Athletics

Penn State dedicates Panzer Stadium, new home for Nittany Lion lacrosse teams

Panzer Stadium, constructed on the same site as the Penn State Lacrosse Field, will allow Penn State to host a greater variety of events, including Big Ten Championships, NCAA Championship preliminary rounds and youth lacrosse events and camps. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State men’s and women’s lacrosse teams were officially welcomed into their new home Sunday during dedication ceremonies for Panzer Stadium.

In May 2017, Ken Panzer, a 1982 Penn State graduate and former co-captain of the men’s lacrosse team, and his long-time business partner at Douglas Emmett, Jordan Kaplan, committed a $3.55 million gift to transform the Penn State Lacrosse Field into one of the premier lacrosse stadiums in the country. 

Additional gifts by Penn State lacrosse alumni and donors totaled $2 million to bring the total donations to $5.6 million.

“We are grateful to the many Penn Staters who have helped make this tremendous facility a reality for our outstanding men’s and women’s lacrosse student-athletes,” said Sandy Barbour, Penn State Director of Athletics. “It begins with Ken Panzer and Jordan Kaplan for their generosity, but there were numerous donors and men’s and women’s lacrosse alumni who have provided leadership and have helped created an outstanding culture of philanthropy within both programs.

“We are excited about the opportunities that Panzer Stadium will create not only for our students, but what it will mean in continuing to grow the game in the State College area, Pennsylvania and the region.”

The team of Moody Nolan of Columbus, Ohio, and APArchitects LLC of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, designed the project. PJ Dick of Pittsburgh constructed the facility after it was approved by the Penn State Board of Trustees in July, 2017.

Panzer Stadium, constructed on the same site as the Penn State Lacrosse Field, will allow Penn State to host a greater variety of events, including Big Ten Championships, NCAA Championship preliminary rounds and youth lacrosse events and camps. 

“We are thrilled to begin playing in Panzer Stadium in 2019,” said Missy Doherty, head coach of the Penn State women’s lacrosse team. “Panzer Stadium is one of the top lacrosse facilities in the nation and we are excited to experience the electric atmosphere on game day.  We are truly grateful to Ken Panzer and all of the generous supporters of this project who have transformed our facility into a one-of-a-kind environment.”

“The Panzer Stadium project is symbolic of a passionate and loyal legacy of Penn State lacrosse,” stated Jeff Tambroni, head coach of the Nittany Lion men’s lacrosse team. “We are grateful for the generosity of our alumni, family and friends and humbled by the leadership of our lead donors, Ken Panzer and Jordan Kaplan.”    

Panzer Stadium will have a permanent seating capacity of 1,300. The new facility includes a videoboard, permanent concessions, accessible bathrooms and a ticket office. The press box above the new seating has full broadcasting capabilities for multiple television and radio outlets. A multi-purpose space overlooks the field and can be used for a variety of events.

The Penn State men’s and women’s lacrosse programs rank among the top programs in the nation. The addition of the Big Ten lacrosse in 2015 has elevated the programs’ competitiveness and national exposure. The women’s lacrosse program, led by Coach Missy Doherty, has qualified for seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including NCAA semifinal appearances in 2016 and 2017. The men’s lacrosse program, led by Coach Jeff Tambroni, rose to the No. 1 ranking in 2017, when it made its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance.

Sandry Barbour, Penn State Director of Athletics, thanked the many Penn Staters who helped make the new Panzer Stadium a reality at the dedication of the new facility. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated September 24, 2018