Huskers set to welcome fans back across all sports after Big Ten moves to localize attendance decisions | Football

Nebraska will have fans at Haymarket Park and Bowlin Stadium on Friday. 

Husker fans will have a chance to see the volleyball team in person next weekend and the football team at Memorial Stadium for the Red-White Spring Game on May 1. 

The Big Ten on Wednesday morning formalized a move that’s been expected for a couple of days now, announcing that all attendance decisions for regular-season competitions can be made by schools in conjunction with local health officials, effective immediately. 

That’s a sizable change, as the Big Ten’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors have had the controls for the past year and had not allowed any of the 14 member schools to host general fans for the past year-plus. 

Shortly after the league announcement, NU said it plans have fans back at Haymarket Park this weekend for the baseball program’s home-opening series against Minnesota and for all other Husker sporting events moving forward this spring. Same goes for the softball program’s home series beginning Friday against Penn State. 

It was not immediately clear where attendance limits will fall, though outdoor capacities typically are expected to be higher than indoor events such as volleyball.

“I applaud the decision to allow fans to return to conference venues for the remainder of the 2020-21 athletic season,” Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos said in a statement. “This is another positive step as we move closer to normal operations in the Big Ten and across college athletics. Our staff has worked closely with local health officials to finalize details and provide a safe environment in our facilities. I know Nebraska fans are eager to get back to cheering on their Huskers in person, and we look forward to welcoming them back.”