Lincoln, Nebraska – August 30, 2023
In a historic moment for women’s sports, the University of Nebraska’s women’s volleyball team achieved an extraordinary feat on Wednesday night. Memorial Stadium, typically the home of the university’s football games, was transformed into a vibrant arena as the Nebraska volleyball team faced off against in-state rival Omaha. The result? A new world record for the largest attendance at a women’s sporting event, with a staggering 92,003 enthusiastic fans filling the stadium seats. This remarkable accomplishment was officially confirmed by the university.
This unprecedented record-breaking attendance surpassed the previous benchmark set in April 2022. On that occasion, 91,648 soccer enthusiasts had gathered at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, to witness a UEFA Champions League semifinal match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg.
Trev Alberts, the Athletics Director of the University of Nebraska, took the opportunity to address the electrified crowd following the outdoor volleyball match. He praised the unwavering support of Nebraska’s fans, acknowledging their integral role in achieving this remarkable feat. Alberts introduced the team’s esteemed head coach, John Cook, to the roaring audience.
Coach Cook, basking in the glory of the moment, commended the dedicated fans for their unshakable loyalty. With immense pride, he acknowledged that this accomplishment highlighted the fervor and dedication of Nebraska’s supporters, elevating them to the status of the best volleyball fans in the country.
As the jubilant crowd cheered, Cook shared his perspective on the significance of the event, evoking the three instances that could temporarily halt the bustling activity at the University of Nebraska: snowstorms, pandemics like Covid-19, and, of course, the spectacle of Nebraska volleyball within the stadium. He also shared an inspiring sentiment expressed by one of the players, encapsulating the essence of the moment: “The impossible is possible.” Cook’s words resonated with the ecstatic audience, encapsulating the sense of unity and pride that permeated the stadium.
Before this groundbreaking event, the previous record attendance for a women’s sporting event in the United States stood at 90,185. This record had been set during the United States-China soccer World Cup final in July 1999 at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
The world-record setting match took place on what the university deemed “Volleyball Day.” The enthusiastic crowd welcomed the fourth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team with thunderous applause as the players entered the court, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
While the University of Nebraska’s volleyball team has a storied tradition of success, the event added another layer to their achievements. The team had previously established an unparalleled NCAA record by selling out 306 consecutive regular season matches. However, the match on Wednesday was a deviation from the team’s norm, taking place at Memorial Stadium instead of their customary court at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Despite this, the event marked an unforgettable chapter in the history of both Nebraska volleyball and women’s sports as a whole.
The capacity of Memorial Stadium, designed primarily for football games, is listed at 85,458, underscoring the sheer scale of attendance that surpassed expectations and set a new global standard for women’s sporting events. The University of Nebraska’s women’s volleyball team, along with their devoted fan base, have etched their names into history, showcasing the transformative power of sports to unite and inspire.
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