Bryce Jordan Center
Bryce Jordan Center is a basketball arena in University Park, Pennsylvania, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1996, making it 30 years old in 2026 and seats 15,261 for basketball. That makes it the 24th-largest arena in D-I.
Its record crowd is 15,998 (wrestling) vs. Iowa (2023). The closest NBA arena is Capital One Arena in Washington, about 139 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- University Park, Pennsylvania
- Home of
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- School
- Pennsylvania State University
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1996
- Capacity
- 15,261
- Record crowd
- 15,998 (wrestling) vs. Iowa (2023)
- Also home to
- Penn State women's basketball
- Size rank in D-I
- 24th of 360
Famous games at Bryce Jordan Center
- Jan. 11, 1996: No. 20 Penn State opened the Bryce Jordan Center with a 76-61 win over Minnesota.
- Feb. 21, 1998: Penn State beat No. 5 Purdue 74-63 for its first big upset in the building.
- Jan. 31, 2001: Titus Ivory scored 27 points as Penn State beat No. 6 Illinois 98-95 in overtime.
- March 17, 2009: Talor Battle's late three forced overtime, and Penn State beat George Mason 77-73 on its way to the NIT title.
- Feb. 27, 2013: Winless in the Big Ten at 0-14, Penn State rallied from 15 down to stun No. 4 Michigan 84-78.
- 2020: The BJC sold out for the first time since 2011 as Penn State beat Minnesota 83-77.
Game night
Tradition. The student section is the Legion of Blue, backed by the Pride of the Lions Pep Band.
Seating & views at Bryce Jordan Center
The Bryce Jordan Center seats 15,261 for basketball in a lower bowl and an upper deck. Since a 2022 reseat, the Legion of Blue student section sits courtside in sections 101L to 110L behind both team benches, with more students behind the baskets and the pep band at one end. For big games, extra students go to the upper deck on the pep band side. The arena is big for Penn State's typical crowds, and sellouts are rare.
Parking & tailgating at Bryce Jordan Center
The arena sits on Curtin Road across from Beaver Stadium, and Penn State Transportation Services runs the surrounding lots. For basketball, past BJC event pages list the Jordan East, Stadium West and Port North lots, plus the East Parking Deck. Fans could prepay through ParkMobile by 11:59 p.m. the night before or pay cash on game day, and a valid Penn State permit parked free. Check the BJC event page for current details. Basketball has no organized tailgating.
Plan your trip to Bryce Jordan Center
Arenas near Bryce Jordan Center10
- 1D-ISojka Pavilion — Bucknell Bison 51 mi
- 2D-IKnott Arena — Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers 81 mi
- 3D-IReilly Center — St. Bonaventure Bonnies 94 mi
- 4D-IUPMC Cooper Fieldhouse — Duquesne Dukes 115 mi
- 5D-IPetersen Events Center — Pittsburgh Panthers 115 mi
- 6D-ITU Arena — Towson Tigers 117 mi
- 7D-IChesapeake Employers Insurance Arena — UMBC Retrievers 121 mi
- 8D-IPhysical Education Complex — Coppin State Eagles 122 mi
- 9D-ITalmadge L. Hill Field House — Morgan State Bears 122 mi
- 10D-IReitz Arena — Loyola Greyhounds 122 mi
Questions about Bryce Jordan Center
Where do the Penn State Nittany Lions play home games?
The Penn State Nittany Lions play at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania.
How many people does Bryce Jordan Center hold?
Bryce Jordan Center seats 15,261 for basketball.
When did Bryce Jordan Center open?
Bryce Jordan Center opened in 1996.
What is the attendance record at Bryce Jordan Center?
The record crowd at Bryce Jordan Center is 15,998 (wrestling) vs. Iowa (2023).
What other arenas are near Bryce Jordan Center?
Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg is about 51 miles away. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.