Penn State Athletics Names Oak View Group its first External Food & Beverage Partner

Penn State University Athletics Tuesday announced a landmark partnership with Oak View Group (OVG) and its OVG Hospitality division to become its first food and beverage partner to expand and enhance the offerings across multiple Intercollegiate Athletics facilities.

Through a multi-year partnership, OVG Hospitality will bring a reimagined customer service approach to several Penn State Athletics venues, including Beaver Stadium, the second-largest stadium in the country, and Pegula Ice Arena. With a focus on providing the ultimate fan experience, OVG Hospitality is prioritizing several investments in the food and beverage program. Plans include enhancing the premium experience in suites and clubs, expanding concession locations, increasing food & beverage personnel, and introducing technology to streamline ordering and payment processes to reduce lines and wait times. Additionally, OVG Hospitality will introduce new menu selections and market concepts throughout the year.

In preparation for the 2024 season at Beaver Stadium, new food and beverage markets will be unveiled along with the expanded menu selections and improved premium guest services.

“The future of our food and beverage is exciting as we enter into this transformational partnership with OVG,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. “OVG is one of the great hospitality providers in the country and will bring a level of excellence to our expanded and enhanced food and beverage options at our facilities. We are also thrilled to have OVG leading the charge of our Performance Dining Center for our student-athletes when it opens in the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex in the coming years.”

OVG Hospitality will integrate its industry-leading services across multiple athletics venues, enhancing all Penn State game-day experiences. This initiative will provide fans with high-quality dining options and utilize local, regional, and national partners on menu items that reflect the local culture.

Venues to include:

• Beaver Stadium
• Pegula Ice Arena
• Recreation Building (Rec Hall)
• Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track
• Jeffrey Field
• Nittany Lion Softball Park
• Panzer Stadium
• Field Hockey Complex
• Blue and White Golf Courses Nineteenth Hole Café
• Performance Dining at Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex

“We are excited to partner with one of the most respected and ambitious college athletics programs in the nation,” said Chris Granger, President, OVG360. “We look forward to collaborating with our partners at Penn State to set a new standard that will redefine the game day experience for Nittany Lion fans. Our shared commitment to culinary excellence and community impact will be showcased through elevated food and beverage offerings, an authentic focus on sustainability, and meaningful local partnerships. We are honored to be a part of the Penn State family and eager to begin this work together.”

As part of the partnership, Penn State will become GOAL’s first university member. GOAL, Green Operations & Advanced Leadership, is a membership network focused on elevating sustainability for arenas, stadiums, convention centers, cultural institutions, and other large-scale venues, of which Oak View Group is one of the founding partners. GOAL will collaborate with Penn State’s sustainability team to quantify the university’s carbon footprint, identify opportunities for waste reduction and energy efficiency, and help align the Athletic facilities’ operational efforts with the university’s robust sustainability goals. GOAL will also support OVG Hospitality’s sustainability efforts, including a focus on food waste reduction and the avoidance of single-use plastic.

“We see tremendous opportunity to enhance all facets of food and beverage operations throughout Nittany Lion athletic venues,” added Ken Gaber, President of OVG Hospitality. “Drawing from our extensive experience managing operations at numerous major collegiate venues nationwide, we are poised to tailor our expertise specifically to the Penn State fanbase.”