Tag: Beaver Stadium

Beaver Stadium renovation plans approved by board of trustees

Penn State’s $700 million renovation plans for Beaver Stadium have been approved by the Board of Trustees.

Penn State is now one giant step closer to moving forward on massive renovation plans for Beaver Stadium. The Penn State Board of Trustees voted in favor in investing in the planned renovations to Beaver Stadium that will allow the stadium to be used all year for various events in addition to its usual football schedule.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to share there is overwhelming support for the University’s recommendation to renovate Beaver Stadium,” Board of Trustees Chair Matt Schuyler said in a released statement. “I’m pleased that the renovation will benefit our student-athletes, elevate Beaver Stadium’s significance in driving local and state economies, and ensure Beaver Stadium remains a premier facility in all of college athletics.”

Penn State previously approved a budget of $70 million to be used for Beaver Stadium renovations focusing on safety and accessibility around the stadium and widening sections of the concourse. The stadium also has been undergoing projects to help winterize the stadium, which would be mandatory to use the venue for events in the colder winter months.

Penn State plans on spending the next three offseasons completing the renovations, so it will be a bit of a gradual process, but the plans will aim to limit the impact it has on the fan experience during the football season. The total budget for the renovation plans is limited to $700 million and will be completed before the start of the 2027 college football season.

Renovations like these are needed in order to host an event like an NHL outdoor hockey game as Beaver Stadium simply would not be able to handle the cold weather for a marquee event of that nature. Perhaps more relevant to Penn State would be the opportunity to host a College Football Playoff game in December, as the expansion of the playoff field will have schools hosting the early round matchups moving forward beginning in 2024.

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ChatGPT ranks the most intimidating Big Ten football stadiums to play in

ChatGPT ranks the most intimidating Big Ten football stadiums to play in

From SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, to Husky Stadium in Seattle Washington, the Big Ten stretches from coast to coast.

With the conference’s latitude comes different stadium environments, different histories and unique traditions in every case.

Related: You might be surprised where Wisconsin football is on ESPN’s early 2024 SP+ rankings

Late last summer, I ranked the toughest road environments in the Big Ten after the conference’s new additions. Now that the 2023 season has concluded and the conference officially has 18 members, I decided to check the list with some outside counsel.

That is where ChatGPT comes in. I asked the OpenAI language model to rank the 18 Big Ten football home atmospheres by the most intimidating to play in — obviously including new additions USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington.

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Here is what the ChatGPT responded:

Ranking all 18 Big Ten football stadiums by seating capacity after addition of West Coast teams

Where do the stadiums of the four new Big Ten teams on the West Coast fit into the Big Ten with stadium capacity? #B1G

The Big Ten has some of the largest, most iconic stadiums not only in college football, but also in the country. From the famed Horseshoe at Ohio State, to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley at Penn State, to Michigan’s “Big House,” the scenes inside stadiums in the Midwest don’t take a backseat to any other conference. Now, with the addition of four more stadiums with the expansion of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, there are other venues to add into the mix.

The conference actually boasts three of the top four largest stadiums in college football — all exceed 100,000 seating capacity, with Ohio Stadium being right there.

The “Ole Horseshoe” on the banks of the Olentangy in Columbus, as the late, famed broadcaster Keith Jackson would say, is a staple of college football. Many used it as a template for their own designs. It was completed in 1922 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974.

But there are also those that aren’t massive and venerable and feel more like a large high school atmosphere. Some are more like a bandbox with opposing fans traveling to gobble up what little space there is. Also, what about those stadiums on the West Coast? How do those fit into the equation and atmosphere?

Here is a listing of all 18 Big Ten stadiums after expansion, and their seating capacities for you to impress your friends with should the topic ever arise (and if not, find a way to slide it into the conversation).

Beaver Stadium added to concert tour list for Luke Combs

Penn State could be the host of the largest Luke Combs concert in 2024.

It turns out the Penn State Blue Band won’t be the only musical performers blasting their favorite tunes in Beaver Stadium. In April 2024, country music artist Luke Combs will be looking to fill Beaver Stadium with as many fans as possible for a future stop on his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour.

Penn State’s football home was added to the concert tour list as one of 25 new dates as the CMA Entertainer of the Year will make a stop at the home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills a week before his University Park visit. After performing at Penn State, Combs will then head south to play in the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Beaver Stadium won’t be the only college football venue on the schedule, however, Combs will perform twice in Rice-Eccles Stadium, home to the Utah Utes. But all other venues on the schedule appear to be NFL stadiums. That makes Beaver Stadium the largest stadium on the tour, which could lead to one of the largest crowds to come out and see Combs perform on the tour.

Penn State has taken strides in attempting to renovate Beaver Stadium to host more non-football events like this, and this will certainly not be the last concert to make a stop in the football venue. More improvements and renovations are in the works that will allow for other events to be held as well, perhaps one day including the NHL’s Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers as many fans around Pennsylvania have been dreaming about for years.

Penn State’s Blue-White Game will not be impacted by the concert, of course. Penn State’s annual spring football game will take place the previous week, ensuring the final spring football practice won’t be played on a field that needs some work following a concert performance. This will also give the grounds crew plenty of time to get the field in proper playing shape for the start of the 2024 season.

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Ranking 2024 Big Ten stadiums by capacity

Ranking Big Ten football stadiums by capacity following its 2024 expansion with USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.

The Big Ten has always been home to some of the nation’s biggest college football stadiums and many of the oldest in the nation. That is not about to change with the upcoming expansion of the conference. The Big Ten will add USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington to the conference in 2024 and with it will add two storied college football venues and two of the loudest and most electric stadiums on the west coast.

But how will the stadium capacities of the Big Ten look once the four new members join the conference? While the top of the stadium capacity list will remain unchanged, there will be a few changes to the attendance pecking order in the Big Ten.

Going off the official attendance capacity numbers on record, here is an updated look at the Big Ten football stadium capacity from smallest to largest once USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington join the Big Ten in 2024.

Penn State’s Beaver Stadium named toughest road environment by Big Ten media

Penn State’s Beaver Stadium takes the crown as toughest Big Ten road environment in Big Ten media poll.

Penn State fans should be feeling proud of the home field advantage they offer their beloved Nittany Lions each and every gameday in the fall. A poll of Big Ten media members determined that Beaver Stadium is the toughest place to play for opposing teams around the conference.

In a poll organized by Cleveland.com leading up to Big Ten media day, 37 media members from around the Big Ten gave their top choice for the hardest road environment to play in the Big Ten, and Beaver Stadium ran away with the poll. Of the 37 ballots cast, Beaver Stadium received 17 votes as the toughest road environment in the Big Ten, more than double the next top pick, Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium.

“The best TEAMS make stadiums tough venues. However, for my money Penn State has the loudest stadium in the Big Ten,” said one voter in the poll (names were not attached to any quotes). “A night game there is ridiculous. A White Out is a night game on steroids.”

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“The crowds are big, loud and coordinated,” said another voter. “The never-easy-to-get-there factor with State College also takes a mental toll before the game even begins.”

Cleveland.com Big Ten Media Poll: Toughest Big Ten Road Environment

Penn State’s home schedule will kick off with a season-opening primetime game against West Virginia in non-conference action on Saturday, September 2 on NBC. The Nittany Lions will also Iowa for a primetime game on CBS on September 23. Penn State will host Michigan for a Fox Big Noon Kickoff on November 11. Other home games on the Penn State schedule will be played against Delaware, UMass, Indiana, and Rutgers.

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247Sports predicts most intimidating environment at Beaver Stadium in 2023

Beaver Stadium is going to be absolutely electric when this game gets played in 2023, according to 247Sports

After going 10-2 in the regular season and capping things off with a convincing victory in the Rose Bowl, the bar for expectations for Penn State has been raised heading into the 2023 season. Despite some key roster changes from last year’s program, the hype is already beginning for the Nittany Lions as spring football practices are underway in State College. And because it is never considered too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming football season, 247Sports has put together a list of what they expect to be the most intimidating atmosphere in college football this upcoming season. And a key Penn State home game ranked respectably high on the list.

Penn State’s home game against two-time defending Big Ten champion Michigan checked in at the fourth spot on the ranking organized by 247Sports. The ranking looks for specific games on the schedule as opposed to overall environments, and few would argue the home game against the Wolverines is not the biggest game being played in Penn State’s Beaver Stadium this season. It should absolutely be a raucous environment and the stakes could be considerably high as well.

Penn State is scheduled to host Michigan on November 11, with just two games in the regular season remaining. It is possible the game could carry Big Ten East Division championship stakes with the winner getting an inside track to a division crown. Penn State will have already played Ohio State (Oct. 21 in Columbus), and Michigan will end the regular season at home against their bitter rivals as they traditionally do (Michigan’s home game against Ohio State ranked second on this list by 247Sports and is the only Big Ten game ranked higher). The winner of this game will likely remain in the division race or have the inside track as a result.

All that is still left to be determined is what time the game will air and whether or not it will get the official whiteout treatment. It is widely expected the game will get the whiteout call as home games against Michigan and Ohio State generally do, although exceptions have been made, like last season’s game against the Buckeyes. Penn State likes to hold a whiteout in front of a primetime audience, as it does look spectacular at night, but if FOX gets the game, it will likely be a Big Noon Kickoff Game. But a new media contract with CBS and NBC going into effect this season could allow for a later kickoff.

Regardless, consider the Michigan game the easy pick for a whiteout game no matter when the kickoff is scheduled.

“Whiteouts at Beaver Stadium provide one of the most iconic pre-game looks in all of sports and you know Happy Valley will be busting at the seams for this game,” 247Sports says. “Penn State’s only losses last fall came against Ohio State and Michigan, so this is one of two games all Nittany Lions fans have circled for 2023. Expect this to be an extremely difficult-to-get ticket in the Big Ten this fall.”

Penn State opens the 2023 season with a home game against West Virginia in the first meeting between the two former regional rivals since before Penn State joined the Big Ten. It is the first game in a home-and-home series that will continue in Morgantown to start the 2024 season. Penn State will also host Delaware, Iowa, UMass, Indiana, and Rutgers this season.

See the full list of the most intimidating atmospheres for this college football season via 247Sports.

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Parker Washington’s best games in Beaver Stadium

Parker Washington had some big games in Beaver Stadium for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State has really started to produce some high level prospects at the wide receiver position in recent years. Specifically under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag], we have seen some earning as high as the first round like we did last year with [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag].

[autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag]has a chance to join him in that elite company in 2023 after declaring for the draft after the conclusion of the regular season.

Washington was a playmaker for a sometimes lethargic Penn State passing attack this past season. They were able to get the ball in his hands early and often whether it be with short routes or gadget plays. They knew what they had in Washington and he will be missed as he heads to the NFL to pursue his dreams.

The best way to show respect is to look back on his great performances in front of the Penn State fans in Beaver stadium.

Survey says Penn State has the toughest road environment in college football

Ranking college football’s toughest road environments

As if Penn State fans needed to be told this one more time, Penn State is viewed as the home of college football’s most challenging road atmosphere for opponents. The latest survey to come to this realization was organized in a collaborative effort by Goodyear and The Player’s Tribune.

The survey was conducted with responses from 68 former FBS college football players spanning the country, and Penn State easily took the top spot on the list for toughest road game atmosphere. Penn State claimed the top spot over LSU and a handful of other programs.

Seriously, was this any real contest here? This video should end the argument here and now.

Penn State’s whiteout was also ranked as one of the toughest road game traditions to face by the same former players. The whiteout was ranked fifth on the list. Iowa‘s pink locker rooms took the top spot and was followed by Wisconsin‘s “Jump Around” before the start of the fourth quarter and Virginia Tech’s “Enter Sandman” team entrance.

Fans are being a given to share their opinions on this conversation through The Goodyear Road Tested Sweepstakes.

Here are the toughest road game environments as determined by this survey.

Villanova QB said Beaver Stadium crowd wasn’t that intimidating

Villanova QB said Penn State fans weren’t nearly as loud as expected

The Villanova Wildcats left Beaver Stadium on the wrong end of a 38-17 final against Penn State in Week 4, but you won’t find anyone in the Villanova locker room suggesting the crowd was a factor. In fact, one player even suggested a bunch of leaf blowers were noisier than the Penn State fans in Week 4.

For some proper context, it is important to understand the background story to this comment. All week during Villanova’s practices leading up to their road trip to Happy Valley, the Wildcats practiced with staff members walking the practice field with leaf blowers. The idea was to prepare Villanova for the increased decibels they were sure to encounter in Beaver Stadium. For a program that plays in front of no more than 25,000 most weeks, that’s not a bad strategy.

Did it work? Only Villanova players can tell you for sure. And Villanova quarterback Daniel Smith wasn’t shy about suggesting the leaf blowers in practices had more of an impact on the players than the crowd assembled inside Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

That would be two consecutive opponents who traveled to Beaver Stadium or a game leaving with no complaints about the crowd noise. Of course, both of those teams also left with losses to lament.

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