Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)
"The Sea of Red" | |
Memorial Stadium in 2007 | |
| Full name | Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium |
|---|---|
| Address | 600 Stadium Drive Lincoln, Nebraska, U. S. |
| Elevation | 1,150 feet (350 m) |
| Owner | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Operator | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Type | Stadium |
| Capacity | 85,458 (2017–present)
List
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| Record attendance | 92,003 (volleyball – Aug. 30, 2023) 91,585 (football – Sep. 20, 2014) |
| Surface | FieldTurf (1999–present) AstroTurf (1970–1998) Natural grass (1923–1969) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 26, 1923 |
| Opened | October 13, 1923 (101 years ago) |
| Renovated | 1967, 1994, 2000, 2026 (planned) |
| Expanded | 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1999, 2006, 2013 |
| Construction cost | $482,939 (original structure) ($8.91 million in 2024) |
| Architect | John Latenser Sr. Ellery L. Davis |
| Project manager | Earl Hawkins |
| Structural engineer | Meyer & Jolly |
| General contractor | Parsons Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers football (NCAA / FBS) (1923–present) | |
| Website | |
| huskers.com/memorial-stadium | |
Memorial Stadium, nicknamed "The Sea of Red," is an American football stadium on the campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska. It primarily serves as the home venue of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and hosts the university's spring commencement ceremony.
The university began planning a new stadium complex shortly after World War I to replace Nebraska Field, an outdated venue that housed the program from 1909 to 1922. After a lengthy fundraising campaign and several design iterations, construction began in mid-1923. The unfinished Memorial Stadium opened on October 13, 1923, dedicated to honor Nebraskans who served in the American Civil War, the Spanish–American War, and World War I. The stadium was built with grandstands along its east and west sidelines; its capacity of 31,080 was unchanged until end zone bleachers were installed decades later. Major expansions of East, West, and North Stadium between 1999 and 2013 raised capacity to 85,458 and completely enclosed the original superstructure, which remains largely intact. Attendance regularly exceeded 90,000 in the past, though proposed future renovations will likely reduce capacity.
Nebraska has sold out 403 consecutive games at Memorial Stadium, an NCAA record for any sport that dates to 1962. In 2023, Memorial Stadium hosted Volleyball Day in Nebraska – the announced attendance of 92,003 was a stadium record and the highest ever recorded for a women's sporting event. The venue's listed capacity of 85,458 is thirteenth-highest among collegiate stadiums and twenty-fifth worldwide. Memorial Stadium is often listed among the best venues in college football.