Penn State Football Achieved an Attendance Feat in 2023
Penn State delivered another huge year for football crowds at Beaver Stadium in 2023, recording the second-highest average attendance in program history. The Nittany Lions averaged 108,409 fans per game, ranking second nationally (again) to Michigan and falling just shy of the program's single-season record.
Penn State's total attendance for the 2023 season was 758,864, which included three of the 10 largest crowds in Beaver Stadium history. Penn State in 2023 announced three crowds of 110,000 or larger for the first time in program history. The 2023 Penn State football season also marked the best for attendance in coach James Franklin's 10 seasons and ranked second in school history for a seven-game home schedule. In 2007, 762,419 fans attended games at Beaver Stadium for an average of 108,917 per game.
Penn State's attendance figures comprise tickets sold and distributed. Penn State does not release actual attendance. Penn State set its single-season total attendance record in 2009, when 856,066 fans attended eight home games. During Franklin's 10 seasons, Penn State has recorded the four largest crowds in Beaver Stadium history and six of the top seven. Three of those games were on the 2023 schedule:
- 110,889: Ohio State 27, Penn State 26 (2018)
- 110,856: Michigan 24, Penn State 15 (2023)
- 110,830: Penn State 31, Iowa 0 (2023)
- 110,823: Penn State 42, Michigan 13 (2017)
- 110,753: Penn State 40, Nebraska 7 (2002)
- 110,747: Penn State 38, West Virginia 15 (2023)
- 110,669: Penn State 28, Michigan 21 (2019)
- 110,134: Ohio State 37, Penn State 17 (2007)
- 110,078: Penn State 31, Notre Dame 10 (2007)
- 110,033: Ohio State 24, Penn State 7 (2009)
Penn State's 2023 attendance represented a slight increase over 2022, when the Nittany Lions averaged 107,379 per game. The 2001 Beaver Stadium expansion raised Beaver Stadium's capacity to 107,282. In 2011, capacity was lowered to its current 106,572 to meet standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Beaver Stadium is the nation's second-largest venue behind Michigan Stadium (107,601). Michigan once again led the nation in attendance, averaging 109,971 fans per game.
Penn State has begun a $700 million renovation of Beaver Stadium, which has been in its current location since 1960. Penn State Athletic Director Patrick Kraft has said that he expects Beaver Stadium to retain a seating capacity above 100,000 after the renovation, scheduled to be complete before the 2027 Penn State football season.
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