Outdoor Hockey at Beaver Stadium: A Historic Milestone for Penn State
The Beaver Stadium at Pennsylvania State University will be the site of its first outdoor ice hockey game on January 31, 2026, the institution announced on Friday. The men’s and women’s hockey teams will participate in a doubleheader at the West Shore Home Field, located at Beaver Stadium. The men’s team will face Michigan State, in a match that promises to be a classic against the two-time defending champion of the Big 10 tournament. For their part, the women’s team will face Robert Morris University, a rival from the Atlantic Hockey America conference.Since the NHL began holding outdoor games annually in 2008, hockey fans have dreamed of an event at Penn State’s football stadium, specifically a game between in-state rivals Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, both with six outdoor game appearances. Beaver Stadium has a capacity for more than 106,000 spectators at football events. The attendance record at an outdoor NHL 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 last 17 years, but had never committed due to logistical challenges and financial considerations. The Beaver Stadium is in the midst of a $700 million revitalization project, which continues during the college football season and is expected to be completed in 2027. The NHL is interested in holding an outdoor game between the Penguins and the Flyers at Beaver Stadium after the renovation is finished.This is a historic moment for Penn State hockey, our fans, and the entire university 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
Penn State began competing in Division I NCAA college hockey in the 2012-13 season. Both programs have had considerable success in recent years. The men’s team has reached 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 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 choice 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, 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, according to College Hockey Insider.We’d love to talk at some point about Penn State. We told them, ‘inform us about your timeline.’ We have not committed to them in any way, although we always think it’s attractive.
Steve Mayer, NHL content and events president
