Penn State hosts Ball State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for its first 107K Family Reunion in two years
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – No. 11/13 Penn State welcomes Ball State to Beaver Stadium Saturday for a non-conference matchup to open the 2021 home slate. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
Fans are encouraged to visit Game Day Central for all information as it relates to Penn State football game day traffic, parking, clear bag policy and information on the match up.
Penn State Athletics will open Beaver Stadium gates two and a half hours before kickoff – 30 minutes earlier than 2019. Fans are strongly encourages fans to arrive early to ease the entry process. For the first 45 minutes after gates open, early arriving fans will have an opportunity to receive one dollar off for every five dollars purchased at the concession stands (see below).
Health and Safety
In alignment with University guidance, all fans will be required to wear masks in indoor areas and venues, such as Beaver Stadium suites, letterman’s lounge, club area and press box. While masks are not required in the stands and concourses of Beaver Stadium at this time, the CDC recommends people wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings. Penn State Athletics encourages everyone, particularly those who are not vaccinated, to wear a mask in the stands and concourses. Penn State Athletics continues to encourage all those who are able, to get vaccinated to help keep Nittany Nation safe.
Mobile Ticketing
As previously announced, Penn State Athletics has fully converted to mobile tickets for all fans and all sports to allow for improved ticket delivery and management, as well as fewer physical contact points. Fans have been provided a variety of resources regarding mobile ticketing this summer to ease the transition, including a mobile ticketing guide at GoPSUsports.com/mobiletickets.
Fans are encouraged to save their mobile tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay prior to leaving for the game. To assist in the gate entry process, mobile ticket scanners and walkthrough metal detectors have been added at every entry point.
Blue-White Block Party
On Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. on the 100 Block of Fraser Street, join Downtown State College Improvement District and Penn State Athletics for a Blue-White Block Party welcoming back students and visitors for Penn State’s home opener, including a welcome from Mayor Ron Filippelli and performances by the Lionettes and the Penn State Glee Club along with an appearance by the Nittany Lion.
Don’t miss special guests Penn State Football Letterman Brandon Short and basketball coaches Micah Shrewsberry and Carolyn Keiger. Stick around after the event to get your photo with the Nittany Lion, grab some dinner downtown and check out the Blue White Calder Walkway Lighting Experience at dusk.
This event is FREE and open to the public. All attendees must wear a mask during this event regardless of vaccination status.
Team Arrival
The Beaver Stadium parking lots will open this Saturday at 8 a.m. 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. The team arrival pep rally is scheduled for approximately 1 p.m. on Curtin Road and the stadium gates will open at 1 p.m., including the students’ Gate A.
The 20th Anniversary of September 11
Saturday’s honorary captains will be the family of Patrick Dwyer (Penn State ’86). Patrick, a former Penn State student-athlete, died in the World Trade Center on September 11. His wife, JoAnn, and children, Brendan and Sarah, will be honored at the coin toss. Additionally, there will be a pregame flyover and a moment of silence.
Happy Valley Hospitality
The Happy Valley Hospitality initiative promotes the positivity and welcoming atmosphere the Penn State fanbase is known for. This season, we will continue to promote Happy Valley Hospitality by encompassing our customer service offerings inside and around Beaver Stadium. Happy Valley Hospitality representatives will be located throughout the stadium area in 10 customer service booths and fans are encouraged to seek assistance at these locations. All of this will go towards enhancing the game day experience and environment for the best fans in college sports.
Fans Encouraged to Participate in Game Day Recycling; Bottles and Cans in Blue Bags
Intercollegiate Athletics has also worked diligently on recycling and sustainability across ICA events and activities. Those sustainability efforts include moving to mobile tickets and making recycling bags available in the Beaver Stadium parking lots. Fans are encouraged to be environmentally responsible and participate in Penn State’s recycling and sustainability efforts by separating recyclable items before, during and after the game. Blue recycling bags and clear trash bags are located throughout the Beaver Stadium parking lots. Bottles and cans only should be placed in the blue recycling bags. All other items should be placed in the clear trash bags.
Concessions Discounts for Early Arriving Fans; Beaver Stadium Gates Open at 1 p.m.
Early arriving fans every Saturday will have an opportunity to receive discounts at the concession stands and watch other college football games on the stadium videoboards. Beaver Stadium gates open this Saturday at 1 p.m.
Some of the incentives are:
• Fans will receive one dollar off for every five dollars spent at the during the first 45 minutes after the gates are open. Cash, credit card and LionCash purchases are accepted at the concourse concession stands.
• Other college football games will be shown on the stadium videoboards starting two and a half before kickoff until approximately 70 minutes before the game. For noon games, highlights of previous Penn State games will be shown on the videoboards.
Highway Projects Could Impact Football Traffic
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is alerting drivers that they could encounter delays as they travel to Beaver Stadium this fall.
For information about the construction and travel restrictions, visit www.penndot.gov. Motorists can stay up-to-date on the latest travel conditions by visiting www.511PA.com.
Fans reminded of Security Screening and Penn State Athletics Bag Policy
Penn State will provide security screening for all guests at the entry gates using walkthrough metal detectors. With this security measure in place, all public gates, including the ADA and student gates, will open two and a half hours prior to kickoff to provide ample time for all fans to pass through security. Fans will be asked to remove items from their pockets upon entering the stadium. Umbrellas are not permitted in Beaver Stadium.
Backpacks, bags, and purses are not permitted in Beaver Stadium. Personal items can be placed in a clear bag that is no larger than 11″ x 11″ x 0″ (one gallon) and wristlets (no larger than 4″ x 6″ x 1″). Patrons can expedite the entry process by not bringing a bag into Beaver Stadium. For fans with medical or childcare needs, please place those items in an 11″ x 11″ x 0″ clear bag or a one-gallon clear bag prior to arriving at the stadium gates. All items are subject to inspection. Any items left unattended at the gates will be discarded and unrecoverable.
For parking maps, the bag policy and a complete list of items prohibited from entry into Beaver Stadium, fans should go to Penn State Football Game Day Central: GoPSUsports.com/gameday.
Fans are reminded that they may enter Beaver Stadium at any of Gates B, C, D, E and F and use the ground level concourse to get to their seating section. ADA patrons should enter the facility at the ADA Gate near Gate B on the west side of the stadium.
Parking
New this year, day of game parking can no longer be purchased at select lots and can only be purchased (cash or credit) at the Innovation Park Building 100 parking lot (subject to availability). Game day parking sales will begin when lots open until sold out or kickoff, whichever comes first.
General parking purchased in advance is $40 per car, while paying to park on game day when arriving to the general lots will cost $60. Fans are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance to not only realize the savings, but to assist in smoother traffic and parking operations by displaying the pass as they approach roads to stadium parking. Fans can purchase up to three advance single-game parking passes per account, per game.
Fans are asked to please display their parking permit from their rear-view mirror as they enter the traffic pattern. Parking permits will be scanned upon entry into the lots. Patrons should approach their parking lot as directed on the back of their parking permit.
In the event game day parking is exhausted, parking is available at the East, Nittany, Eisenhower and HUB parking decks on campus while space is available. In addition, there is parking at the Grange Fairgrounds. Fans should enter through the South or the West to access the campus parking decks.
RV Parking Sold Out; RV Spaces and Weekend Shuttle Available at Grange Park
All game day, season RV and Overnight RV is sold out for the 2021 season. Fans who do not have a RV parking permit will need to make other arrangements and Penn State Athletics has identified Grange Park as an economical alternative with hook-ups and shuttle service to campus on Friday and Saturday of home football weekends. Fans interested in parking their RV at Grange Park can reserve a spot by calling 814-364-9212.
Fans who have not already purchased an RV parking permit should not attempt to park in the official lots near Beaver Stadium. Those fans will be asked to turn around by police and traffic personnel, which will disrupt the flow of traffic heading to Beaver Stadium.
Guest Services Booths Inside and Outside Beaver Stadium
Penn State has two guest services booths outside the stadium, in addition to locations inside the facility, to assist fans prior to and following the game. The first booth is located at the intersection of Park Avenue and University Drive, near the intramural fields, and the second booth is at the intersections of Park Avenue and Fox Hollow Road near the Ag Arena. The two booths outside the stadium will open three hours before kickoff.
Inside Beaver Stadium, guest services booths are located at Gates B, C, E and F on the field level. There also is a guest services booth on the North concourse, two on the South concourse and one in the North upper deck.
Fan assistance also is provided by the customer relations staff, by texting the word “Nittany”
your issue and location to the phone number 69050, or by calling 1-800-NITTANY.
50/50 Raffle
Fans will also see the addition of a 50/50 Raffle during all home games. One lucky fan will win 50% of the funds collected at the game with the proceeds used to support athletic scholarships through the Penn State’s Nittany Lion Club Levi Lamb Fund. Sellers will be located throughout the stadium wearing bright green vests. Ticket sales will conclude in the third quarter and a winner will be announced before the end of the game. The winner does not need to be present to claim their prize. For complete information go to: gopsusports.com/50-50.
Game Day Traffic Pattern
The game day traffic pattern will return to the 2019 plan. The one-way traffic pattern will begin at 11:30 a.m. for the Ball State game. More information on parking and traffic can be found at: https://gopsusports.com/sports/2020/7/30/football-game-day-home.aspx.
Post-Game One-Way Traffic Pattern in Effect for Approximately 90 Minutes
University Police has indicated to ICA that the vast majority of pedestrian traffic typically clears the Beaver Stadium area approximately 90 minutes after a game ends. The out-bound one-way traffic pattern will be in effect from the of end of the contest for approximately 90 minutes and fans will be required to leave their lot via the directions for their specific traffic zone. During the vast majority of the game, there is a normal traffic pattern around Beaver Stadium.
Once the one-way out-bound traffic pattern ends (approximately 90 minutes after the game), fans will be able to exit their lot and leave the stadium vicinity via any route.
The Penn State-Ball State game will air on FS1 the Penn State Sports Network (2 p.m. airtime) and GoPSUsports.com. The 2021 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
