Nittany Lions Prep for Saturday Homecoming Clash with Michigan State
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.– The No. 8 Penn State football team hosts Michigan State Saturday in the Nittany Lions’ 99th Homecoming contest and Penn State Stripe Out. Kickoff for the BTN national telecast is set for 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium.
The Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-1) are coming off a 28-27 home loss to Ohio State on Sept. 29. The Spartans (3-2, 1-1) also lost their last contest at home, 29-19 to Northwestern on Oct. 6.
Patrons should check their tickets or visit PennStateStripeOut.com before leaving home to see whether fans in their section are wearing blue or white for the Varsity “S” Day contest.
The Penn State-Michigan State game will air on BTN, GoPSUsports.com, the Penn State Sports Radio Network (2 p.m. airtime) and SiriusXM Ch. 83.
Game Day Parking Exhausted for Michigan State Game
Penn State has announced that all game day parking has been exhausted for Saturday’s game vs. Michigan State. Fans attending Saturday’s contest who do not have a parking permit will not be able to purchase a permit for the Beaver Stadium parking lots the rest of the week, including Saturday. Several options for fans who do not have a parking permit are listed below.
Parking Options for Fans Who Don’t Have a Pre-Paid or Advance Parking Permit for Michigan State
Fans who don’t have a pre-paid or advance parking permit for the Michigan State game are encouraged to carpool or consider other options to get to Beaver Stadium, including:
• CATA Game Day Shuttle – two routes to Beaver Stadium (catabus.com)
• On campus in the Eisenhower, HUB or Nittany decks and walking or taking CATA Blue or White Loop (parking fee at all campus decks);
• Lot Red A, located west of North Atherton Street by the Westgate Building and walking or taking CATA Blue Loop (parking fee at Lot Red A);
• Several downtown parking garages have hourly rates, including the Beaver Avenue, Fraser Street, McAllister Street and Pugh Street Garages, on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can walk from the garages, take the CATA Game Day Shuttle or CATA Blue or White Loop to Beaver Stadium;
• Uber (drop off and pick up locations near stadium);
• Grange Park (car and RV park and ride shuttle provided by Cole Transportation; fee for parking and shuttle on Friday/Saturday; grangefair.com).
All parking permits for the Michigan State game that were purchased via 1-800-NITTANY earlier this week were fulfilled and shipped via express mail.
Parking and Traffic Changes set for Friday’s Men’s Hockey Game and Homecoming Parade
Fans planning to attend any of Friday’s events on the east side of the Penn State campus are encouraged to arrive early and take note of changes that will assist with traffic flow and parking.
With Penn State’s annual Homecoming Parade starting Friday at 6 p.m., several traffic and parking restrictions will be in place for the men’s hockey game vs. Clarkson at 7 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena. Additionally, the women’s soccer team hosts Maryland Friday at 7 p.m. on Jeffrey Field, a short distance from the parade route and hockey game.
For more information on Friday’s parking and traffic changes, go to:
GoPSUsports.com/news/2018/10/10/general-parking-and-traffic-changes-set-for-fridays-mens-hockey-game-and-homecoming-parade.aspx
BTN Tailgate Originating from Outside Bryce Jordan Center Saturday at 10 a.m.
BTN Tailgate will originate Saturday from 10 a.m.-Noon and fans are invited to attend the free event. The program will be located just outside Gate B at the Bryce Jordan Center, as part of Fan Fest on Curtin Road. BTN Tailgate is hosted by Dave Revsine, with analysts Gerry DiNardo, Howard Griffith and former Nittany Lion NFL first round selection Anthony “Spice” Adams. Michelle McMahon is the program’s reporter.
BTN Tailgate is the second live college football pre-game television program to visit Penn State this season, as ESPN’s College Gameday originated from Old Main lawn for the Ohio State game. BTN Tailgate also originated from Penn State last year against Nebraska.
Fans can access the “pit” for BTN Tailgate at 9 a.m. Saturday and make their owns signs. For more information about BTN Tailgate, including all regulations for fans, go to: GoPSUsports.com/news/2018/10/9/football-btn-tailgate-saturday.aspx
Alumni Blue Band to Perform; Lisa Salters Homecoming Grand Marshal
The Alumni Blue Band will be featured as they join the Penn State Blue Band performances during pre-game and at halftime. The Homecoming court will parade onto the field and the honorees will be announced during halftime. The Michigan State game also is Varsity “S” Day.
Former Lady Lion Basketball student-athlete and ESPN/ABC correspondent Lisa Salters is the Homecoming Grand Marshal and she will be recognized during the first half of the game.
Beaver Stadium Gates open at 1:30 p.m.; Fans can Enter at Gates B, C, D, E, F; Students at Gate A
Penn State Athletics reminds patrons that Beaver Stadium gates will open two hours before kickoff for all games and strongly encourages fans to arrive early to Beaver Stadium. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for every game and reminded they can enter Beaver Stadium at any gate except the student gate – Gate A. Early arriving fans will have an opportunity to receive up to a 20 percent discount at the concession stands (see below).
Team Arrival at 1 p.m.; Velveeta Plays at 11:30 a.m. in Fan Fest
The Penn State All-Sports Museum is open from 9 a.m.-noon, Fan Fest on Curtin Road begins at 11 a.m. and the Beaver Stadium ticket office, near Gate E, opens at 11:30 a.m. Team arrival presented by Lion Country Lodging is scheduled for approximately 1 p.m. and the stadium gates will open at 1:30 p.m., including the students’ Gate A.
During the team arrival, the Nittany Lions’ team captains will hand out footballs signed by the captains and head coach James Franklin to fans lined up on Curtin Road.
A new, fun event for fans this year is the live entertainment on a stage just south of the stadium on Curtin Road prior to and after the team arrival. This Saturday, Velveeta will play from 11:30 a.m. until the gates open at 1:30 p.m.
Michael Mauti Honorary Captain; Available for Photos with Fans from 12-1 p.m. near South Tunnel
“Linebacker U.” All-American Michael Mauti will be available to take photos with fans on Saturday from noon-1 p.m. near the Beaver Stadium south tunnel at Fan Fest on Curtin Road. Mauti, the 2012 Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, is the honorary captain vs. the Spartans.
Fans can also take their photo with the Nittany Lions’ 2016 Big Ten East Division Championship trophy Saturday from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Pepsi Zone, above Beaver Stadium Gate A.
Beaver Stadium Parking Lots Open Saturday at 8 a.m.
The Beaver Stadium parking lots will open this Saturday at 8 a.m. Fans are asked to please display their parking permit from their rear view mirror as they enter the traffic pattern and continue to display the permit once parked. Cars are sorted in traffic by Stadium Traffic Control to lanes leading to appropriate lots. Patrons should approach their parking lot as directed on the back of their parking permit.
To reference a map of the game day parking areas and all other game day information, visit GameDay Central at: GoPSUsports.com/gameday
Fans Advised to be on Lookout for Counterfeit Tickets for Michigan State Game
Fans are being advised by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics to be cautious of counterfeit tickets, including the print-at-home format and illegally reproduced single game tickets purchased from non-authorized sources, for the Michigan State game.
The ticketing staff at the Beaver Stadium gates and ticket windows and University Police confiscated more than 300 counterfeit tickets before and during the Nittany Lions’ last home game, against Ohio State on Sept. 29. More than 300 fans who thought they had purchased official Penn State tickets for the game vs. the Buckeyes tried to gain admittance with counterfeit tickets and were denied admission.
Penn State continues to encourage fans buying tickets to only purchase them through Penn State authorized sources. The Penn State Athletic Ticket Office and Ticketmaster.com/pennstate are the only authorized sources for tickets to Nittany Lion athletic home events. Fans purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources assume the risk that tickets purchased are counterfeit or the barcodes have been invalidated.
Anyone attempting to enter Beaver Stadium with a counterfeit or invalid barcode on their ticket will be denied entry.
