Record-Breaking Turnout at Nebraska Volleyball Match
History was made as a colossal crowd of 92,003 spectators gathered to witness an intense volleyball showdown between the University of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The match took place under the bright lights of Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium, a stadium that usually hosts American football games for the University of Nebraska.
This remarkable attendance figure smashes previous records for women’s sporting events. The previous record, set at 91,648 attendees, was established during a Champions League soccer match in 2022, where Barcelona outplayed Real Madrid 5-2 at the Camp Nou Stadium.
In addition to setting a new global record, the match also surpassed the US record for women’s sports attendance, which was previously held by the 1999 World Cup final. During that game, 90,185 fans gathered to watch the intense match-up between the US and China in California.
The volleyball event’s overwhelming success surprised even the Nebraska coach, John Cook. Reflecting on the achievement, he noted, “We took a chance by playing in Memorial Stadium, and to go for the record and break it… I don’t think anybody could have envisioned that when this whole thing started. It feels like a great accomplishment for this sport called volleyball played by women. It’s a state treasure. We proved it.”
The stadium, which typically accommodates 85,000 spectators, managed to fit an additional 7,003 people with seats and standing room on the pitch. The University of Nebraska’s Cornhuskers emerged victorious in the match with a decisive 3-0 scoreline, adding another title to their five-time National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball championships.
Player Andi Jackson, expressing her awe, stated, “It’s incredible. I don’t have enough words to describe it. We were walking out of the tunnel after the second set, and we heard on the speaker we had just broken the world record. Everyone was trying to stay locked in, but we were also so excited. I can’t describe how grateful I am to be a part of it.”
Volleyball holds a special place in Nebraska’s heart, evident from the fact that the past 306 consecutive regular-season matches have been completely sold out. Recently, volleyball has overtaken basketball as the number one sport for girls in high schools across the United States.
This memorable volleyball match showcased the sport’s growing popularity and the remarkable enthusiasm of fans in Nebraska, making it an event to remember in the world of women’s sports.