The world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event was broken this week in Nebraska, USA at a NCAA volleyball match, where over 92,000 fans watched the Nebraska volleyball team beat Omaha 3-0.
Husker Nation, you’ve done it.
The WORLD RECORD for a Women’s Sporting Event lives in Lincoln.
Today’s attendance: 9️⃣2️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣3️⃣
There is NO PLACE like Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/lQFguWHyp8
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) August 31, 2023
The University of Nebraska hosted a volleyball match against the University of Nebraska-Omaha at Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium, the regular home of the University of Nebraska football team. The attendance of 92,003 spectators set the record for the largest crowd ever to see a women’s sporting event in history.
The previous women’s sports attendance record was 91,648, set in Spain during a UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer semifinal in 2022 between Barcelona and Wolfsburg.
Initially, tickets for the doubleheader cost $25 for adults and $5 for high school students and younger. But the secondary market saw ticket costs as high as $400. More than 82,000 tickets were sold in three days, enough to seat more than 4% of Nebraska’s entire population.
The Huskers usually host games at their home facility, the Devaney Center. “We took a chance by playing in Memorial Stadium, and to go for the record and break it … I don’t think anybody could have envisioned that when this whole thing started,” Nebraska coach John Cook said, according to The Associated Press. Memorial Stadium can hold just over 85,000 football fans, however the volleyball match attendance exceeded capacity due to additional seats and standing room only areas on the field.
‼️ 92,003 ‼️
Nebraska’s volleyball team set a new world record for the highest attendance at a women’s sporting event. 🏐
It surpasses the previous official record set by Barcelona at Camp Nou during a 2022 #UWCL fixture against Wolfsburg. ⚽️pic.twitter.com/aujE3CBxF7
— Her Football Hub (@HerFootballHub) August 31, 2023
The Nebraska program, the university and the state, took the attendance competition seriously. Nebraska is known for its sellout streaks in football (389) and volleyball (306). With five national championships under its belt, the most recent in 2017, Nebraska volleyball has established a legacy that rivals that of the Cornhusker football team. They were ranked fourth in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association going into their match versus Omaha on Wednesday night.
The Huskers claim that the game broke two NCAA records on Wednesday night by breaking the previous marks for both an NCAA volleyball regular season match and any NCAA volleyball match.
The record marks a major milestone for women’s collegiate sports and women’s athletics in general. Nebraska athletic director and former Huskers football star Trev Alberts commented on Nebraska’s strategy around women’s athletics: “We’ve significantly invested in women’s athletics, and you’re seeing the result of that by seeing the success of the volleyball program and the fan base surrounding it.”
Women’s volleyball attendance and viewership are increasing, and the success of Wednesday’s event ought to motivate more colleges to re-imagine what is possible for women’s sports.