Penn State: Outdoor Hockey at Beaver Stadium in 2026

Penn State will make history with an outdoor hockey game

The Beaver Stadium at Pennsylvania State University will be the scene of a historic event: its first ice hockey game. The Nittany Lions will compete in an outdoor doubleheader on January 31, 2026, according to the institution. Both 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 promises to be exciting against the current two-time Big 10 tournament champion. For their part, the women’s team will face Robert Morris University, in a match against their Atlantic Hockey America conference rivals.

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 annually in 2008, hockey fans have dreamed of an event at Penn State’s football stadium. Beaver Stadium’s capacity for football exceeds 106,000 spectators. The attendance record at an NHL outdoor hockey game is 105,491 fans, set at the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The Beaver Stadium is in the midst of a $700 million revitalization project, which is expected to be completed in 2027. Penn State began competing in NCAA Division I college hockey in the 2012-13 season. In recent years, both programs have achieved 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. The Penn State men’s team surprised the hockey world this offseason when 17-year-old prodigy Gavin McKenna left Canadian junior hockey to join the Nittany Lions. McKenna, a forward, is considered the top prospect to be selected in next summer’s NHL draft. McKenna’s NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the range” of $700,000. To add some intrigue to the game at Beaver Stadium next season: Michigan State was the runner-up in McKenna’s commitment to the NCAA with a NIL offer of around $200,000 to $300,000.