Talks of more sports teams playing in Beaver Stadium have been surfacing for programs that don’t draw crowds as large as the stadium can hold.

On January 31, 2026, Penn State hosted its first-ever men’s hockey game in Beaver Stadium. With almost 75,000 people in attendance, fans have already requested that it become an annual event. 

Penn State has one of the largest college sports environments in America, and all of its sports programs compete at the highest level. Beaver Stadium is home to the football team and can hold up to 110,000 people; however, other sports programs play in smaller venues. With national and worldwide attention to sports such as soccer, baseball, and volleyball, it seems appropriate to coordinate an event dedicated to other teams that deserve a chance to showcase their skills and pride in their team and school. 

Many Penn State students and State College residents don’t attend as many sports events outside football. However, the genuine care people have for Penn State athletics is strong. With featured events across different sports, multiple teams have the opportunity to attract more fans and gain attention for the hard work athletes put in. 

Penn State Men’s Soccer

The most popular sport played and known around the world is soccer, and it seems like soccer will be the next event in Beaver. 

The field would be able to occupy the entire base of the stadium, making it more visible from all seats. While the hockey game was a popular event, bringing over 70,000 people, some struggled to see the game because hockey arenas are about 40-50 yards smaller than soccer fields.

A further issue with the hockey game was the condition of the ice. There were many times the game had to be stopped for arena maintenance and repairs. Soccer is played on a field, and it is played in warmer climates. Many fans would be willing to make a trip to Beaver in the fall, when temperatures don’t drop below 20 degrees. 

Penn State Women’s Soccer

Women’s sports continue to gain attention worldwide, and Penn State could have the opportunity to show every university in America the importance of promoting our female athletes as much as our men’s athletes. 

Penn State’s women’s soccer team has consistently been a strong program, including a 17-year first-round NCAA Tournament win streak and 31 consecutive appearances. They recently made the Elite Eight in 2024 and secured another Tournament win in 2025 against Army.

A chance for the women’s soccer team to play at Beaver Stadium would boost their fan base and give more exposure to people who don’t follow the team.

Penn State Volleyball

With a national championship win last season, women’s volleyball has proven to be one of the best current Penn State athletic programs. 

Although volleyball is typically played indoors in gyms, a stadium game is still possible. In 2023, the University of Nebraska hosted an outdoor volleyball game at Memorial Stadium with around 92,000 people in attendance. 

Having the most recent national title win, Penn State could easily set up an opportunity for the NCAA volleyball champs to play in front of a larger crowd. The pride State College has for the women’s volleyball team has grown tremendously, especially with head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s inspiring story of battling cancer throughout all of last season, eventually beating it in February 2025.

Given the consistent, winning program that continues to be the image of what Penn State athletics should look like, it could be fitting to name women’s volleyball the next team to play in Beaver Stadium. 

Some of the best memories people have when coming to State College are attending football games, where at least 100,000 people attend. With fans dedicated to spending days at Beaver Stadium, more events create opportunities to return and cheer for Penn State athletics. 

For sports that don’t get as much attention as football or even hockey, a chance to play in larger crowds would boost popularity for multiple programs. 

Teams benefit from greater recognition and could gain higher levels of confidence by participating in Beaver Stadium.