Penn State: Outdoor hockey at Beaver Stadium, a historic event

Outdoor Hockey at Beaver Stadium: A Historic Event for Penn State

The Beaver Stadium at Pennsylvania State University is preparing for an unprecedented event: it will host its first outdoor ice hockey game. The double-header is scheduled for January 31, 2026, as announced by the institution on Friday. The men’s and women’s hockey 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 promises to be a clash of titans against the two-time defending champion of the Big Ten tournament. For their part, the women’s team will face Robert Morris University, their Atlantic Hockey America conference rival.

“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 school

Since the NHL began organizing outdoor games annually in 2008, hockey fans have dreamed of an event at Penn State’s football stadium. The expectation of a match between state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, has generated great interest. The Beaver Stadium has a capacity for more than 106,000 spectators in football games. The attendance record at an outdoor NHL hockey game is 105,491 fans, set at the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The stadium is in the midst of a $700 million revitalization project, which is expected to be completed in 2027. NCAA Division I college hockey at Penn State began 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 to Boston University. The women’s team has won its conference tournament and reached the NCAA tournament for 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. It is expected that McKenna, a forward, will be the first overall pick 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 next season’s Beaver Stadium game: Michigan State was the runner-up in McKenna’s commitment to the NCAA with a NIL offer of around $200,000 to $300,000.