Beaver Stadium Beaver Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in University Park , Pennsylvania , United States , on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University . It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference since 1960 , though some parts of the stadium date back to 1909 . The stadium is named for James A . Beaver , a former governor of Pennsylvania ( 1887 – 91 ) and president of the university ' s board of trustees . Beaver Stadium has an official seating capacity of 106 , 572 , making it currently the second - largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth - largest in the world . Beaver Stadium is widely known as one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in collegiate athletics . In 2008 , Beaver Stadium was recognized as having the best student section in the country for the second consecutive year . The stadium is the first to have its interior included in Google Street View . History . Predecessors . Until 1893 , Penn State teams participated in sporting events on Old Main lawn , a large grassy area in front of the primary classroom building of the time . Beaver Field , a 500 - seat structure located behind the current site of the Osmond Building , was the first permanent home for Penn State ' s football team , and the first game played there was a Penn State victory over Western University of Pennsylvania ( now the University of Pittsburgh ) on November 6 , 1893 . In 1909 , New Beaver Field opened just northeast of Rec Hall , roughly in the current location of the Nittany Parking deck . It served as Penn State ' s stadium until 1960 , when the entire 30 , 000 seat stadium was dismantled and moved to the east end of campus , reassembled and expanded to 46 , 284 seats - - the lower half of the current facility - - and dubbed Beaver Stadium . Expansions . The stadium has been expanded six times , reflecting Penn State ' s rise to national prominence under Joe Paterno - - more than doubling in size in the process . Expansions in 1969 , 1972 to 57 , 538 , and 1976 increased capacity to 60 , 203 . In 1978 , 16 , 000 seats were added when the stadium was cut into sections and raised on hydraulic lifts , allowing the insertion of seating along the inner ring of the stadium where the track had previously been located , raising capacity to 76 , 639 . In 1980 , maximum capacity increased to 83 , 770 . In 1985 , walkways were added around the tops of the end zones and entry ramps at the stadium ' s corners resulted in lowering the capacity to 83 , 370 . An expansion was completed for the 1991 football season , placing an upper deck addition over the north end zone and raising capacity to 93 , 967 . A major and somewhat controversial construction project took place in 2001 , raising the stadium ' s total capacity to 107 , 282 . An upper deck was added to the south end of the stadium , blocking the view of neighboring Nittany Mountain ( which had sentimental value for some fans ) , but making Beaver Stadium the second largest stadium in nation , behind Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor , MI . In 2006 , the stadium underwent major structural and aesthetic upgrades . Old steel beams supporting the upper seats in the east , north and west were replaced and strengthened , and new railing was installed , stronger than the old railing which collapsed following the 2005 Ohio State game . In 2007 , over 22 , 000 student tickets sold out in 59 minutes . In 2008 , when tickets were sold by grade , tickets allotted for junior students sold out in 90 seconds , and those for sophomores and freshmen sold out in under three minutes each . In 2011 , the stadium capacity was reduced from 107 , 282 seats to 106 , 572 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act . The appearance of the stadium has been enhanced with the addition of large blue letters spelling out " The Pennsylvania State University " on the west - facing suites , and a list of Penn State ' s undefeated , national championship , and Big Ten championship years underneath . 2012 is the exception , which was added to this list during the November 24 , 2012 game against Wisconsin to honor the team that played after sanctions were passed down during the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal . On the opposite side of the stadium , letters spelling , " Penn State Nittany Lions " have been added to the press box , with " Beaver Stadium " running below . Nine markers depicting the various traditions of Beaver Stadium , including the Blue Band , the student section , and the blue buses which bring the team to the stadium , have been placed around the stadium as well . In late October , the walls surrounding the field were refaced with Pennsylvania limestone . An iron gate has replaced the old chain - link face at the players ' entrance into the stadium . On the new gate the words " PENN STATE " appear in blue . Currently , the Penn State OPP and Athletic Department are working to upgrade the North and South Video Boards . The Renovation would include expanding the size of the video board by eliminating the current game clock and lamp matrix display . The two current options proposed include a screen size of either 109 feet by 29 feet or a larger option of 158 feet by 29 feet . Another option being considered by the university includes a completely new scoreboard designed by Anthony James Partners ( AJP ) . This design includes an even larger screen than either of the two renovation options . Additionally , the design would include a Light - Up Penn State Logo Sign atop both boards . On the reverse side of the South Board , sponsor banners could also be displayed . The project is scheduled to be completed prior to the first home game of the 2012 season . Records . Beaver Stadium ' s record crowd of 110 , 753 witnessed Penn State ' s 40 – 7 victory over Nebraska on September 14 , 2002 . In 2002 , Penn State also set an NCAA record for largest season attendance , with 1 , 257 , 707 watching Penn State games over the course of the season . It is boasted by the Penn State community that during home games at State College the stadium is the 4th largest city by " population " in the state . It follows Philadelphia ( 1 , 517 , 550 ) , Pittsburgh ( 334 , 563 ) , and Allentown ( 118 , 032 ) and precedes Erie ( 101 , 786 ) . Traditions . Tailgating . Tailgating is very popular outside Beaver Stadium . Alcohol is permitted in all areas around Beaver Stadium on home football games , except inside Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center ( Alcohol is permitted inside Medlar Field at Lubrano Park , but only alcohol purchased inside the ballpark ) . Both the Bryce Jordan Center and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are open for special events before kickoff during home football games . Student Section " S - Zone " . The student section " S - zone " is another tradition at Beaver Stadium . A small section behind the end zone are all given white and blue shirts by the Pennsylvania State University Lion Ambassadors to create an " S " in the senior student section . The " S - zone " was moved from the 20 yard line to its current location at the beginning of the 2011 football season , as the student section was shifted over to between the 10 yard lines . For the 2008 and 2011 Homecoming Games , the " S - zone " was black and pink , in honor of the original Penn State colors . On April 21 , 2007 , for the Annual Blue and White Game ( Senior Scrimmage ) , the " S " zone was converted to a " VT " zone , in honor of the victims of the massacre that took place on April 16 , 2007 , at Virginia Tech . Whiteout Games . After failed experiments with " Code Blue " during the down year of 2004 , the " White Out " made national headlines during the famed 2005 game versus Ohio State . In this game , despite 40 degree temperatures and a misty rain , nearly every student , along with many other fans , wore a white shirt to the game , creating a sea of white . This was deemed a success , as the student section was declared " the best in the country " by ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit , and the Nittany Lions won the game in an intense defensive battle , by a score of 17 - 10 . The student section was widely credited with aiding the defense , which kept the Buckeyes ' future Heisman Trophy winning quarterback , Troy Smith , in check by intercepting a pass and recovering a decisive fumble in the final minutes . Smith was forced to call several timeouts during the game due to inability to communicate with his offense on the field . Former Ohio State Center Nick Mangold has openly admitted that Beaver Stadium was the toughest stadium he had ever played in . In 2007 , for the Notre Dame game , a full - stadium " White House " was declared , in which every fan in attendance was asked to wear white . This was also deemed a success , as nearly every Penn State fan in attendance wore white , and the Lions won , 31 - 10 . In 2008 , the White House was met with similar success , a 38 - 24 win over Illinois . Zombie Nation . Zombie Nation is a tradition carried out by the Nittany Lions usually after a big play . Zombie Nation is when the entire Penn State crowd jumps around , waves their rally towels or shakers wildly , and shouts " WE ARE PENN STATE " during the playing of " Kernkraft 400 " by Zombie Nation . Tunnel Entrance . The tunnel entrance is a Nittany Lions tradition in which the head coach leads the team from the locker room under the South side of the stadium to the tunnel to a closed metal gate reading " PENN STATE " in bold Arial font . When the team arrives at the gate , the Nittany Lion would open the gate and motion for the team to walk through it , as if welcoming the team to the field . The team would then linger until four minutes were left on the pregame clock , and then the head coach leads the team through the tunnel created by the Blue Band . Fast & Slow Wave . The Penn State Student section initiates slow speed waves during sporting events . After the wave passes around the stadium , the student section speeds the wave up to over twice the normal speed on the second pass . On the third pass , the wave is then slowed down to about a fourth the speed of the normal wave . Band Traditions . The Flip . After the Penn State Blue Band has entered the field , and played the first 8 bars of " Hail to the Lion , " the Blue Band ' s Drum Major does a high - stepping , stiff - legged sprint in between rows of band members from the goal line to the 50 yard line , where he does a front flip . Legend states that if the drum major lands the flip , the team will win that afternoon . He then performs another flip while running towards the end zone . After he stands back up , he and the Nittany Lion , who is holding his baton , take 5 high - steps toward each other , meeting 5 yards deep in the end zone . The Lion and Drum Major both place both hands on the baton in alternating order ( in the same manner children choosing teams with a baseball bat would ) and then throw the baton into the ground . They then salute each other , embrace arms , and then both excitedly run towards the student section , where they are cheered enthusiastically . Floating Lions . The Blue Band performs " Hail to the Lion " and makes its way from its " PSU " formation to roll into spelling " LIONS " as it marches across the field . Once reaching the other side , the band reverses the " LIONS " to be readable to the East side of the stadium , while playing " Fight On , State . " This is known as the " trademark drill " of the Blue Band .