Nebraska volleyball claim global women’s sports attendance record before 92,003 fans – in pictures

The University of Nebraska laid claim to the world record for largest confirmed attendance at a women’s sporting event with 92,003 spectators filling Memorial Stadium on Wednesday for their volleyball match against Omaha

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Main image: The Nebraska Cornhuskers huddle before Wednesday’s match against the Omaha Mavericks at Memorial Stadium. Photograph: Dylan Widger/USA Today Sports

  • The University of Nebraska took aim at the global attendance record for a women’s sporting event last spring when it announced it would hold a daylong celebration of a sport that enjoys immense popularity in this midwest state of fewer than two million
    The University of Nebraska took aim at the global attendance record for a women’s sporting event last spring when it announced it would hold a daylong celebration of a sport that enjoys immense popularity in this midwest state of fewer than two million.

  • The event began with an exhibition between in-state Division II powers Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State
    The event began with an exhibition between in-state Division II powers Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State.

  • The previous attendance record was 91,648, set during a Champions League match when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 at the Camp Nou Stadium in 2022
    The previous attendance record was 91,648, set during a Champions League match when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 at the Camp Nou Stadium in 2022.

  • The Nebraska Cornhuskers huddle before their match against the Omaha Mavericks on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium
    The Nebraska Cornhuskers huddle before their match against the Omaha Mavericks on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.

  • Memorial Stadium’s official capacity is just over 85,000 for football, but that number was higher for this event because there were seats and standing room on the field
    Memorial Stadium’s official capacity is just over 85,000 for football, but that number was higher for this event because there were seats and standing room on the field.

  • There was a flyover during the national anthem and, minutes before first serve, coach John Cook led his Huskers into the stadium to the Tunnel Walk, the longtime tradition of the football team. Synchronized chants of ‘Go Big Red!’ were heard all around
    There was a flyover during the national anthem and, minutes before first serve, coach John Cook led his Huskers into the stadium to the Tunnel Walk, the longtime tradition of the football team. Synchronized chants of “Go Big Red!” were heard all around.

  • Though 91,648 was widely acknowledged as the women’s sports attendance record, at least one match at the unofficial 1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico City reportedly drew 110,000 people. However, the latter figure remains unconfirmed
    Though 91,648 was widely acknowledged as the women’s sports attendance record, at least one match at the unofficial 1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico City reportedly drew 110,000 people.

  • Conditions were near perfect: 83F (28C), clear skies and a south wind listed at 4mph at court level with gusts
    Conditions were near perfect: 83F (28C), clear skies and a south wind listed at 4mph at court level with gusts.

  • A fan dressed as the Mandalorian walks through the crowd before Wednesday’s match between Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Omaha Mavericks at Memorial Stadium
    A fan dressed as the Mandalorian walks through the crowd before Wednesday’s match between Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Omaha Mavericks at Memorial Stadium.

  • The American record attendance for a women’s sporting event had been 90,185 for the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California – the game where Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt after scoring the decisive penalty shot for the US win
    The American record attendance for a women’s sporting event had been 90,185 for the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California – the game where Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt after scoring the decisive penalty shot for the US win.

  • Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly (2) dives for the ball against Omaha during the first set of Wednesday’s match at Memorial Stadium. The Cornhuskers never trailed on their way to a 3-0 sweep: 25-14, 25-14, 25-13
    Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly (2) dives for the ball against Omaha during the first set of Wednesday’s match at Memorial Stadium.

  • Nebraska have sold out 306 consecutive regular-season matches. The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since 2013, and eight of the top nine crowds in NCAA volleyball history are matches that have involved Nebraska
    Nebraska have sold out 306 consecutive regular-season matches. The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since 2013, and eight of the top nine crowds in NCAA volleyball history are matches that have involved Nebraska.

  • The Cornhuskers have won five national championships in volleyball and their program is one of the few in Division I women’s sports that turns a profit: $1m last year, according to the athletic department CFO, Doug Ewald
    The Cornhuskers have won five national championships in volleyball and their program is one of the few in Division I women’s sports that turns a profit: $1m last year, according to athletic department CFO Doug Ewald.

  • There are 75 women from the state of Nebraska who are on Division I volleyball rosters this season. At 44 players per million in population, the state trails only Hawaii (67 per million) in Division I players produced per capita, according to the volleyball statistician and historian Rich Kern of RichKern.com
    There are 75 women from the state of Nebraska who are on Division I volleyball rosters this season. At 44 players per million in population, the state trails only Hawaii (67 per million) in Division I players produced per capita, according to volleyball statistician and historian Rich Kern of RichKern.com.
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