Memorial Stadium History Nebraska's continuing NCAA record of consecutive home sellouts reached 333 with eight home sellouts in 2013. During that time, the historic stadium has gone through many transformations. In 2013, a major renovation on the East side of Memorial Stadium was completed, adding approximately 6,000 new seats. Each new seating area include dedicated restrooms and concessions areas. A new grand lobby, expanded concourse and additional first-aid areas also were added. Fans are greeted by a new grand entrance at Gate 20 complete with a statue of Hall of Fame Coach Bob Devaney. An exciting aspect of the expansion is the Nebraska Athletic Research Facility. where cutting-edge imaging technologies and research to better understand foundations of behavior that contribute to health, injury and disease from childhood obesity to college performance. In 2006, more than 6,500 seats were added to the stadium's North end, along with a massive HuskerVision screen and Skyline Suites.The additions sit atop the Osborne Athletic Complex, which houses the Huskers' technologically advanced athletic medicine facility, massive weight room, and football locker room, football offices and administrative offices. The first phase of the project also provided the Memorial Stadium has been the home of the Huskers since 1923. Nebraska, which owns an impressive 397-119-13 Huskers with a second indoor workout facility, the Hawks record and a .763 winning percentage at Memorial Stadium, enters its 92nd home season at the historic stadium. Championship Center. Memorial Stadium has been sold out for an NCAA-record 333 straight games entering 2014. In Nebraska's 300th consecutive sellout against Louisiana- Lafayette on Sept. 26, 2009, a then-school-record 86,304 sides of the stadium, doubled the number of concessions in 1992-New Astroturf-8 artificial turf installed. fans watched the Huskers roll to a 55-0 win. A school-record both East and West concourses and included concrete repair 1994-Installed Mitsubishi Instant Replay boards and 91,471 fans attended Nebraska's game against UCLA in 2013, and waterproofing throughout the stadium. FieldTurf was also completion of Michael Grace production studio (HuskerVision) and NU's average home attendance was a record 90,933. introduced at Memorial Stadium in 1999. The renovations in West Stadium. Remodeled Section 14 for disabled, reduced NU's streak of consecutive sellouts started on Nov. 3, raised the capacity of Memorial Stadium from 72,700 to seating to 72,700. 1962, when 36,501 attended the Homecoming game against 73,918. Capacity reached above 80,000 for the first time in 1995-South Stadium training room remodeled and new Missouri. The last non-sellout came Oct. 20, 1962, when NU 2006, and now approaches 90,000. interview room and player lounge completed. and Kansas State drew 30,701. 1997-Groundbreaking began on a $36-million stadium In the fall of 1922, a drive for $430,000 in stadium 91 Years In Memorial Stadium improvement project to take place over a two-year period. East construction funds was undertaken by faculty, students, For the past 91 years, Nebraska football teams have concourse was renovated with new restrooms and concessions alumni and friends of the University. The quota was over gladly called Memorial Stadium home with an impressive and stadium lights were installed on the east side. subscribed. 397-119-13 (.763) record posted by the Huskers in their 1998-Stadium was rededicated on April 24, and the football The stadium was named Memorial Stadium to honor all home since it was opened in 1923. field was named in honor of Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne, Nebraskans who served in the Civil and Spanish-American who retired as the winningest active coach in college football Wars; the 751 Nebraskans who died in World War I; the 3,839 Under the Lights with a 255-49-3 career record. Lights installed on the west side. in World War II; the 225 in Korea; the 422 in Vietnam; and Nebraska's first night football game was Nov. 30, 1951, 1999-Stadium Improvement project completed with 42 those in Iraq. Construction was completed in a few more than at Miami's Orange Bowl when the Huskers lost to the Miami suites, club seating, stadium view lounge, new press box and 90 working days and Memorial Stadium was dedicated on Hurricanes, 19-7. Ironically, NU's first night football home renovated concourses, concessions and restrooms. Seating Oct. 20, 1923, at the Homecoming game in which Nebraska game came in the 1986 opener against another team from raised to 74,056. FieldTurf installed in August, making NU was held to a scoreless tie by Kansas. the "Sunshine State", Florida State. Nebraska is 79-33-3 all the first Division-I program to use the synthetic surface. Inscribed on the four corners of the stadium are the time under the lights, including 33-5 at home. 2000-Increased club seating reduces capacity to 73,918. following words, written by former UNL professor of philosophy 2001-Expanded team meeting room/players' lounge in Hartley Burr Alexander: Memorial Stadium Improvements South Stadium. Expanded HuskerVision and Hewit Center A chronological listing of Memorial Stadium expansion Southeast: "In Commendation of the men of Nebraska who in West Stadium. and improvement from the original 31,000-seat structure served and fell in the Nations Wars." 2004-Additional lockers added to South locker room to house built in 1923: Southwest: "Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but entire football squad during construction of Tom and Nancy 1946-Completed Schulte Field House (construction began in the game; In the deed the glory." Osborne Athletic Complex on north end of stadium. North 1941, but was interrupted by World War II). Northwest: "Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are Field House torn down in summer 2004. 1964-South end zone section installed, making the stadium the true awards of manly sport." 2005-Replaced FieldTurf, changing subsurface of field. a horseshoe, raising capacity to 48,000 Northeast: "Their Lives they held their countrys trust; They 2006-Completion of the Osborne Athletic Complex and Hawks 1965-Center portion of north end zone section added, raising kept its faith; They died its heroes." Championship Center on North end of Memorial Stadium. Addition capacity to more than 53,000. As part of the continuing improvement of athletic facilities of Skyline Suites and seating for disabled in North Stadium and 1966-Both wings of the north end zone added, raising capacity at the University of Nebraska, several major projects have addition of giant HuskerVision screen in North end zone.Tunnel to more than 65,000 and making Memorial Stadium into a bowl. been completed over the past eight decades enhancing the Walk entrance of Huskers moves from South end zone to North end 1967-New press box and guest section added. facility. The $1 million Hewit Center dining/study hall area zone. Nebraska's football offices, locker room and administrative 1970-Installed new AstroTurf playing surface. was opened in March of 1985, underneath the West Stadium offices move from South to North Stadium. 1972-South end zone extended, 9,400 seats added, raising adjacent to the strength complex. The weight room and the 2009-Addition of two HuskerVision boards on the North towers capacity to 73,650. Hewit Center were expanded and remodeled in 1989. and upgrade of all HuskerVision screens to high-definition format. 1973-Athletic office building completed with dressing and Before the fall of 1994, NU installed two 17 feet high, 2010-Addition of Student Life Complex in West Stadium. Expansion training facilities for varsity football. by 23 feet wide replay boards, now known to Nebraska of Nebraska football trophy displays in North Stadium. 1977-Replaced AstroTurf and added new scoreboard over faithful as HuskerVision screens. In 2006, one of the largest 2011-Work begins on East Stadium Expansion in the spring of the North Stadium. screens in a college venue was unveiled as part of the new 2011. Approximately 6,000 seats will be added along with an 1981-New West Stadium weight room and new visitor's locker construction project. athletic research facility. It opened for the 2013 season, raising room in the North Field House. Following the 1997 season, construction began on a Memorial Stadium's capacity near 90,000. 1982-Expanded North Field House indoor practice area. $36-million improvement project completed in 1999. The 2013-Replaced FieldTurf at Memorial Stadium and East Stadium 1984-Artificial All-Pro Turf installed. project included the Don Bryant Media Facility and 42 expansion completed. suites, each of which house 25 fans. Club seating rose from 1985-Completed Hewit Center (dining area/study hall) in approximately 350 to 1,500 per game. The improvement project West Stadium. tripled the number of restrooms on both the East and West 1989-Expansion of strength complex and Hewit Center. 43 Memorial Stadium Attendance/Streaks Nebraska Home Attendance, 1943-2013 Nebraska's All-Time Best Home Winning Streaks Home Home Overall Total Average No. Date Began Date Ended Consecutive Wins Ended By Year Games Record Record Attendance Attendance 1. 10-19-1991 10-31-1998 47 Texas, 16-20 1943 4 1-3 2-6-0 28,872 7,218 2. 9-28-1901 10-20-1906 33 ISU, 2-14 1944 3 2-1 2-6-0 16,161 5,387 3. 11-27-1998 11-2-2002 26 Texas, 24-27 4. 9-27-1969 11-23-1972 23 Okla., 14-17 1945 5 3-2 4-5-0 74,371 14,874 5. 10-3-1981 11-17-1984 21 Okla., 7-17 1946 4 2-2 3-6-0 122,072 30,518 6.