Beaver Stadium

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Beaver Stadium
"Happy Valley"
Location North University Drive & East Park Avenue State College, Pa 16802
Built 1909
Opened 1960 (at current location)
Owner The Pennsylvania State University
Operator The Pennsylvania State University
Surface Natural Grass
Tenants Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA) (1909-Present)
Capacity 107,282

Beaver Stadium is an outdoor football stadium located on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. The stadium is named for James A. Beaver, a former governor of Pennsylvania (1887-91) and president of the university's board of trustees.

Beaver Stadium has a capacity of 107,282, making it the largest stadium in the United States at least until 2010, when the renovation of Michigan Stadium is planned to be complete. (It was announced on March 11, 2008 that Michigan Stadium, previously the largest, will have a capacity roughly 1,300 less than in 2007 as a result of an accessibility-related lawsuit)[1]. It is also the second largest stadium in North America, and the fourth largest stadium in the world. The natural grass playing field sits at an elevation of 1,170 feet (356 m) above sea level.

Due to its large size, Beaver Stadium is widely known as one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in collegiate athletics. Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN says that Penn State has one of the best student sections in the nation and Gameday at PSU is "The Greatest Show in College Sports". A 2007 ESPN article ranked Beaver Stadium 5th in its top 10 list of "Scariest Places to Play".[2]

Recently, there have been rumors to hold an outdoor National Hockey League match between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Beaver Stadium, citing the popularity of other outdoor matches.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Predecessors

Until 1893, Penn State teams participated in sporting events on Old Main lawn, a large grassy area in front of the primary classroom building of the time. Beaver Field, a 500-seat structure located behind the current site of the Osmond Building, was the first permanent home for Penn State's football team, and the first game played there was a Penn State victory over Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) on November 6, 1893. In 1909, New Beaver Field opened just northeast of Rec Hall, roughly in the current location of the Nittany Parking deck. It served as Penn State's stadium until 1960, when the entire 30,000 seat stadium was dismantled and moved to the east end of campus, reassembled and expanded to 46,284 seats, and dubbed Beaver Stadium.

[edit] Expansions

Endzone Club & Upper Concourse Expansion, Summer 2001
Endzone Club & Upper Concourse Expansion, Summer 2001
Holuba Hall, Penn State's Indoor Facility.
Holuba Hall, Penn State's Indoor Facility.
The Senior Section, dressed to form the letter "S"
The Senior Section, dressed to form the letter "S"

Expansions in 1969, 1974 and 1976 increased capacity to 60,203. In 1978, 16,000 seats were added when the stadium was cut into sections and raised on hydraulic lifts, allowing the insertion of seating along the inner ring of the stadium where the track had previously been located. In 1980, maximum capacity increased to 83,770. An expansion was completed for the 1991 football season, placing an upper deck addition over the north end zone and raising capacity to over 90,000.

A major and somewhat controversial construction project took place in 2001, raising the stadium's total capacity to 107,282. An upper deck was added to the south end of the stadium, blocking the view of neighboring Mount Nittany (which had sentimental value for some fans), but making Beaver Stadium the largest stadium in the United States.

The stadium is home to what many consider to be the best student section in the country. In 2007, over 22,000 student tickets sold out in 59 minutes.

In 2006, the stadium underwent major structural and aesthetic upgrades. Old steel beams supporting the upper seats in the east, north and west were replaced and strengthened, and new railing was installed, stronger than the old railing which collapsed following the 2005 Ohio State game.

The appearance of the stadium has been enhanced with the addition of large blue letters spelling out "The Pennsylvania State University" on the west-facing suites, and a list of Penn State's undefeated, national championship, and Big Ten championship years underneath. On the opposite side of the stadium, letters spelling, "Penn State Nittany Lions" have been added to the press box, with "Beaver Stadium" running below. Nine markers depicting the various traditions of Beaver Stadium, including the Blue Band, the student section, and the blue buses which bring the team to the stadium, have been placed around the stadium as well. In late October, the walls surrounding the field were refaced with Pennsylvania limestone. An iron gate has replaced the old chain-link face at the players' entrance into the stadium. On the new gate the words "PENN STATE" in blue.

[edit] Records

A view of the lettering and years added to the suites in 2006.
A view of the lettering and years added to the suites in 2006.

Beaver Stadium's record crowd of 110,753 witnessed Penn State's 40-7 victory over Nebraska on September 14, 2002. [3]

109,839 people were in attendance when the Nittany Lions defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2005.
109,839 people were in attendance when the Nittany Lions defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2005.[4]

Its second largest crowd of 110,134 was present for Penn State's 37-17 loss to the #1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on October 27, 2007. [5]

In 2002, Penn State also set an NCAA record for largest season attendance, with 1,257,707 watching Penn State games over the course of the season.[5]

It is boasted by the Penn State community that during home games at State College the stadium is the 3rd largest city by "population" in the state. It follows Philadelphia (1,517,550) and Pittsburgh (334,563) and precedes Allentown (106,632).

Beaver Stadium Attendance Records
Rank Attendance Date Game result
1 110,753 Sept. 14, 2002 Penn State 40, Nebraska 7
2 110,134 October 27, 2007 Ohio State 37, Penn State 17
3 110,078 September 8, 2007 Penn State 31, Notre Dame 10
4 110,007 Oct. 14, 2006 Michigan 17, Penn State 10
5 109,865 Nov. 5, 2005 Penn State 35, Wisconsin 14
6 109,839 Oct. 8, 2005 Penn State 17, Ohio State 10
7 109,754 October 13, 2007 Penn State 38, Wisconsin 7
8 109,467 Oct. 29, 2005 Penn State 33, Purdue 15
9 109,313 Sept. 1, 2001 Miami (Fla.) 33, Penn State 7
10 108,951 October 6, 2007 Penn State 27, Iowa 7

[edit] References

  1. ^ Michigan Stadium lawsuit settled (2008-03-11).
  2. ^ Top 10 Scariest Places to Play. ESPN. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
  3. ^ Penn State Team Game-by-Game Statistics. GoPSUsports. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  4. ^ Penn State-Ohio State Clash Delivers ESPN's Second Largest College Football Audience. GoPSUsports. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  5. ^ a b Nittany Lions Fall to Top-Ranked, Unbeaten Buckeyes. GoPSUsports. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 40°48′44″N, 77°51′22″W

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