Penn State plans to hold a concert at Beaver Stadium — the school's 107,000-seat football venue — for the first time.
Deputy Athletic Director Phil Esten tells the Centre Daily Times that the July 8 event will be the first concert at the stadium and the first non-Penn State event at the venue, which opened in 1960.
The school won't say who's headlining the concert yet. That will be announced during the Nov. 5 home game against Iowa.
Esten says the school has been looking at ways to host non-school events at the stadium and other athletic facilities since athletic director Sandy Barbour arrived.
That's one reason the school has applied for a liquor license for non-school events at the stadium and Pegula Ice Arena.
“It is common practice among Penn State’s peers to allow for the sale of alcohol for attracting headlining performing acts and major, professional sporting events to athletic venues. In fact, our venues have been at a disadvantage in gaining the sign-on of such attractions, and it is possible to have alcohol served in a safe and responsible manner,” David Gray, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, said in May.
Concerts at Beaver Stadium would be more a once-a-year actvity, Esten said.