Flying Higher: How Regional Airports Power Division I Sports in the Big Ten

When college athletics expand across time zones, logistics become just as strategic as the game plan. For universities in the Big Ten Conference, which now stretches from the East Coast to the Pacific, travel isn’t just about moving athletes—it’s about connecting communities, supporting regional airports, and showcasing the economic power of college sports.

Penn State and the Geography of Greatness

At the heart of this story is Penn State University, one of the nation’s most recognized names in intercollegiate athletics. With new West Coast opponents like USC, UCLA, and Oregon joining the Big Ten, Penn State’s travel footprint has grown exponentially. But that expansion brings both challenges and opportunity.

As ABC27 News reports, Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) recently introduced direct charter options to support Penn State’s football team and fans traveling to West Coast matchups. This collaboration between athletics and regional air service illustrates the vital role that smaller airports play in maintaining competitive parity and supporting fans’ passion.

The Regional Advantage: State College and Harrisburg

For teams based in mid-sized markets like State College, geography matters. CBS Sports reported that Head Coach James Franklin noted logistical hurdles at University Park Airport (SCE)—a facility that, while convenient and community-centered, has limited commercial capacity for long-haul travel.

Yet the airport’s leadership has leaned into innovation. According to FlySCE.com, the airport continues to partner with local businesses, chambers of commerce, and the university to attract more direct routes. The goal: ensure the success of major athletic programs while creating ripple effects that benefit tourism, hospitality, and local development.

Even subtle improvements, such as updated directional signage, signal a broader investment in infrastructure that enhances the travel experience for visiting teams, alumni, and fans.

From Charters to Commercial: The Aircraft Behind the Journey

College sports teams rely on a combination of chartered aircraft and scheduled commercial service to reach distant destinations. Penn State football, for example, will use both chartered flights and commercial carriers for its new Big Ten road games, according to Nittany Sports Now.

Private charters typically utilize mid-size jets such as Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s configured for team travel—aircraft that offer flexible scheduling, tailored service, and the ability to operate from smaller regional airports like State College or Harrisburg. These operations, often contracted through companies specializing in collegiate or professional sports travel, provide efficient, direct connections to faraway venues while avoiding congested hub airports.

For Olympic sports like basketball, hockey, and soccer, commercial flights remain the norm—offering cost efficiency but requiring greater logistical coordination. As Sports Illustrated recently noted, travel fatigue is becoming a talking point across the expanded Big Ten, where coast-to-coast schedules test athletes’ endurance as much as their opponents do.

Economic Lift: Airports as Anchors of Community Growth

The impact of collegiate athletics on airports extends far beyond the runway. Each chartered flight or fan travel wave generates hotel stays, restaurant visits, and retail sales throughout the surrounding communities. Events like Penn State’s Air Service Summit, hosted by University Park Airport, highlight how athletics-driven travel can accelerate regional development and even attract new business investment.

These benefits ripple outward—to mechanics, ground crews, local tourism boards, and small businesses that cater to fans and alumni returning home for game weekends. The aviation sector, in turn, gains visibility and leverage to advocate for expanded service options that support both community and economic growth.

Balancing Growth with Sustainability

The expanded Big Ten map also invites questions about environmental responsibility. As Maryland Matters reported, increased air travel contributes to higher carbon emissions, particularly for teams traveling between coasts. Yet many universities are exploring offset initiatives and sustainable aviation fuel partnerships to mitigate these effects—turning logistical necessity into innovation.

Looking Ahead

Whether through enhanced facilities, strategic partnerships, or more efficient scheduling, the future of Big Ten travel is being written in the skies over America’s regional airports. For Penn State and its peers, collaboration with transportation partners is not just about reaching destinations—it’s about strengthening the connections that define collegiate identity.

As the Nittany Lions continue their journey westward, the story is clear: Division I sports don’t just rely on planes—they depend on the people, infrastructure, and communities that make every flight possible.

About the Author

Ryan Abramson is the Director of Strategic Communication at Penn State Lehigh Valley and the Principal of Oakridge Leaders, a Bucks County–based consulting firm specializing in authentic storytelling, leadership development, and digital marketing. His work has been featured in national and regional outlets including ABC27, Wink News, and the Union-Bulletin. Learn more about his work and writing at ryanabramson.net.