West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium

State College is served by I-99, US 322 and Routes 26 and 45. Football traffic divides the stadium area into North, South, East and West zones, each with a required approach. One-way patterns begin before games and reverse outward afterward.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  Follow the color and lot number on the current parking pass. North traffic generally enters from Fox Hollow Road, East from Park Avenue and I-99, South from Porter Road, and West from Park Avenue via Atherton Street.
• Parking
  Advance single-game passes are offered in selected lots, subject to availability, with variable pricing starting at $50 in the latest official plan. Buy early; passes stop selling online before gameday.
• Parking
  Day-of inventory, when available, is sold by credit card at Lots 25 and 36. Follow North Zone signage rather than trying to cross the controlled stadium grid.
• Parking
  Lots open at 7 a.m. for noon kickoffs and 8 a.m. for later games. A visible pass is required, and one pass covers one vehicle and one marked space—not an extra tailgate stall.
• Parking
  Grass lots can close after heavy rain. Monitor official alerts and 511PA because a wet-weather relocation can change the correct approach and walking distance.
• Parking
  Accessible lots include Shields, Wagner, the IM Building, Nittany Lion Softball Park and Katz, with shuttles to the stadium. Day-of accessible parking is at East Deck; a valid placard or plate is required, and tailgating is prohibited there.
• Parking
  Overnight RV lots use separate permits and arrival rules. Oversized, converted or tow-behind vehicles face detailed restrictions, so check the vehicle chart before traveling.

Public Transit

• New for 2026, CATA's fare-free Blue and White Loops replace the former paid Downtown Shuttle on gameday. Extended service links downtown and campus with the Bryce Jordan Center beside Beaver Stadium from three hours before kickoff until one hour after the game.
• CATA's South Atherton Shuttle serves participating hotels and park-and-ride points. Check the current fare, stops and group-pass options in the Token Transit app.
• Track BL Gameday, WL Gameday and SA Shuttle vehicles through myStop. Football detours alter ordinary loop routing, especially near Curtin and Porter roads.
• The walk from downtown State College is roughly 1.5 miles depending on the starting point. It crosses the academic campus and is often faster than sitting in final-mile traffic.
• Guests with disabilities can use stadium ADA shuttles from designated lots. Service begins at different times by lot and delivers near Gates A or B; arrange the correct pass in advance.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Official drop-off and pickup areas are at Pegula Ice Arena off University Drive and the North Transit Station at Park Avenue and Fox Hollow Road.
• Choose the zone closest to the direction of travel after the game. Crossing the stadium footprint to meet a driver can add a mile amid dense crowds.
• Downtown or a South Atherton hotel is a practical alternative pickup point after using CATA or walking away from the traffic controls.
• Do not request a car from Curtin Road during the Block Party, team arrival or one-way operation. Drivers cannot stop inside reserved lots or emergency routes.

Beaver Stadium rewards an all-day commitment. The surrounding fields become a temporary city, while Curtin Road supplies a free public pregame for visitors without a private tailgate.

Tailgating

• Tailgating must remain within the vehicle's marked space. Saving spaces or purchasing a second pass solely for an empty party area is prohibited.
• Propane grills are generally the practical choice. Charcoal and wood fires, visible-flame heaters, fire pits and tow-behind smokers are prohibited in the parking areas.
• Glass containers are prohibited in grass lots, as are kegs. Keep flags under the stated height limit and tents clear of driving lanes.
• Weather matters. Grass fields become muddy and can close, so wear boots, bring traction-friendly equipment and follow recycling instructions for cans and bottles.
• Beaver Stadium Block Party
  The free event occupies Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter Road about four hours before kickoff, with live music, food trucks, merchandise, sponsors and family activities.
• Team Arrival Pep Rally
  Two hours before kickoff, the cheerleaders, Lionettes, Nittany Lion and Blue Band greet the blue buses at Curtin and Porter. The band then leads the team down Curtin Road to the South Tunnel.
• Bud Light Backyard
  The Gate F beer garden opens three hours before kickoff with food, drinks, lawn games, televised football and a double-decker sports bar. Confirm age and entry conditions for the selected game.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• The Corner Room
  The Allen Street landmark serves American breakfast, sandwiches and comfort food at the most recognizable downtown intersection. It is a dependable family stop, but waits grow early.
• The Tavern
  A longtime State College dining room offering traditional American dishes in a more polished setting than the student bars. Reservations are valuable on football weekends.
• The Phyrst
  The basement bar on Beaver Avenue is known for live music, singalongs and a dense alumni crowd. It is a late-day adult atmosphere rather than a quick family meal.
• Café 210 West
  Its patio, pitchers and casual menu make it a classic west-end gathering place. The stadium walk is long, so leave well before team arrival.
• Champs Downtown
  A large sports bar with televisions, burgers, wings and a lively college crowd. It can function as a full watch-party destination for companions without tickets.
• The Field Burger & Tap
  At Toftrees north of town, this restaurant offers locally themed burgers and craft beer. It works best for guests staying outside downtown who will drive or shuttle afterward.

• Blue buses
  The team's plain blue buses are icons in their own right. They arrive at Curtin Road as the pep rally reaches its peak, then players walk behind the Blue Band toward the South Tunnel.
• Penn State Blue Band
  Approximately one hour before kickoff, the band marches down the center of the Block Party. Inside, its floating-lion drill and fight songs establish the pregame rhythm.
• “We Are…Penn State”
  One side shouts “We Are,” the other answers “Penn State,” followed by “Thank you” and “You're welcome.” Visitors can join immediately.
• Nittany Lion pushups
  The mascot performs pushups matching Penn State's score after touchdowns. As the score climbs, the physical challenge becomes part of the entertainment.
• White Out
  The designated major home game fills the stadium with white clothing and rally towels. The tradition began in the student section in 2004 and expanded to the full stadium against Notre Dame in 2007.
• Stripe Out and Helmet Stripe
  Other selected games use section-by-section blue and white assignments to create stripes or the image of Penn State's helmet. Consult the annual theme map before choosing clothing.
• “Zombie Nation”
  The stadium jumps to Kernkraft 400 at high-leverage moments. In the student section and upper decks, the movement can make the steel structure visibly sway.
• “Sweet Caroline” and alma mater
  Familiar singalongs break the intensity, while the team and Blue Band gather after the game for the alma mater, win or lose.

• Penn State All-Sports Museum
  Integrated into the southwest side near Gate B, the museum traces varsity athletics and contains trophies, exhibits and a view into the stadium. Check football-weekend hours.
• Exposed-steel structure
  Repeated expansions remain legible from outside. Towers, ramps and decks look industrial rather than ornamental, expressing how the building grew from relocated grandstands.
• Mount Nittany view
  Upper seats and exterior approaches reveal the ridge east of campus, the landscape source of the Nittany Lion identity.
• Natural-grass field
  Kentucky bluegrass connects the stadium to Penn State's influential turfgrass program. The field is now formally sponsored as West Shore Home Field.
• South Tunnel
  Team arrival ends at this entrance, now framed by an LED display. It concentrates the final pregame build before the players emerge.
• PAM Health Misitano Family Tower construction
  The new west-side structure is visible but remains an active project during 2026. Future clubs, suites, press facilities and expanded concourses should not be treated as currently available.
• Nittany Lion Shrine
  The famous limestone mascot statue is across campus near Rec Hall, not at Beaver Stadium. Visit Friday or early Saturday and expect a photo line on major weekends.

History & Notable Moments

• Crews dismantled New Beaver Field after 1959, moved roughly 700 sections across campus and reassembled them with added seating. The present stadium opened September 17, 1960, with a 20-0 win over Boston University.
• The stadium honors James A. Beaver, a Civil War officer, Pennsylvania governor, university trustee and acting president.
• Expansions in 1969, 1972 and 1976 enclosed and enlarged the stadium. In 1978, engineers raised the structure with hydraulic jacks and inserted more than 16,000 seats after removing the track.
• Penn State defeated No. 3 Nebraska 27-24 on a late drive in 1982, one of the most debated and consequential games in stadium history.
• The Nittany Lions beat Pitt 34-14 in 1986 to complete an undefeated regular season before winning the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl.
• An approximately $84 million expansion completed in 2001 added the south upper deck, suites, club seating, scoreboards and major circulation and amenity upgrades.
• The first full-stadium White Out produced a 31-10 win over Notre Dame on September 8, 2007.
• A record 111,030 attended the 2024 Helmet Stripe game against Ohio State.
• Beaver Stadium hosted its first outdoor hockey game January 31, 2026, when 74,575 watched Michigan State defeat Penn State 5-4 in overtime.
• The Populous-designed west-side revitalization is capped at $700 million and scheduled for completion before the 2027 football season.

Beaver Stadium uses lettered sections by side and level, with bench seating across most of the bowl. The current construction configuration includes temporary west upper sections, so verify every resale listing against the 2026 map.

• Lower sidelines
  East and west lower seats provide proximity but low rows can lose depth perception and face sideline obstructions. West-side circulation is temporary during construction.
• Upper decks
  Views are excellent for formations, but climbs are long and exposure to wind is substantial. New stair towers and east-side escalators help, though the Gate B escalator is pregame-only.
• South end zone
  The upper deck supplies a full-stadium view and easier access to some modern amenities. The South Tunnel lies below.
• Student section
  Students enter at Gate A and receive color-coded wristbands for assigned student zones. The section is standing, compressed and exceptionally loud; students wishing to sit together must enter together.
• Visitor seating
  Visiting allocations are generally in upper and corner areas. Confirm the ticket's exact portal because walking around the interior can be difficult once concourses fill.
• Mount Nittany Club, suites and Letterman Club
  Premium tickets offer indoor hospitality, dedicated amenities and earlier gate access. Benefits vary, and temporary construction-era products may differ from legacy seating.
• Accessibility
  Accessible platforms exist around the stadium. Current ADA entrances are beside Gate A at the Club/Letterman entrance and beside Gate B at the museum entrance; arrange exchanges and elevator access before gameday.

Oak View Group operates a largely cashless program with standard stadium food, Pennsylvania brands and grab-and-go markets. West-side temporary concessions remain in use during the 2026 construction season.

• Local and regional choices
  Current highlights include Caliente Pizza, Chickie's & Pete's, Panini's, Philly Pretzel Factory, Scott's Roasting, We Are Inn and Wing Kitchen at designated concourse locations.
• Stadium basics
  Hot dogs, burgers, chicken, pizza, pretzels, popcorn, candy, soda and water are widely distributed, though lines vary sharply by quadrant.
• Pennsylvania flavor
  Crab fries, soft pretzels and locally sourced farm products give the menu regional identity. Vendor locations can change when temporary stands move.
• Alcohol
  Beer and other approved beverages are sold to guests 21 and older, with identification required and a maximum of two drinks per transaction. Outside alcohol and removal of purchased alcohol are prohibited.
• Payment
  Most stands, parking garages, merchandise and ticket operations are cashless and accept major cards plus Apple Pay or Google Pay. A small amount of cash-only activity, such as some seatback rentals, may remain.
• Hydration
  Drinking fountains are available under the South and West stands and on main and South upper concourses. Outside water bottles—opened, sealed or reusable—are prohibited.
• Buy food outside peak breaks. The temporary west layout and narrow historic concourses can make halftime lines especially slow.

• One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches is permitted. Penn State warns that some NFL-branded clear bags are deeper than its limit.
• One small clutch, with or without a strap, no larger than 5 by 8 by 1 inch is also permitted under the current A–Z guide. Inspect the latest posted graphic because older Penn State materials list a smaller wristlet dimension.
• Guests with necessary medical, dietary or childcare bags must make arrangements in advance. Enter through the stadium police station at Gate B or the ADA entrances beside Gates A and B for inspection.
• Backpacks, opaque purses, diaper bags that do not qualify for an approved exception, string bags and oversized wristlets are prohibited.
• Outside food, all water bottles, coolers, umbrellas, strollers, tripods, seatback chairs, poles, noisemakers and weapons are prohibited. Roll-up cushions without pockets may be allowed under current rules.
• All guests pass security screening. There is no bag check or storage at the gates, and discarded items cannot be recovered. Public gates open two hours before kickoff, mobile-ticket screenshots do not work and re-entry is prohibited.