UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fans will see several changes and upgrades in and around Beaver Stadium when they attend the Penn State home opener against Eastern Michigan on Saturday (Sept. 7). The contest will kick at noon and the Nittany Lions’ undefeated 1973 team will be honored at halftime.
Among the stadium upgrades are the installation of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for AT&T’s wireless network and the addition of a fan experience mobile app. The 2014 season will see the installation of two new high-definition videoboards.
Gameday parking lots will open at 7 a.m. Saturday and coach Bill O’Brien’s Nittany Lions will arrive at Beaver Stadium’s south tunnel at approximately 9:30 a.m. The student gate will open at 10 a.m. and stadium public gates will open at 10:30 a.m.
Also on Saturday, the State College Spikes will be hosting a New York-Penn League playoff game at 7:35 p.m., but the baseball game is not expected to impact parking or traffic patterns for the Penn State-Eastern Michigan football game.
Penn State has implemented a limited bag policy at all home athletic events, which is similar to the bag policy being implemented by the National Football League at all its venues this season. One clear plastic 1-gallon plastic bag per person will be permitted for:
-- Medical needs
-- Child care needs
-- General items as needed (see below)
Items that can fit in a pocket should remain in patrons’ pockets (e.g. keys, cellphone, wallet, glasses, camera, sunscreen, lip balm, makeup). General items of this nature, including those that don’t fit in patrons’ pocket, can also be placed in a clear plastic 1-gallon plastic bag. All clear bags will be inspected through the bag and article check stations as in prior years.
“The limited bag policy is essential for two primary reasons,” said Mark Bodenschatz, Penn State associate athletic director for facilities and operations. “The first is public safety, and the second is to improve the access that our fans experience when they come to the gates. Checking of the bags is much more quickly facilitated through this process, as well as the additional security of limiting the items that are coming into the venue.”
“We are constantly looking at our programs and our emergency management plans and trying to find proper ways to balance the fan experience and public safety,” said Steve Shelow, assistant vice president for university policy and public safety. “The number one principle is public safety and enhancing the fan experience and we feel we the bag policy accomplishes both.”
Details on Penn State’s bag policy for all home athletic events can be found at:
Among the other improvements and changes in and around Beaver Stadium this season:
-- Installation has been completed on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) within the stadium to distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas such as football stadiums. DAS has the ability to provide enhanced, consistent wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations – terrain, building construction, etc. – or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience. The additional capacity also is expected to help improve call reliability, boost data traffic capacity and enable more consistent network access to help customers make the most of their AT&T devices.
-- By downloading the PSU GameDay App, built by AT&T, from the iTunes Store or Google Play, prior to making their way to the stadium, Nittany Lion backers can mark their parking spot, find the nearest bathroom, post their own photos or follow the stats live. Fans can also check out their favorite player bios, view the upcoming schedule or watch exclusive video while inside the stadium. Search PSUGameday or Beaver Stadium to find it.
-- Guest relations booths will be located at most stadium gates and on the North deck concourse to assist fans throughout the game
-- There will be additional opportunities to rent day of game cushioned seat backs at most stadium gates
-- Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking is available in the Shields, Wagner and Nittany Lion Softball Park lots and Lot 9 as well as East Parking Deck and is first-come, first-served. Fans traveling from the west, must access ADA lots by traveling East on Park Avenue.
In addition, after the 2013 season, the videoboards above Beaver Stadium’s north and south stands will be replaced with new HD videoboards and sound system within the boards. The latest LED technology will be utilized in the videoboards, which will feature HD screens significantly larger than the current ones, utilizing the complete frame of the current boards and ad panels. The new videoboards are expected to be ready for the 2014 season.
Fans attending Nittany Lion home games are reminded of the below items:
-- Fans purchasing single game tickets are encouraged to purchase parking in advance for $10 by calling 800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at least 10 days prior to the game, or Friday at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center, to avoid the gameday rate of $40
-- Fans are asked to please display their parking permit in the lower driver’s side of the windshield as you enter the traffic pattern. Cars are sorted in traffic by University Police to lanes leading to appropriate lots
-- Please approach the lot as directed on the back of your parking permit
-- Please come early and arrive at the gates early
-- The Family Friendly lot (no alcohol permitted) is located the intersection of Park Avenue and University Drive and should be accessed traveling east on Park Avenue
-- Fan assistance is provided by game day staff, by texting the work “Nittany” <space> your issue and location to the phone number 69050, or by calling 800-NITTANY.
-- The overnight RV lot opens Thursdays at 6 p.m. and can be accessed via Orchard Road off Park Avenue.
For parking maps and a complete list of items prohibited from entry into Beaver Stadium, fans should review the Beaver Stadium Parking and Information guide at Penn State Football Gameday Central at www.gopsusports.com/gameday.
Penn State football season and single tickets are available. Ticket purchases and information is available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or fans can call 800-NITTANY (648-8269) weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pre-paid single game parking passes for the general parking lots are also available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets.
Penn State Athletics is on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions) and Twitter (http://www.gopsusports.com/ot/twitter.html).