Penn State Athletics will stage its first “Winter Sports Weekend” from Friday through Sunday, bringing 15 athletic events and a slate of fan activities to campus, highlighted by outdoor ice hockey games at Beaver Stadium.
The three-day weekend includes the first men’s and women’s hockey games played at Beaver Stadium. The Penn State women will face Robert Morris at 1 p.m. on Friday, while the men will meet Michigan State at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Both programs will also play additional games at Pegula Ice Arena during the weekend.
Competition across a wide range of sports is scheduled throughout the weekend. Track and field will host the Penn State National Open on Friday and Saturday. Other events include wrestling, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s volleyball, men’s tennis, men’s gymnastics, men’s lacrosse and men’s basketball.
Several events will be free to attend, while others will require tickets. Penn State Athletics is offering Winter Sports Weekend ticket packages that allow fans to attend multiple marquee events. A three-game package, priced at $99, includes wrestling against Nebraska on Friday night, men’s hockey against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday and men’s basketball against Minnesota on Sunday. Two-game options pairing Saturday’s hockey game with either wrestling or men’s basketball are also available.
Mobile ticketing will be required for entry into Beaver Stadium. Fans are encouraged to download and update the Penn State Athletics mobile app and save tickets to their mobile wallets before arriving. Charging stations will be available in and around the stadium
Students attending Saturday’s men’s hockey game will be able to use a Fast Pass entry option. Student wristbands will be distributed Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the HUB main entrance. Wristbands, along with a valid ticket and Penn State ID, will be required to access designated Fast Pass lanes at Gate A on game day.
Parking for Saturday’s men’s hockey game will open at 7 a.m. Prices range from $40 to $100 in designated lots, with prices increasing on game day. All parking passes will be delivered digitally, and RV and bus parking will not be available.
ADA parking near the stadium is sold out, with additional parking available in campus decks. Shuttle services from off-campus locations to the stadium also will be provided by CATA and Fullington.
Penn State’s clear-bag policy, consistent with the 2025 football season, will be in effect at Beaver Stadium. Clear bags measuring up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches are permitted, along with a small clutch or wristlet.
Additional activities are scheduled throughout the weekend. Public ice skating sessions will be held at Beaver Stadium on multiple dates, with advance registration required. Fan hospitality events will take place inside an indoor bubble near Curtin Road and University Drive, featuring food, beverages, merchandise, interactive activities and a pep rally Saturday morning with Penn State spirit squads and the Blue Band.
Weekend fan hospitality activities will be held inside the indoor bubble at the corner of Curtin Road and University Drive, with events scheduled Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food options inside the bubble will include popcorn, snacks, cookies and brownies, while food trucks will be stationed outside. A bar will offer beer, mixed drinks, spiked hot chocolate, specialty coffee, soda and bottled water.
Fans will also have access to exclusive event merchandise, a curling station, a make-your-own trading card activation and a DJ. Additional features inside the bubble include a kids zone, equipment sale and other interactive activities, including a Nike surplus sale will be held Friday evening.
A pep rally featuring the Penn State spirit squads and Blue Band is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday inside the bubble. “Spittin’ Chiclets,” Barstool Sport’s premier hockey podcast hosted by former NHL vets Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, Barstool Sports writer Rear Admiral and Producer Mike Grinnell, will be making an appearance on Saturday, with the time to be announced. The crew will also have a meet and greet at 4 p.m. on Friday at Champs Downtown, ahead of the big game.
Penn State football is getting in on the fun, too, with head coach Matt Campbell scheduled to make an appearance at Friday night’s wrestling meet and take part in a ceremonial puck drop at Saturday’s men’s hockey game.
The Penn State All-Sports Museum will be open to the public Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. On Saturday, the museum will be open only to attendees of the men’s hockey game once inside Beaver Stadium. Suggested donations of $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors apply.
With morning temperatures expected to be in the single digits and highs only in the mid-teens on Friday and Saturday, warming spaces will be available in the bubble, All-Sports Museum, Pegula Ice Arena and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, as well as at multiple locations inside Beaver Stadium for hockey game attendees.
Fans are advised to dress in warm, layered clothing, keep skin covered, consume warm fluids and calorie-dense food and be aware of symptoms such as of symptoms such as shivering, confusion or slurred speech.
Penn State officials reminded fans to follow university tailgating, safety and sustainability policies, including recycling guidelines in stadium parking areas. Participation in recycling and sustainability efforts during the weekend is highly encouraged.
The Winter Sports Weekend concludes Sunday afternoon with men’s basketball hosting Minnesota at 2 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Here is the full lineup of athletic events in Happy Valley this weekend:
Friday, Jan. 30
All Day – Track and Field will host the Penn State National Open at the Multi-Sport Facility. Admission is free.
1 p.m. – Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Robert Morris at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Admission is free.
6 p.m. – Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Michigan State at Pegula Ice Arena
6 p.m. – Men’s Volleyball vs. Hawaii at Rec Hall. Admission is free.
8 p.m. – Wrestling vs. Nebraska – Bryce Jordan Center
Saturday, Jan. 31
All Day – Track and Field Hosts Penn State National Open at the Multi-Sport Facility. Admission is free.
10 a.m. – Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving vs. George Washington at McCoy Natatorium. Admission is free.
10 a.m. – Men’s Tennis vs. St. Joseph’s at Penn State Indoor Tennis Center. Admission is free.
1 p.m. – Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Michigan State at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
3 p.m. – Men’s Tennis vs. Mt. St. Mary’s at Penn State Indoor Tennis Center. Admission is free.
5 p.m. – Men’s Volleyball vs. Hawaii at Rec Hall. Admission is free.
6 p.m. – Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Robert Morris at Pegula Ice Arena. Admission is free.
Sunday, Feb. 1
Noon – Men’s Lacrosse vs. Colgate at Panzer Stadium. Admission is free.
1 p.m. – Men’s Gymnastics vs. Illinois at Rec Hall. Admission is free.
2 p.m. – Men’s Basketball vs. Minnesota at Bryce Jordan Center.
