Published: January 23, 2008 08:45 pm      

Pop star Fergie to perform first concert at Beaver Stadium

STATE COLLEGE, — Penn State’s Beaver Stadium is going “Fergalicious.”

The night before the Nittany Lions hold their annual spring football scrimmage, pop star Fergie will headline the first-ever concert at Beaver Stadium.

Fergie will perform April 18, with the Blue-White game to be held the next afternoon at the stadium.

The concert is one of at least 15 to be held during spring football games at college campuses around the country as part of “Gridiron Bash,” an event created by New York-based MSL Sports and Entertainment. The event Web site calls “Gridiron Bash” a fan competition and entertainment experience that will be the “largest, single-day sports and entertainment event ever.”

Home for the Nittany Lions since being built in 1960, the 107,282-seat Beaver Stadium is second in size only to Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor among U.S. stadiums. Michigan is in the process of expanding the capacity of the Big House from 107,501 to more than 108,000.

With 81-year-old Joe Paterno expected back for his 43rd season as head coach, Penn State may have up to 17 starters return for the 2008 campaign. Spring drills begin in late March and end with the Blue-White game.

The 32-year-old Fergie, whose name is Stacy Ann Ferguson, is a member of the hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas. Her hit song “Big Girls Don’t Cry” from “The Dutchess” has been nominated for a Grammy award in the best female pop vocal category.