Record Attendance of 92,003 at Nebraska Volleyball Event Establishes Global Benchmark for Women’s Sports

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The University of Nebraska has set a new global attendance record for a women’s sports event. A crowd of 92,003 spectators filled Memorial Stadium on Wednesday evening for a volleyball match between the Cornhuskers and Omaha. This surpasses the previous record of 91,648 set at a Champions League soccer game in 2022 where Barcelona bested Real Madrid at Camp Nou Stadium.

The institution initially targeted the record last spring, announcing a full-day festivity to celebrate a sport that holds considerable sway in this state of under 2 million residents. The proceedings commenced with a preliminary match featuring Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State, both local Division II schools, prior to the Cornhuskers’ regular-season fixture. Renowned country musician Scotty McCreery was slated to perform after the games.

While Memorial Stadium is officially designed to accommodate just over 85,000 spectators for football games, the configuration for this particular event allowed for extra seating and standing room on the field. The volleyball court was strategically placed at the stadium’s north end.

Tailgating festivities in red and white kicked off hours before the initial exhibition match, which Wayne State won in three sets. The stadium started filling up during this preliminary event and reached full capacity as the Cornhuskers and Omaha players commenced their warm-up activities.

An aerial flyover took place during the national anthem. Moments before the first serve, head coach John Cook led the Huskers into the stadium through the Tunnel Walk, a custom traditionally observed by the university’s football team. The atmosphere was electrified with synchronized chants of “Go Big Red!” reverberating through the venue.

The meteorological conditions were nearly ideal, with a temperature of 83 degrees, clear skies, and a mild south wind clocking in at 4 mph at court level.

Though the previous record of 91,648 was largely accepted as the highest attendance for women’s sports, there have been claims of an unverified gathering of 110,000 people at the informal 1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico City.

For context, the highest attendance record for a women’s sports event on American soil had been 90,185 spectators at the 1999 World Cup soccer final between the U.S. and China, held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. In terms of non-football sporting events, the NCAA doesn’t maintain comprehensive attendance records. However, Jeff Williams, the NCAA’s associate director of media coordination and statistics, noted that the 90,000-plus crowd was extraordinary.

The significance of this achievement was not lost on those present. “The confluence of an annual national contender in women’s volleyball and the sport’s burgeoning popularity makes this a watershed moment,” said NCAA president Charlie Baker in an interview with The Big Big News.

Nebraska’s volleyball program has been a consistent leader in attendance figures, boasting 306 consecutive sell-outs for regular-season matches. It has also been profitable, reporting earnings of $1 million last year, according to Doug Ewald, the athletic department’s Chief Financial Officer.

In a broader social context, the event represented a milestone for women’s sports, which has been notably impacted by Title IX legislation. “This monumental occasion not only underscores the popularity of volleyball but also signifies the transformative power of Title IX in elevating women’s sports,” said Troy Pfannenstiel, a local fan.

Educational and political dignitaries like Chancellor Rodney Bennett, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, and Governor Jim Pillen were in attendance, along with legendary Nebraska volleyball players coached by Terry Pettit across four decades. High school teams across the state were granted leave to attend the record-breaking event.

With 75 Nebraskan women featuring on Division I volleyball rosters this season, the state ranks second only to Hawaii in producing Division I players per capita, according to volleyball statistician and historian Rich Kern. Volleyball has outpaced basketball as the most popular high school girls team sport nationwide and holds the top spot in Nebraska.

The record-breaking event not only solidified Nebraska’s reputation as a hotbed for women’s volleyball but also symbolized a larger shift in the nation’s sports culture, where young girls now aspire to excel in sports traditionally dominated by men.

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For more collegiate sports coverage, visit The Big Big News.

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More about Nebraska Volleyball Attendance Record

• University of Nebraska Athletics
• Women’s Sports Attendance Records
• NCAA Statistics on Women’s Sports
• Title IX and Its Impact on Women’s Sports
• Champions League Women’s Attendance Records
• History of Volleyball in Nebraska
• Economic Impact of Women’s Sports
• Big Ten Conference Official Site
• Nebraska State Government
• Scotty McCreery’s Official Website