The Sports Fan
Penn State is famous for football, of course, and that’s one of our biggest draws here, but there are lots of sporting events all year round both inside and out, with some of the best collegiate teams in the nation competing. Football is hard to miss, with a home in Beaver Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the world, but do you know where all the other athletic events take place?
And how about when they take place? Baseball might be referred to as “the boys of summer,” but there are sports happening all year. Do you know when each sports’ season starts and ends?
Did you know that Penn State doesn’t just hold collegiate sporting events on campus? We have high school and age-group championships at facilities on the Penn State campus too. As just one example, the YMCA holds their state championship swim meet in the McCoy Natatorium, at which swimmers from around Pennsylvania vie for a spot at YMCA Nationals.
Let’s visit the most prominent sporting fields and facilities in the county. You should know where they are located and what kinds of things happen there.
Beaver Stadium
Location: Corner of Park Avenue and Porter Road on the Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Penn State Football
McCoy Natatorium
Location: Corner of Curtin and Bigler Roads on the Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Penn State Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving, select YMCA swim meets, USA Swim club meets
Jeffrey Field
Location: Corner of Park Ave. and University Dr., Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Penn State Men's and Women's soccer
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
Location: Diagonally across from Beaver Stadium on Porter Road, Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Minor league baseball with the State College Spikes
Bryce Jordan Center
Location: Corner of Curtin Road and University Drive, Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's Wrestling
Pegula Ice Arena
Location: Across from The Bryce Jordan Center, University Drive, Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Men's and Women's Ice Hockey, Public Skating
Rec Hall
Location: Corner of Burrows and Curtin Roads, Penn State Campus
What Happens There: Men's and Women's Gymnastics, Men's and Women's Volleyball
Equine Center at Grange Park
Location: Grange Fairgrounds, Centre Hall
What Happens There: Horse Shows and Exhibitions
Nittany Lion Softball Park
Location: University Park, PA
What Happens There: Penn State Softball
Hess Softball Complex
Location: PA-45, Boalsburg, PA
What Happens There: Community softball
Oak Hall Regional Park
Location: 120 Linden Hall Rd, Boalsburg, PA
What Happens There: Community baseball, softball, dog park, sledding
Governor’s Park
Location: Governor's Park Road, Bellefonte, PA
What Happens There: Picnic pavilions, baseball field, soccer field, public swimming pool, children's play area
Shaner Sports Complex
Location: Route 322, State College
What Happens There: Community and youth baseball
We have several beautiful golf courses where golfers can tee up, including:
Toftrees
Location: Country Club Lane in Toftrees Resort, State College
Facilities: 18-Hole Golf Course rated 4.5 stars by Gold Digest
Penn State Golf Courses
Location: Corner of West College Ave and Blue Course Drive, State College
Facilities: Two 18-hole golf courses operated by Penn State
Mountain View Country Club
Location: Elks Club Road off Earlystown Road, Boalsburg
Facilities: 18-Hole course, open to the public
Skytop Mountain Golf Club
Location: 350 Skytop Mountain Drive, Port Matilda
Facilities: 18-Hole course rated one of the best in America.