Largest Crowd in History Attends NCAA Women’s Volleyball Match
A record-breaking crowd of 92,003 spectators gathered at Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night to witness a volleyball match between the University of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. This marked the largest ever attendance for a women’s sporting event.
The match ended with a straight-set victory for Nebraska, as they defeated Omaha with scores of 25-14, 25-14, and 25-13.
In a press conference before the match, sophomore middle blocker Bekka Allick expressed her awe at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the overwhelming support from the fans.
The previous world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event was set during a UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer semifinal in 2022, where 91,648 spectators witnessed a match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg. Wednesday’s crowd also broke the record for the largest attendance at an NCAA regular season volleyball match, surpassing the previous record set by Nebraska themselves.
The record-breaking attendance was achieved as part of “Volleyball Day in Nebraska,” with tickets going on sale in April. Within just three days, more than 82,000 tickets were sold, showcasing the enormous interest in the event.
Nebraska Volleyball’s Legacy
Nebraska volleyball has established a legendary reputation, akin to the success of the Cornhusker football team. With five national championships, the program is highly regarded in the sport. In the current American Volleyball Coaches Association rankings, Nebraska holds the 4th position heading into their match against in-state rival Omaha.
The overwhelming support from fans amazed Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts, who described the sellout of Memorial Stadium as truly remarkable. Head Coach John Cook also emphasized the impact of the record-breaking attendance, acknowledging the buzz surrounding the event and the challenges it brings.
Past Attendance Records
The Nebraska volleyball program previously set attendance records during the 2021 NCAA Volleyball Championship where they battled Wisconsin in front of 18,755 fans, the largest crowd for an NCAA volleyball match. Additionally, Nebraska holds the NCAA women’s sellout streak record, having sold out 306 straight regular-season matches.
Memorial Stadium, with an official capacity of 83,406 for football, accommodated more seats at field level to host the volleyball match. The most significant attendance figure for a women’s sporting event in the U.S. was recorded during the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl, where 90,185 spectators witnessed the match between the U.S. and China.
Coach Cook drew parallels to the impact of the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final on soccer, expressing hopes that this unprecedented attendance for volleyball could similarly elevate the sport and women’s athletics as a whole.
The players are fully aware of the historic moment and the significance of the event. They strive to give their best performance and not take a single moment for granted. Such an extraordinary opportunity may never come again.
The match was broadcast on the Big 10 Network, giving viewers across the nation the chance to witness this landmark event in women’s volleyball.