Nebraska Athletics released its long-awaited plans for renovations to Memorial Stadium Friday. The $600 million project will be considered by the NU Board of Regents at their regular meeting Friday, April 24. If approved, work would begin on the renovation project immediately after the 2026 football season, with completion scheduled for the beginning of the 2028 season.
The project would include a near-total reconstruction of the south end zone, replacing the roughly 13,000-seat, single-deck structure with a four-deck structure including a new video board and new concourses. In addition, the west and east stands would be split from their current two-deck structure to a three-tiered setup. The renovations, when complete, would drop Memorial Stadium’s capacity to approximately 80,000 fans, around 5,000 fans smaller than the current capacity.
In a release, the university said the renovation would “honor the stadium’s storied legacy while ushering in a new era of energy, access, and year-round engagement”. The renovations would make the gameday experience at the stadium better for fans, while also better positioning the stadium to host year-round events.
The renovations would be paid for through at least $250 million of private philanthropic support, with the other $350 million to come from private bond financing, with no taxpayer support going to the stadium project. In the release the university says the project is “projected to create more than 7,300 new jobs and drive an estimated $1.1 billion in statewide economic impact”.
Plans are to have the project halfway done at the beginning of the 2027 season, with the renovations fully complete for 2028.
The project will now be reviewed by the Nebraska Board of Regents at its meeting Friday, April 24 at 9 a.m. In the news release, NU System Board of Regents chairman Paul Kenney said, “The Board is set to consider this important initiative, which represents an incredible opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the entire University System and will bring real economic benefits to the state of Nebraska. Memorial Stadium is a representation of our state’s values and traditions, and this restoration project will help preserve its legacy for future generations.”
Courtesy Nebraska Athletics
