Penn State Makes History: Double Outdoor Hockey Games in 2026

Outdoor Hockey: Penn State Brings the Sport to Beaver Stadium

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) will make history by hosting its first ice hockey game at Beaver Stadium, with a double outdoor match scheduled for January 31, 2026. The news was announced on Friday by the institution. The men’s and women’s teams will participate in this double header at the West Shore Home Field of Beaver Stadium. The men’s team will face Michigan State, in a match that highlights the rivalry between the two, with Michigan State being the current two-time champion of the Big 10 tournament. For their part, the women’s team will face Robert Morris University, in a match that intensifies the rivalry within the Atlantic Hockey America conference.

This is a historic moment for Penn State hockey, our fans, and the entire Penn State community. Bringing the excitement of college hockey to Beaver Stadium is something truly special.

Dr. Patrick Kraft, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at the university

Since the NHL began organizing outdoor games in 2008, hockey fans have longed for an event at Penn State’s football stadium. A game between state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, teams that have participated in six outdoor games each, was speculated. The Beaver Stadium has a capacity of over 106,000 spectators for football. The attendance record for an outdoor hockey game is 105,491 fans, set at the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL has considered holding an event at Beaver Stadium for the past 17 years, but a Winter Classic or Stadium Series had not materialized due to facility challenges and financial considerations. The Beaver Stadium is in the midst of a $700 million revitalization project, which continues during this college football season and is expected to be completed in 2027. Penn State began playing NCAA Division I college hockey in the 2012-13 season. In recent years, both programs have had considerable success. The men’s team has participated in the NCAA tournament four times since 2017 and reached the Frozen Four for the first time last season, losing in the semifinals against Boston University. The women’s team has won its conference tournament and reached the NCAA tournament in three consecutive seasons. The Penn State men’s team surprised the hockey world this offseason when 17-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna left Canadian junior hockey to join the Nittany Lions. McKenna, a forward, is the unanimous pick to be number one in next summer’s NHL draft. McKenna’s NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the range” of $700,000. To add intrigue to the Beaver Stadium game next season: Michigan State was the runner-up for McKenna’s commitment with an NCAA NIL offer of around $200,000 to $300,000.