Penn State announces no fans allowed at fall sporting events

There will be no fans at sporting events in Happy Valley this fall -- at least for now.

Penn State University sent an email to football season ticket holders on Thursday, notifying them that there will be no fans allowed at Beaver Stadium when the Nittany Lions take the field, WPXI reported.

The email, which was also posted on the university’s website, was written by Sandy Barbour, Penn State’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics.

She noted that because of current state guidelines mandated by Gov. Tom Wolf, which limit capacity to 250 people for outside events and 25 people indoors, Penn State’s fall sports will be held “without fans in the general seating areas of our facilities.”

“We continue to work with the governor’s office to discuss, and possibly be prepared for the opportunity to have spectators at our fall Penn State sporting events,” Barbour wrote.

Fans who seek ticket refunds can keep their season ticket-holder status in order to renew for the 2021 season, but they will not be guaranteed their 2020 seats or parking privileges, the Centre Daily Times reported. Fans who seek a refund also will not get the entire balance returned. Their Nittany Lion Club donation, a requirement to buy seats, will not be refunded, according to the club’s website.

Last month, the Big Ten, which counts Penn State as a member, ruled that the league would only play conference games during the fall season.

Cox Media Group