A college volleyball game on Wednesday has set a world record – for the largest attendance for a women’s sporting event in history — after more than 92,000 fans packed the Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The event took place at the college football stadium when thousands of fans showed up to watch the five-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champions University of Nebraska Huskers battle the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, People magazine reported. And the Huskers ended up claiming victory for the night, winning the matches 25-14, 25-14 and 25-13, CBS noted.
The record was announced in between the matches and fans went wild, the outlet noted. A typical NCAA volleyball match usually takes place in 10,000 to 20,000 seating arenas.
Nebraska just set the world record for largest attendance at a women’s sporting event.
92,003 fans filled Memorial Stadium for the Huskers' volleyball match against Omaha pic.twitter.com/GCEdWc0DFE
— TIME (@TIME) August 31, 2023
“Husker Nation, you’ve done it,” a message on the Husker’s X account later. “The WORLD RECORD for a Women’s Sporting Event lives in Lincoln.”
“Today’s attendance: 92,003. There is NO PLACE like Nebraska,” the post added.
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
“It’s incredible. I don’t have enough words to describe it,” Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson said, according to ESPN.
“We were walking out of the tunnel after the second set, and we heard on the speaker we had just broken the world record,” she added. “Everyone was trying to stay locked in, but we were also so excited. I can’t describe how grateful I am to be a part of it.”
Nebraska sophomore middle blocker Bekka Allick said during a press conference before the match that it was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It honestly leaves me speechless … It’s hard to grasp 94,000 people,” CBS reported.
The Huskers fans surpassed the previous world record of 91,648 set on April 22, 2022, in Spain at a Champions League soccer match between FC Barcelona and Wolfsburg, the outlet noted.
The previous record set for a women’s sporting event in the United States was set on July 10, 1999, with 90,185 fans at the Women’s World Cup soccer final between Team USA and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
“I remember that like it was yesterday,” Nebraska coach John Cook said of that World Cup match, ESPN noted. “It was so impactful seeing those women compete and their celebration afterward. It made a mark on women’s sports in this country. They showed what could be done.”