Outdoor Hockey at Beaver Stadium: A Milestone for Penn State
The Beaver Stadium at Pennsylvania State University will be the venue for a historic event: its first ice hockey game. The Nittany Lions will play a double outdoor match on January 31, 2026, as announced 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, a classic rival and current champion of the Big 10 tournament. For their part, the women’s team will play against Robert Morris University, their Atlantic Hockey America conference rival.Since the NHL began organizing outdoor games in 2008, hockey fans have dreamed of an event at Penn State’s football stadium, specifically a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Beaver Stadium has a capacity for more than 106,000 spectators in football games. The attendance record for 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 extends into the 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.“This is a historic moment for Penn State hockey, our fans, and the entire university community,” said Dr. Patrick Kraft, the university’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “Bringing the excitement of college hockey to Beaver Stadium is something truly special.”
Dr. Patrick Kraft, VP of Intercollegiate Athletics
The Penn State men’s team surprised the hockey world this summer when 17-year-old prodigy Gavin McKenna left Canadian junior hockey to join the Nittany Lions. McKenna, a forward, is the unanimous choice to be the first pick in next summer’s NHL draft.
McKenna’s NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the range” of $700,000, according to a source. To add some intrigue to the Beaver Stadium game next season: Michigan State was the runner-up in McKenna’s commitment to the NCAA with an NIL offer of around $200,000 to $300,000.
