Courtesy Nebraska Athletics
The Nebraska Board of Regents approved the $600 million plan by the Nebraska Athletic Department to renovate Memorial Stadium over the next two years. The regents voted 8-0 in favor of the proposal, while three of four student regents voiced support for the project.
The regents’ approval was seen as the last hurdle for the long-awaited renovation plan. Work is scheduled to begin immediately after the 2026 football season, with the south end-zone seats completely demolished and replaced with a four-tiered structure, while the west sideline seating bowl would be reconfigured as well into a three-tiered structure. A new large video screen would be added above the south end zone, while a 360-degree concourse would be installed at the lowest level of the stadium and a 270-degree concourse would span three-quarters of the upper deck. The plan would also replace cast-iron sewer lines and clay sewer tiles that were part of the original construction of the stadium.
Memorial Stadium’s capacity will be reduced to around 65,000 for the 2027 season, then enlarged to around 80,000 for 2028, some 5,000 seats smaller than the current capacity. The renovations will be funded through a combination of philanthropy and financing.