UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State football fans demonstrated their excitement for new coach James Franklin and his squad, boosting the Nittany Lions’ home attendance an average of more than 5,000 per game compared to the 2013 season.
Widely recognized as the nation’s most passionate and loyal alumni, fans and students, Penn State fans bought more than 35,000 more tickets this year compared to the 2013 final total home attendance in Beaver Stadium. Nittany Lion fans pushed this year’s ticket total above the 2013 final tally a week prior to the season opening win over UCF and the figure built throughout the season.
Penn State’s total home attendance this season was 711,358 for an average of 101,623 per game. In 2013, the total home attendance was 676,112, an average of 96,587 per contest, for an average increase of 5,036 fans per game (5 percent) this season. The Nittany Lions’ average increase ranks No. 11 nationally among FBS schools whose stadiums did not expand prior to this season, according to NCAA attendance figures through Nov. 29. Penn State’s average increase is fifth highest among teams in the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC whose stadiums did not expand this year.
“Our attendance success is directly attributable to the outstanding fan base that has long supported Penn State football,” said Tom McGrath, associate athletic director for business relations and communications. “To be continually ranked in the top five nationally means a great deal to our student-athletes and coaches. The game day atmosphere in Happy Valley continues to be an attractive opportunity for our fans to socialize and cheer on the Nittany Lions. This only happens because our alumni, students and fans are so passionate and loyal.”
With two weeks remaining in college football’s regular season, Penn State is No. 5 in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with its 101,623 home attendance average. Penn State fans have kept the Nittany Lions among the top five nationally in average home attendance every season since 1991, according to NCAA data.
Beaver Stadium hosted four crowds in excess of 100,000 this season, topped by the energetic Penn State White Out sellout crowd of 107,895 for the double overtime clash with Ohio State. During the 2012 and ’13 seasons, the Nittany Lions had one crowd above 100,000 each season.
More than 6,000 new Penn State football season tickets, 1,200 partial season tickets and 80,000 single game and group sale tickets were sold for the 2014 season.
The Big Ten Conference broke its single-season record for total attendance during the 2014 football season with 6,359,218 fans attending home games. In addition, nine Big Ten schools produced increases in average attendance this year compared to 2013.
The Nittany Lions concluded their regular season Saturday and are eligible to participate in their 45th bowl game all-time, with the bowl selections being announced the evening of Dec. 7.
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