Some Penn State fans have been waiting years, many years, for an outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium and it finally happens this weekend.
It’s two varsity games, women’s (Friday) and men’s (Saturday) along with a series of activities and special events.
What was initially announced as a hockey doubleheader months ago has morphed into two afternoon games on separate days. It’s not a Winter Classic — that’s another brand, maybe for another time at the stadium — but it’s shaping up as something classic in its own right.
The men’s game Saturday, with No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 2 Michigan State, is the second of a two-game series. It highlights what Penn State has branded as its first Winter Sports Weekend.
Wrestling, track and men’s volleyball are among the 15 events scheduled over three days across campus. Plus, there are public skate sessions and club hockey games in the stadium. So much to do and so little time.
Still, hockey’s the highlight, specifically the men’s game, because of the venue and the wait for it to happen.
If you’re going Saturday, it will be cold — really cold. So be ready. Layers are your friend, and there’s no such thing as too many.
And if you’re going, it should be special — really special. So, embrace it.
Even the most dedicated, long-time fans have never done this before. Firsts can be foundational memories that last a long time.
Here’s what you need to know to make the most of the day.
Outdoor Game 101
Parking lots open at 7 a.m. and some hearty and well-intended tailgaters probably plan to arrive early and get started by treating things like a bonus football Saturday. Kudos and respect to them.
Activities in the Bubble, along University Drive just south of Jeffrey Field, are planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
There will be a bar and food available inside, with food trucks outside. There will be an equipment sale and “Kids Zone” inside as well. In addition, there’s a curling station, the opportunity to make your own trading card and a DJ outside.
Of course, there will be exclusive merchandise for sale. After all, the weekend may be a special first but at its foundation it’s about revenue for the athletic department.
Dedicated Penn State fans have helped, too. The $100 parking spots around the stadium sold out and it’s a safe bet that layered-up blue-and-white faithful will be happy to check out the food and merch offerings.
Penn State plans to lean into football traditions with team arrival scheduled at 11 a.m. and the hockey team walking down Curtin Road to enter the south tunnel of the stadium while supported by the Blue Band, cheerleaders and Nittany Lion mascot. Not all band members will be able to participate because of the cold, though. Some instruments are simply not well suited to the temperatures.
And what would gameday be without a pep rally? That’s set for 11:30 a.m. at the Bubble.
By that point, those first to arrive will have been on site for, perhaps, four hours, with puck drop still 90 minutes away.
Along with the Bubble, Penn State Athletics also plans to open Medlar Field and Pegula Ice Arena as warming stations for attendees. It’s not clear to me how the baseball stadium will be any warmer, but once inside the stadium fans can visit the All-Sports Museum.
It’s a failure that the Bryce Jordan Center will not be open, but that seems like internal Penn State politics preventing an opportunity to serve a bigger public audience. Athletics would have to pay for that facility’s use, and the BJC has staffed this week for a concert (Jason Aldean on Thursday), wrestling match (Friday) and men’s basketball game (Sunday), so maybe another day was difficult.
Inside Beaver Stadium for Saturday’s game, watch for a Penn State team entrance from the south end zone, some flames and a splashy hype video to get things started. Some of that could even be a test, of sorts, to potential gameday changes for next football season.
The team will be wearing sweaters inspired by Penn State football, with no names on the back and blueprints and designs of Beaver Stadium on the uniform numbers. There’s also a football look to the collars and a commemorative patch on the underside of each sweater.
Football coach Matt Campbell will make the ceremonial puck drop and after months of impressive planning and execution the start of the game should count as a great accomplishment for the athletic program and moment for the hockey team.
How 65,000-plus fans spread out over a stadium sound compared to 6,500 or so inside Pegula Ice Arena will be fun to compare. And in a stadium that has hosted 412 football games, a couple of commencement exercises and one major concert, the first hockey game will offer many comparisons — making it special indeed.
Biggest Big Ten Outdoor Hockey Crowds
| Date | Venue | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 11, 2010 | Michigan Stadium | Michigan State 3, Michigan 3 (OT) | 113,411* |
| Oct. 6, 2001 | Spartan Stadium | Michigan 5, Michigan State 0 | 74,554 |
| Feb. 6, 2010 | Camp Randall Stadium | Wisconsin 3, Michigan 2 | 55,031 |
| Feb. 17, 2013 | Soldier Field | Notre Dame 2, Miami 1 | 52,051 |
| Feb. 17, 2013 | Soldier Field | Wisconsin 3, Minnesota 2 | 52,051 |
* Certified Guinness World Record
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