Penn State AD Sandy Barbour eager to welcome spectators back to Beaver Stadium

For decades, Penn State accepted and met the challenge of herding more than 100,000 people into Beaver Stadium for football games.

That changed last season in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, with no ticket, parking or concession revenue and an oddly silent atmosphere at games.

But Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said Saturday that Penn State will flip the switch and bring Beaver Stadium back to full capacity for seven home dates, beginning Sept. 11 for the Ball State game.

“Fans are a huge part of what we are,” she said.

Yet, she is eager and cautious at the same time.

“Covid has been the umbrella, and everything else we do is kind of plugged into that,” she said, adding, “I think we’re shifting that a little bit.”

There will be no mandated proof of vaccination, negative test or mask-wearing requirements for fans. That includes concourse and restrooms that are considered outdoor areas. Masks will be required, however, in suites and the press box, she said.

Oregon and Oregon State became the first Power 5 schools to announce they will require proof of vaccination or a negative covid-19 test for people over the age of 12 to attend football games.

“We can’t act like (the covid-19 pandemic) is not happening,” Barbour said during a conference call with reporters. “I would encourage folks to be vaccinated. I would encourage folks who want to wear masks to certainly do that. It’s not required (at Beaver Stadium). It’s completely up to you. We see all over the world where fans are coming back together, and we’re seeing very little covid-related issues.”

She said Penn State’s athletic department is planning to take steps to ease spectators’ concerns.

She said some gates will be expanded to limit long lines and wait times. She also encouraged people to arrive early.

“The biggest solution is to try to spread out over time (the process of getting people inside),” she said, suggesting games on the video board prior to kickoff and incentives at concession stands might emerge.

While encouraged by other sports allowing fans into venues this year, she said the university will continue to keep a careful eye on covid trends and advice from the CDC.

“It’s a matter of us all being really smart and understanding that the virus in some way, shape or form is still with us,” she said. “Our campus leadership, our board really felt like the position we’ve taken is one that balances to the highest degree health and safety, as well as personal choice and individual liberties.”

Barbour declined to offer program-by-program vaccination rates, but she did say 82.2% of people within the athletic department, including student-athletes and Tier 1 employees who have daily contact with student-athletes, have been vaccinated.

Also, people must wear masks at indoor events, but there will be no vaccine or negative test requirement for basketball and hockey games.

Worst-case scenario, she said the Big Ten will follow its traditional forfeiture policy: Any team that does not appear for a contest will forfeit.

“I think, perhaps not ideal, (but) given the seriousness of the health and science nature of covid, it’s probably the right thing to do,” she said.

Asked about a possible alliance among the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC in the wake of Texas and Oklahoma announcing plans to join the SEC, she said it would be about more than just money.

“The Big Ten really prides itself on being more than just an athletics conference,” she said, referencing sharing of library and academic resources and interaction among Big Ten provosts. “It’s all about what brings value, and I’m not just talking about money.

“I do think that there are conferences out there that could bring value from a monetary standpoint, particularly, speaking about our television contract and our television revenues.”