Plan would let Husker fans to be buried in Memorial Stadium

For Husker fans whose love of all things Big Red is eternal, the University of Nebraska may one day have a deal for you: How about a final resting place inside Memorial Stadium?

Now, to be clear and unequivocal, NU is not in any way considering making the Boneyard — as the student section has been dubbed — a more literal place inside the iconic college football venue.

But, Omaha Regent Barb Weitz listed allowing the Husker faithful to make their permanent address inside Memorial Stadium as one potential revenue driver during discussion of the NU system’s budget on Thursday.

“I, as a regent, am committed to finding new sources of revenue,” she said. “I already told everybody about my idea of a columbarium under Memorial (Stadium).”

While the quip was met with laughs from regents and others in the boardroom that have heard Weitz’s pitch, the former faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Omaha quickly moved on without elaborating further.

Asked after the meeting, Weitz said she originally pitched the idea to former NU President Ted Carter ahead of the upcoming $450 million renovation of the stadium.

While new seats and concession stands are completed, and sometime before the turf field is converted back into grass, Weitz said it was the perfect time to leverage the emotional connection fans have to Memorial Stadium.

NU could sell spots within a proposed columbarium — a room or building with spaces, or niches, for funeral urns — at varying prices depending on the location, under Weitz’s idea.

A spot near the 50-yard line or under the end zone would fetch a higher price than other areas of the stadium, for example, while a niche with a forever view of the Tunnel Walk could also go for a premium.

Each niche could be adorned with photos of the departed in their favorite Husker gear or during a memorable game in the stadium, she added, giving a visit on Saturdays in the fall added meaning for family and friends.

It’s unlikely, or near impossible, the university moves forward on the idea from Weitz, which came among a slew of other ideas like corporate partnerships and engaging nonprofits to help NU’s fiscal future.

On Thursday, regents approved a $1.1 billion budget for 2024-25 that includes a combination of cuts and tuition increases — the traditional levers used by the board to set a balanced budget.

The idea of making Memorial Stadium the final resting place for the Husker faithful was received with mixed to mostly negative reviews on X, the social medial website formerly known as Twitter.

“If this was implemented before selling alcohol I think I’d have a stroke,” one user wrote.

“There is no (resting) place like Nebraska,” another said.