UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State fans flocking to events this fall have boosted the Nittany Lions into the nation’s premier program in top 10 home attendance averages.
Through the completion of the fall sports’ regular season and the first two months of the hockey campaign, fans have responded by boosting Penn State into the top 10 in average home attendance in six sports, the most in the nation, according to the NCAA.
The Penn State field hockey, football, men’s ice hockey, women’s ice hockey, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams all rank in the top 10 in attendance. Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are tied for second nationally with three teams in the top 10 in average home attendance in the seven sports in the survey.
Among six of the sports, Penn State ranks in the top three in home attendance among Big Ten institutions, with the NCAA champion women’s soccer team and the field hockey squad leading the conference. Women’s hockey ranks No. 2 in attendance among College Hockey America teams.
In addition, Penn State is No. 2 nationally in wrestling home attendance with an average of 9,609 for two home dual meets. The No. 1 Nittany Lions drew 12,862 at the Bryce Jordan Center for their Dec. 13 win over Wisconsin and will face Ohio State in the Jordan Center on Feb. 5, 2016.
“Penn State has a student, alumni and fan base that is second to none, and it shows every week with the type of support all 31 of our programs receive,” said Brad Keen, assistant athletic director, marketing. “Our student-athletes and coaches are all very appreciative of our fans’ passionate support and feel fortunate to be a part of such a loyal and enthusiastic Penn State family.”Penn State fall-winter sports average home attendance:Sport Avg. Attendance National Rank Conference Rank
Field Hockey 595 2 1Women’s Volleyball 4,085 4 3Football 99,799 6 3Men’s Hockey 6,058 6 3Women’s Hockey 563 8 2Women’s Soccer 1,700 10 1 Men’s Soccer 1,547 18 3
* Attendance averages through end of the regular season for fall sports teams.The fall semester on the Penn State campus ended last weekend with commencement. The next home athletic events are Dec. 31, when the women’s basketball team hosts Northwestern at 2 p.m., and Jan. 5, when the men’s basketball team hosts Minnesota at 7 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.