Penn State Deploys Real-Time Safety Technology at Beaver Stadium
A new incident management rollout connects campus police and first responders through a single command network during major stadium events.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- November 04, 2026
The Pennsylvania State University has implemented a unified incident management platform at Beaver Stadium to support police and emergency personnel during football games and major campus gatherings.
The system, developed by CriticalArc and known as SafeZone, links security staff, dispatchers and first responders through a centralized operational interface. While the initial deployment focuses on game-day operations at the 106,000-seat stadium, university officials plan to expand the platform across additional campuses in future phases.
Field personnel will use an operational application called OmniGuard alongside central command software. The integrated setup provides live positioning of security teams, indoor location tracking, geofencing, timed check-ins and direct communication channels.
According to Wes Sheets, associate vice president and chief of police and public safety at Penn State, coordinating across teams, venues and campuses in real time is vital for community safety, and the platform delivers immediate access to available resources while connecting personnel in a scalable manner.
During major stadium operations, security leadership will use the platform to monitor incoming alerts and manage response workflows across agency boundaries, including university police, athletic personnel and campus technology teams.
Operational findings from Beaver Stadium will guide future phases as the university integrates the platform into broader emergency preparedness workflows across its commonwealth campus network.