Penn State Athletics provided fans Wednesday with a brief look at the department’s planning for the Nittany Lion football season in the fall, which could include limited attendance and pod seating and will have mobile ticketing across the board.
In an email sent to season ticket holders Wednesday, athletic department officials expressed hope the stadium could be at full capacity, but said attendance policies will reflect local guidelines, noting that the Big Ten won’t provide any conference-wide regulations. Current Pennsylvania protocols allow outdoor venues like Beaver Stadium to fill to 50% capacity — about 53,500 fans.
But once social distancing measures are taken into account, according to the athletic department, Beaver Stadium could accommodate just about 20,000 fans under current state guidelines. Much time remains, however, for those rules to potentially loosen or be eliminated entirely before Penn State kicks off for its home opener against Ball State on September 11.
According to the email, pod seating could be implemented if social distancing rules are still in place come September. This schematic, drawn up with the help of Populous and Ticketmaster, shows what Beaver Stadium’s bleachers could look like with physical distancing requirements still met.
Fans and students who attended Penn State’s spring practices this month sat in pods similar to those shown above. However, those groupings were limited to just three people each.
Penn State also is developing plans for scenarios where 6-foot or 3-foot social distancing needs to be observed. The department is working out procedures for if a full stadium would be permitted, as well.
“We are hopeful to have full capacity for the 2021 season and know Nittany Nation is excited to return to make Beaver Stadium a true home-field advantage and provide a one-of-a-kind experience to all involved in game day,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour said. “To be able to do that, we need everyone to continue to do their part to stop the spread of the virus by following the guidelines, wearing masks and social distancing.”
No matter how many fans are in Beaver Stadium next fall, Penn State said all attendees will use mobile ticketing to cut down on “touch points” between fans and staff. The athletic department introduced mobile ticketing for students in 2019, which wasn’t always the smoothest system.
Athletic department officials said fans can expect to hear a clearer plan for the football season by late May. The department is waiting to send out season ticket renewals until it can get a clearer picture of what the fall season may look like.
