Penn State approaches complete sellout for home football season

Photo by Annemarie Mountz Rodney Kinlaw surges into the endzone for a Penn State touchdown against Wisconsin during the 2007 Homecoming match between the two teams. Tickets are nearly sold out for home games this season.

University Park, Pa. -- Unprecedented demand for Penn State season tickets has another Nittany Lion football season nearing a complete sellout, approaching the record-setting totals set in 2007 for public and student season tickets.

With more than 93,500 season tickets accounted for, for the second consecutive year, Penn State fans have assured that Beaver Stadium will again host some of the largest football crowds in the nation this fall.

The tremendous demand for tickets to watch the Nittany Lions has resulted in sellouts of three home games. Tickets have been exhausted for Penn State's contests with Oregon State (Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m.), Illinois (Sept. 27, 8 p.m.) and the Homecoming clash with Michigan (Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m.). Tickets are close to exhausted for Big Ten foe Indiana (Nov. 15) and the Senior Day clash with conference rival Michigan State on Nov. 22.

A limited number of tickets also remain for the Aug. 30 season opener with Coastal Carolina (noon) and the Sept 20 contest with Temple (noon).

Penn State also holds single game tickets for the opposing team's fans.

Any remaining single game tickets will be on sale exclusively online at http://www.GoPSUsports.com at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 25. Phone orders and group sales will take place only if tickets remain the morning of July 28. Phone and counter sales will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, July 28 if tickets remain. The numbers to call are (814) 865-5555 or 800-NITTANY (800-648-8269) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

All Club seats and Roar Suites are sold out for the 2008 season. For information on Club seats or suites, interested fans can call Bob White at 800-NITTANY.

Bud Meredith, director of Ticket Operations, reported that 99 percent of current season ticket-holders renewed their seats for the 2008 season, tying last year's all-time high.

The anticipation of the upcoming season also has resulted in a strong demand for tickets to the Nittany Lions' five away games. Penn State's allotment for games at Syracuse (Sept. 13), Wisconsin (Oct. 11) and Ohio State (Oct. 27) are sold out. Tickets remain for two of Penn State's Big Ten away games -- Purdue (Oct. 4) and Iowa (Nov. 8). Phone orders and counter sales for both games will begin at 10 a.m. July 28.

The excitement for the 2008 football season pushed Penn State season tickets beyond 90,000 for the third consecutive year in Beaver Stadium, the nation's largest facility with a capacity of 107,282. More than 15,000 Penn State student season tickets for freshmen, sophomores and juniors sold out in approximately three minutes during each sale last month. There are more 21,000 season tickets for Penn State students.

Joe Paterno's 43rd Penn State team returns 37 letterwinners and 16 starters for the 2008 season. The Nittany Lions will face eight bowl teams from 2007 this fall, including five at home. Penn State has won 31 of its last 40 games, tied for eighth-best record in the nation over that span.