{"id":115364,"date":"2025-08-28T03:59:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T03:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/115364\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T03:59:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T03:59:07","slug":"penn-state-hockey-team-to-reportedly-play-outdoor-game-against-michigan-state-at-106k-seat-beaver-stadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/115364\/","title":{"rendered":"Penn State hockey team to reportedly play outdoor game against Michigan State at 106k-seat Beaver Stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"

A huge outdoor game could be coming to State College, Pennsylvania. According to reporting from the St. Paul Pioneer Press\u2019 Jess Myers (via columnist Charley Walters)<\/a>, Penn State hockey is reportedly preparing to announce an outdoor game against Big Ten foe Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cA little birdie tells me to expect an announcement later this week of a @MSU_Hockey at @PennStateMHKY outdoor game at 106k-seat Beaver Stadium,\u201d Myers wrote Monday on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Nittany Lions are scheduled to face the Michigan State Spartans at home in a two-game series o January 31 and February 1, with the outdoor tilt speculated to take place on the latter of those two dates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rumors may be true about the outdoor game. @PennStateMHKY
never plays hockey on a Sunday. But wait. Does that mean\u2026 PENN STATE HOCKEY OUTDOOR WHITEOUT,\u201d Penn State CommRadio\u2019s Matt Becker teased on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Beaver Stadium can hold over 106,000 fans for a college football game. If the school were to host an outdoor game there and sell out the event, it would beat the record for the highest-attended outdoor hockey game in North American history.<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2014 NHL Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at the University of Michigan currently holds that record with an official attendance of 105,491. \u201cThe Big House,\u201d as Michigan Stadium is called, has a capacity of 107,601.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear if Beaver Stadium will be able to hold it\u2019s traditional capacity as the school is currently completing the first phase of a $700 million revitalization project<\/a>. Temporary bleachers have been installed along the upper bowl to accommodate fans that will attend the upcoming football season, beginning with the Nittany Lions\u2019 home opener against Nevada on August 30.<\/p>\n

IS IT READY? Temporary west side bleachers at Penn State\u2019s Beaver Stadium, three weeks before the Nittany Lions\u2019 season opener Aug. 30 vs. Nevada. WATCH up-close: pic.twitter.com\/izppNZlNWt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) August 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

An extra layer of spectacle could also be added to the potential clash of college adversaries with fans getting a special look at Nittany Lion forward Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft<\/a>. McKenna reportedly spurned the Spartans in his decision to play college hockey in State College instead of East Lansing. McKenna will notably be facing off against Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, who committed to Michigan State in July<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The NCAA is no stranger to outdoor hockey games. In fact, the Big Ten Conference hosted four of them at Chicago\u2019s Wrigley Field in January<\/a>. Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Michigan all participated in men\u2019s contests while the Buckeyes and Badgers faced off in the only women\u2019s match to take place there.<\/p>\n

If officially announced, the Feb. 1 matchup would be just Penn State\u2019s second appearance at an outdoor game. Michigan State, on the other hand, is more experienced in the elements with six prior engagements.<\/p>\n

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