Penn State, James Franklin to host ‘We Are… in Pittsburgh’ NIL event
Penn State football is taking its party to the other side of the state. Just two weeks after Happy Valley United’s event in Philadelphia, the NIL organization supporting the Nittany Lions has unveiled more details for its next event, “We Are… in Pittsburgh,” scheduled for next month.
Announced via social media, the lineup of attendees is headlined by Penn State head coach James Franklin, who will be joined by Pittsburgh Steelers star tight end Pat Freiermuth, and former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. The event is set for June 11, coinciding with the U.S. Open at nearby Oakmont Country Club. The reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Fox Chapel Golf Club.
A strong contingent of current and former Penn State coaches and players with Pittsburgh ties are expected to attend, including Terry Smith, new defensive analyst Greg Gattuso, quarterbacks analyst Trace McSorley, former quarterback Chuck Fusina, All-American linebacker Brandon Short, and fan favorites Miles Dieffenbach and Mike Hull.
“We Are… in Pittsburgh” details
In addition to the main event, a more intimate pre-reception will be held at 6:15 p.m. Tickets for both receptions are being sold for $500. Individual tickets to the main reception are priced at $200, $300 for couples, and $100 for young professionals.
For Penn State fans unable to attend, Happy Valley United is also hosting an online auction to coincide with the event. Among the highlights are:
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- An exclusive opportunity to play golf with Michael Mauti or Christian Hackenberg ahead of the July 24 “We Are… in Avalon” event.
- Two tickets to Penn State’s national signing day celebration at the Lasch Building next December.
- Two tickets to the Nittany Lions’ Pro Day in February 2026.
- Two tickets to the program’s kick-off staff retreat in July, and more.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available, ranging from $10,000 title sponsors, $5,000 “We Are” sponsors, $2,000 “Blue” sponsors, and $800 “White’ sponsors.
Penn State continues to push NIL support
As the college athletics landscape continues to shift, driven by the pending House v. NCAA settlement, new legislation, and broader changes, Penn State football is pushing to strengthen its donor support for its NIL efforts. With top programs across the country projected to spend as much as $30 million to $40 million for their football rosters in 2025, Penn State acknowledges that player acquisition and retention are increasingly tied to available funding.
“I think our guys have done a good job being aggressive. We haven’t really changed our overall philosophy. But the reality is, NIL is a factor now, and if you’re not able to offer similar opportunities that other schools are, it’s going to make it challenging,” Franklin told Penn State’s Brian Tripp in December. “So we’ve been aggressive there and trying to close the gap. We still have some work to do. I think that’s the reality of it.
“But, at the end of the day, we’re still offering an opportunity to get a world class education, play big-time football, and then we need to make sure that we’re able to offer similar opportunities to every other program in the country that we’re competing with.”
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