Alcohol sales OK’d for Volleyball Day in Memorial Stadium

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents cleared the way for beer sales in Memorial Stadium during a special volleyball doubleheader and country music concert later this summer.

In addition to four Nebraska schools taking to the court in front of a potentially record-breaking crowd, Husker Athletics said it is also planning to feature a trio of craft brewing companies based in the Cornhusker state.

Zipline Brewing Co. and Kinkaider Brewing Co. will each have two of their beers for sale during the event, according to Doug Ewald, executive associate athletic director and chief financial officer for Husker Athletics, while Empyrean Brewing Co. will have one.

One of Zipline’s beers — its “Dear Old Nebraska Brew” — will be sold in a commemorative can for fans, Ewald said.

The event will be the second time since 2021 that regents have approved the sale of alcohol for a special event in Memorial Stadium. That summer, booze was put on sale for a Garth Brooks concert that drew more than 90,000 fans.

But it will be the first time beer sales will be available during a sporting event inside the century-old venue.

Ewald said Husker Athletics has been diligently planning the event using the lessons learned from the country music superstar’s appearance two years ago, and is approaching it “like a home football game” with some differences.

While fans were in the stadium for a little more than three hours to see Garth, Ewald said the athletic department anticipates fans will be at Memorial Stadium for at least 6-7 hours on Aug. 30 if they choose to attend the full event.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney and Wayne State College will play an exhibition match at 4:30 p.m., with the Huskers slated to take on the University of Nebraska at Omaha in a televised match on the Big Ten Network at 7 p.m.

After the game, country music artist Scotty McCreery will play a concert for fans.

“One of the most important things for us is making sure we have adequate food for the entire day,” Ewald said.

Supplies ran low, and in some cases out completely, during the 2021 event. Ewald said Husker Athletics is working with vendor Premier Catering to ensure plenty of Runzas and Valentino’s pizza is on hand at Memorial Stadium’s concession stands.

Because the special designated liquor license will be in Premier Catering’s name and not the University of Nebraska, beer sales will once again take place in kiosks spread throughout the stadium.

Ewald said beer will be sold in 16-ounce cans rather than the 25-ounce size featured during the Garth Brooks concert.

Husker Athletic Director Trev Alberts, who along with volleyball Coach John Cook and Gov. Jim Pillen announced Volleyball Day in February, said beer sales were discussed as part of the concession offerings from the event’s inception.

On Thursday, the Board of Regents made that a reality on a 6-2 vote, with Regents Jim Scheer of Norfolk and Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City opposed.

Scheer said while he didn’t oppose the sale of alcohol at the event in principle, he believed the university should have taken action earlier in order to set expectations for Husker fans.

“My concern with this particular one is we’ve sold 80,000 tickets,” he said. “Some of the people who have bought tickets have maybe perceived it as a more family-friendly event without alcohol.”

Wilmot echoed Scheer’s concerns, saying many Nebraskans identify Husker events as alcohol-free.

“To me, this is a type of family event and I’d like to keep it at that level,” she said.

Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice defended beer sales at Memorial Stadium for the event, pointing out that there have been no reported incidents at Husker sporting events where alcohol is sold.

“I’m a strong believer we should treat adults as adults,” he said. “If they make a bad decision, there will be consequences.”

Regents have gradually relaxed the ban on alcohol sales at Husker Athletics since 2021. Beer was later approved for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships in 2022, and for a two-year trial period for Husker men’s and women’s basketball.