Memorial Stadium History
Ask anyone to name the Nebraska’s two largest cities and Omaha and Lincoln immediately come to mind.
Bellevue (population 54,000-plus) holds the official title as the state’s third-largest city, but it takes a back seat during football season to the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium, which has become the gathering site for fans of the Nebraska Cornhuskers since it opened in 1923.
Memorial Stadium originated as a 31,000-seat facility and has grown to its current structure, which now seats over 80,000 fans and has been sold out for every home game since 1962. Read more on Memorial Stadium history.
Memorial Stadium has undergone numerous expansion and upgrade projects in its storied history. Most recent was the completion of a $50 million expansion project that added seating and luxury suites to the north end zone, bringing the stadium’s capacity to 81,067 seats.
The first expansion came in 1964, about 18 years after the North Field House was completed. Seating was added to the south end zone, turning the stadium into a 48,000-seat, horseshoe-shaped facility. One year later, 5,000 seats were added to the center portion of the north end zone, and the outer wings on the north side were filled in, expanding capacity to over 65,000.
More seating was added in the south end zone after the Huskers completed back-to-back national championship seasons. The additional 9,400 seats brought the stadium’s capacity to 73,650 for the 1972 season. A 1994 remodeling to accommodate handicap seating reduced capacity to 72,700, but a stadium improvement project completed five years later increased capacity to 74,056.
Memorial Stadium was constructed as part of a $430,000 fund drive by university faculty, students, alumni and friends of the University in 1922. The stadium was named Memorial Stadium in honor of all Nebraskans who served our nation in war. The stadium was completed in 90 working days and was dedicated Oct. 20, 1923, during Nebraska’s homecoming game against Kansas, a game that ended in a 0-0 tie.
The stadium saw its first night game in 1986, a 34-17 win over Florida State. Temporary lighting was used until 1997, when permanent lighting was installed on the east side of the stadium. Lighting on the west side followed as the new press box and suites were added the following year.
Memorial Stadium is home to the most dedicated fans in all of college football. The Huskers have played before a packed house every home Saturday since the homecoming game against Missouri on Oct. 20, 1962. With seven more sellouts during the 2007 season, the all-time record for consecutive home sellouts now stands at 289 games, a mark that will no doubt expand with eight home games in 2008.
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