Lincoln, Neb. ? Nebraska revealed a $56 million Memorial Stadium expansion plan Friday that would boost capacity to about 90,000 people and keep it competitive with Big Ten crowds accustomed to massive facilities at Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan.
Athletic director Tom Osborne said the Big Ten considers Nebraska to be among the top teams in the revamped conference, which it joins next year. Memorial Stadium’s current capacity is 81,067, while stadiums at those other universities all seat more than 100,000.
“You don’t have to keep up with the Joneses all the time, but you at least have to be in the league,” Osborne said.
The proposed expansion, which will go before university regents next Friday, will add about 5,000 seats to the east end of the 87-year-old Memorial Stadium, including more than 30 luxury boxes with indoor and outdoor seating for 400 to 500. Between 2,000 and 2,200 seats would be in a new covered section.
Osborne said the modest expansion should help Nebraska accommodate more fans while also preserving its sellout streak, which is the longest in college football and dates to 1962.
