in Happy Valley.
So let’s change that.
Here’s some helpful information about surviving gamedays at Penn State, featuring both straightforward information and some pro tips along on the way.
Tickets
Obviously you need one to get into the game.
What’s probably more helpful information is that Penn State does not do physical tickets anymore. Every ticket is done through Ticketmaster’s mobile ticketing. Penn State offers an app that encompasses both sports information and sports ticketing, which can be found here for Apple and here for Android.
From there, it’s highly recommended by everyone that you download your ticket to your phone’s wallet before the game – maybe even before you even get to State College. WiFi and cell service usually hit or miss on gamedays so downloading the tickets beforehand will save you some headache and hassle.
One note on the wallet tickets: I’ve talked to a few people who said they have to set up some sort of FaceID (if you’re on Apple) to save them there. I’ve already had mine on for a while so I can’t confirm and don’t feel like changing . If for privacy reasons you don’t like to do that, you can still get into the app and scan the barcode on the tickets. The barcode consistently changes so screenshots don’t work.
If you’re looking to buy tickets, single game tickets straight from Penn State are harder to come by in season. They usually go quickly. However, Penn State offers a resale market through Ticketmaster here. Additionally, you can go through the usual suspects of StubHub, VividSeats, etc.
Alternatively, there are a few specific Penn State football ticket groups on Facebook like this one. It is private so you have to be admitted in though.
In terms of saving a few bucks, my biggest tip is to wait just a bit closer to the date of the game. Games like Ohio State and Washington (2024’s White Out) in general aren’t going to be cheap to come by. Usually get-in price sits north of $150 without fees.
I will say we sit in NB but there really isn’t a bad view in Beaver Stadium. Sitting higher up too is a neat experience because of the surrounding landscape and having a bird’s eye view of the mass of humanity. When everyone is wearing the same colors, it’s a neat experience to see.
Most of the seats between EA and WA on the lower bowl are student seats. Typically, most away fans sit in the north upper-deck, section NLU but they usually scatter across the top of the north deck as well.
Parking and Getting To The Game
Once you have your ticket, you need to park. This is the biggest headache to the Penn State football experience in my opinion – if you don’t have a season pass.
You effectively need to acquire a pass in the days before the game. There aren’t many day-of lots in the tailgating scene but grabbing a pass on resale markets like StubHub or through Facebook groups might be a good idea if you’re looking to save. There are some single-game parking passes available through Penn State but you have to get them 15 or more days in advance.
The most helpful piece of information is to take a look at the map and then look at your parking pass. Make sure you “run your route.” Here are the routes:
N-North: You should enter through Fox Hollow Road
E-East: Park Ave from I-99
S-South: Drive up Porter Road
W-West: Park Ave from Atherton Street.
There is a one-way traffic pattern two and a half hours before the game that only lets you flow in those directions. When you get close to State College, particularly on I-99, there are several signs both old school and digital that point this out. Be sure to look for those. The old school ones are blue and white.
Parking lots typically open at 7 a.m. for noon games and 8 a.m. for anything after that. If you are parked in the south section, be mindful the team busses come up Porter Road about three hours or so before the game. It can make for some headache-inducing congestion.
If you prefer to avoid parking in a cowfield, you can also park downtown in the garages but those can fill up too with people parking there for the long weekend. They’re called Beaver, Fraser and Pugh Garages.
Penn State also has the HUB Parking Deck on campus as well as the Eisenhower Parking Deck which do offer some gameday parking.
If you’re really struggling to find a spot, you can also park on a side street downtown, usually for free, but be warned, it’s a walk.
Rideshare also exists in State College.
Here’s what Penn State says about that.
“The ride share drop-off and pick-up zone is located on Hastings Road, south of the stadium. Rideshare drop-off is also available at Pegula Ice Arena, however, there is no pick-up option at Pegula.”
After the game, I will caution that there’s a good chance you’re going to have to deal with some traffic getting out, especially if you want to leave quickly. I’d recommend keeping some food and drinks easily accessible for after the game, particularly at night. It can take a solid hour and hour and a half after night games to get out of the parking lots. We usually grab the tailgate chairs back out and discuss the game, plus other games happening around the country, too.
It’s not quite as bad during noon and 3:30 games because people like to hang around and tailgate post game a bit though.
TLDR: Get a parking pass the week before the game. Be prepared to get stuck in traffic after.
WiFi and Cell Phone Reception
It sucks.
You’ll have spotty cell phone reception in the tailgate lots but don’t depend on it. It has improved over the seasons, though.
When it comes to WiFi inside Beaver Stadium, the “PSUFan” WiFI is super fast on the concourse. The second you go out to your seat though, you’ll get nothing. It’s virtually unconnectable at your seat. Cell phone reception is hit or miss as well but in general, I receive more texts while play is happening than at commercial breaks. I detailed more specifics about the WiFi in this review.
Points of Entry
There are several gates to enter Beaver Stadium. Gate A is reserved for students so unless you’re a student, don’t use that one.
Unless you have a special ticket for the suites, you can pretty much go in any gate you’d like. Gates B, C and E are generally more crowded although I have heard the egress situation is better at E this year. Gate D and Gate F are smaller. I’m not telling you which gate I go in because I don’t want you crowding it. (It’s Gate F.)
Most gates have you scan you go through the metal detectors and then scan the ticket. Gate E and F is opposite though. You scan your ticket and then go through the metal detectors. This seems to have sped things up.
Bag Policy
In general non-clear bags aren’t allowed inside Beaver Stadium. Clutches and small wristlets are.
Here’s the official Penn State graphic on bags. I don’t bring a bag with me and neither does my wife.
Other Stuff That’s Good to Know
- Beaver Stadium is mostly cash free so you’ll need a card either physically or on your phone to buy food.
- Speaking of food: Highlights for me include chicken baskets (most stands), Creamery Ice Cream (one stand near the NW corner) and Nuts for You (several stands throughout the stadium which are just candied almonds, cashews, etc.)
- Virtually all of the self-service kiosks primarily just sell beer. The only non-alcoholic drink is water. If you want a soda, you need to go to a traditional concession stand. (It’s kind of annoying this is the case as someone who gets way too anxious to drink during games.)
- Bring a wireless charger with you for the day. Your battery will go fast even if you’re not on your phone much.
- Always good to have a few ponchos in your tailgate bin just in case rain showers show up. Also paper towels. If it rains, you can shove them into your pockets and wipe the seat off with them before you sit down.
- Halftime is 20 minutes. Try to get out of your seat the second the first half ends and you have a good chance of getting food and a bathroom trip in – maybe not in that order though.
- If you’re looking for a tailgate, I’m generally in lot 45. Just shoot me a tweet and I’ll help guide you home. For security reasons, I’m not allowed to share Steve’s tailgate location. He’s just that popular.
- The band comes on to the field roughly 23 minutes before kick off but I’d make sure you’re in your seat 30 minutes before just to be sure to see everything.
This guide from Penn State will probably answer anything I didn’t cover above.
If I’ve missed something or you have a good pro-tip, feel free to email me at darian@StuffSomersSays.com
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