Nebraska football celebrates its 400th sold-out Friday game

THANKS. WELL, NEBRASKA FOOTBALL IS GETTING READY FOR A BIG GAME AGAINST BIG TEN OPPONENT ILLINOIS. AND AS ANDY JUST SAID, IT'S THE 400TH SOLD-OUT GAME AT MEMORIAL STADIUM, A TRADITION THAT HAS BEEN ON FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES. DAYVON TAYLOR OF KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN HAS MORE ON THE SELL-OUT GAME HISTORY. THE FIRST SOLD-OUT GAME WAS IN 1962 WHEN NEBRASKA PLAYED MISSOURI AT MEMORIAL STADIUM. SINCE THEN, MEMORIAL STADIUM HAS BEEN EXPANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND ITS SEATING CAPACITY HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 50,000. NEBRASKA HAS WON EVERY MILESTONE GAME, STARTING WITH PENN STATE IN 1979 AND ENDING WITH LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE IN 2009. THE TEAM'S 300TH CONSECUTIVE SOLD-OUT GAME. NEBRASKA BEAT ILLINOIS LAST SEASON IN CHAMPAIGN, BUT THE HUSKERS HAVE NOT BEAT ILLINOIS IN LINCOLN SINCE 2018, WHEN THEY WON 54 TO 35. HEAD COACH MATT RHULE SAYS FAN LOYALTY IS A BURDEN ON HIM, AND HE SAYS IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE HE AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING THEIR BEST. WE WORK HARD, WE WORK HARD ON RECRUITMENT, WE WORK HARD ON FOOTBALL, WE WORK HARD ON RELATIONSHIPS. WE WORK HARD TO BE PART OF THE CAMPUS AND THE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT. RIGHT? WE WORK HARD TO BE PART OF THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK IF YOU TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK HARD, YOU HAVE A CHANCE. AND SO ARE OUR FANS. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN NEBRASKA WORK HARD. AND SO WE JUST TRIED TO COME HERE AND MATCH OUR WORK ETHIC TO THE WORK ETHIC OF THE STATE. QUARTERBACK DYLAN RAIOLA IS LOOKING FORWARD TO TONIGHT'S GAME AND REMINDS HIS VERY FIRST GAME IN NEBRASKA. IT NEVER GETS OLD GOING TO THIS STADIUM AND IT'S SOLD OUT AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO NEED HIM FOR THIS GAME. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW UP. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST GAME? I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY PLAYED AGAINST BUT I WAS A LITTLE BABY AND ALL I REMEMBER IS ROLLING AROUND IN THE END ZONE AFTER THE GAME, THAT'S ALL I REALLY REMEMBER. NEBRASKA AND ILLINOIS WILL TAKE THE FIELD TONIGHT STARTING AT 7 PM. THE GAME CAN BE WATCHED ON THE FOX NETWORK, BUT BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE KETV MOBILE APP AND TUNE IN FOR THE LATER BROADCAST WHERE YOU WILL FIND HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S GAMES. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAME OR NEED INFORMATION ON STADIUM POLICIES, YOUR NEWS LEADER IS HERE FOR YOU. YOU CAN NOW VISIT OUR WEBSITE KETV.COM AND FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR HOMEPAGE. LIVE

Nebraska prepares for 400th sold-out game Friday night against Illinois

Updated: 4:16 p.m. CDT September 20, 2024

Nebraska's football team is preparing for its 400th consecutive sell-out game at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers have sold out every game at Memorial Stadium for more than 60 years, starting with a game against Missouri on Nov. 3, 1962. Since the sell-out streak began, the stadium has undergone several expansions, increasing capacity by over 50,000 seats. In 1962, there were 31,080 seats, and the current capacity is 82,841. 'It's going to be packed': Tom Shatel says Nebraska's 400th consecutive sell-out game is a sign of Husker fan loyalty. Read more. Nebraska has won every major sell-out game, most recently in 2009 when the Huskers defeated Louisiana-Lafayette. Head coach Matt Rhule said the loyalty of Husker fans is unmatched. “It's not just the sold-out games. It's about them coming so early and staying so long,” Rhule said. “It's incredible. That loyalty, that passion, as I've been saying since Day 1, it's humbling.” Nebraska hasn't won its Big Ten opener since 2019, a 42-38 victory over Illinois in Champaign. Kickoff is Friday night at 7 p.m. on FOX. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

LINCOLN, Nebraska —

The Nebraska football team is preparing for its 400th consecutive sold-out game at Memorial Stadium.

For over sixty years, every Huskers game at Memorial Stadium has been sold out, starting with a game against Missouri on November 3, 1962.

Since the start of the sold-out season, the stadium has been expanded several times. The capacity has increased by over 50,000 seats. In 1962 there were 31,080 seats, the current capacity is 82,841.

“It will be full”: Tom Shatel says Nebraska's 400th consecutive sell-out game is a sign of Husker fans' loyalty. Read more.

Nebraska has been victorious in every sell-out game that reached a milestone, most recently in 2009 when the Huskers defeated Louisiana-Lafayette.

Head coach Matt Rhule said the loyalty of Husker fans is unmatched.

“It's not just the sold-out shows. It's also the fact that we come so early and stay so late,” Rhule said. “It's incredible. That loyalty, that passion, as I've said since day one, is humbling.”

Nebraska hasn't won its Big Ten opener since 2019, a 42-38 win over Illinois in Champaign.

Kick-off is on Friday evening at 7 p.m. on FOX.

Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7