Through These Gates: November 2024

Dear Husker Nation:

November is one of Nebraska Athletics’ busiest months of the year, with fall sports nearing the end of their regular seasons, winter sports beginning their competitive seasons and spring sports finalizing their out-of-season work. Football is headed down the homestretch with a full quarter of the season remaining while volleyball is preparing for its 43rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.  But there is a lot more happening that I want to share.

Let me begin by thanking all of you for the incredibly warm welcome that you have given to my family. Lincoln and the state of Nebraska are tremendous communities, and the people are what make it great. There is No Place Like Nebraska, and we are honored to be a part of the Husker Family.

The historic brand of the “N” was built by leading our enterprise through initiative and innovation and that opportunity lies before us again as intercollegiate athletics undergoes transformational change. To achieve excellence across the board in athletics, we need outstanding coaches, amazing facilities, passionate and supportive fans, resources and, of course, talented and dedicated student-athletes. With those in place, combined with incredible alignment among our Governor, our Board of Regents, President Gold, and Chancellor Bennett, there is nothing that we cannot achieve together.  

Memorial Stadium

• Work continues on a plan to modernize Memorial Stadium that will carry us into the next century built on a sound and sustainable financial model. Our intention is to unveil a design, construction timetable and the financial plans in the first few months of 2025.
• In October, the Board of Regents approved the sale of alcohol in Memorial Stadium, preceding our pursuit of a concessionaire for the 2025 season. Prior to next fall, we will redesign and modernize our concession areas to support alcohol sales and to expand offerings and service ahead of major renovations to the stadium. Also in 2025, you will see new turf in Memorial Stadium before ultimately, grass takes its place. In December, we will also be replacing turf in the Hawks Championship Center with the identical turf that will be placed in Memorial Stadium.
• We are also taking a wholistic look at stadium security before next season. While the Evolv entrance screening technology was a good first step, security must follow up-to-date best practices. While the original stadium design never contemplated nearly half of our crowd entering through the west and southwest gates (this will be addressed in the modernization) access has been smooth. Our move to mobile ticketing for the 2025 season will only enhance access for all fans.  
• As you are aware, cashless concessions were put into place this fall, with the average concession transaction time decreasing from 30 seconds to under 10 seconds.
• A $20 million investment in new cell towers around the stadium will enhance cellular connectivity in 2025, with high-speed Wi-Fi added later as a part of the modernization project.

The Changing Model of Student-Athlete Compensation
In early October, a federal judge granted initial approval of a settlement to an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA and the autonomy conferences, including the Big Ten. The House case, as it is commonly known, establishes, among other things, a model permitting institutions like Nebraska to share a percentage of revenues generated by ticket sales, television rights and sponsorship sales with our athletes beginning with the 2025-26 school year. If the settlement receives final approval in April 2025, the resiliency Husker Nation showed in adjusting to the NIL world will be challenged yet again.

While an annual exact figure is yet to be determined, the settlement will permit institutions to share up to approximately $20.5 million with student-athletes in a manner that each institution determines, and we have been working to build a model at Nebraska, including meeting with our coaches to establish sport-by-sport plans. Any final plan will require generation of additional revenues and certainly a reallocation of existing revenues to ensure we are able to share the maximum permissible resources with our student-athletes. 

In a post-settlement world, Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) will still exist and the partnership with our collective, 1890 Nebraska, will be just as important, if not more. As you are likely aware, in the last three years, NIL has evolved as a primary factor in recruitment and retention of student-athletes. The willingness and ability of our fans to adapt their giving preferences in a way that best gives our coaches the ability to recruit and retain has been nothing short of remarkable. 

If the settlement is formally approved, I will share more information with you. 

Huskers Athletic Fund
In the next few months, you will be receiving information from Tyler Kai, our Deputy Athletic Director for Revenue Generation, regarding enhancements to the Huskers Athletic Fund (HAF). Like modernizing security, concessions and ticketing, we must also modernize the Huskers Athletic Fund to ensure we remain among the nation’s elite.

The enhancements will reward donors who are supporting our areas of greatest need by providing better access to seating, parking and other important benefits at all our venues, including the Devaney Center for volleyball, Memorial Stadium for football and Pinnacle Bank Arena for both men’s and women’s basketball. Plans are still being finalized, and we will share more details in the months ahead.

Since arriving at Nebraska in March, I have had the opportunity to speak with nearly 75 groups around the state. Each time deepens the feeling of being home. We have an incredible history of Cornhusker Athletics, and now it is time to do our part.

I appreciate the welcome Husker Nation has provided me and my entire family and look forward to everything that lies ahead!  GO BIG RED!

Troy Dannen
Director of Athletics