2004 Game Day Changes & Special Events

PREGAME ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION...

Husker Nation Pavilion...Back for its second year, the Husker Nation Pavilion will once again be the meeting place before home games. Open three hours before kickoff, the Pavilion features an exciting game-day atmosphere for families and friends. Everyone is welcome at the best pregame festival that is free of charge and open to those with or without tickets. The Pavilion, located outside the northeast corner of the stadium, features a different local band each week, autograph signings by Husker teams (women’s soccer on Sept. 4) and guest appearances by former players such as Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch for the season opener. The Husker Nation Tour flags signed by more than 15,000 fans during the June 25 tour this summer, will also be on display for the first game.  Fans can listen to the Pinnacle Sports Radio Broadcast, while they toss a football or watch the giant big screen TV that is set up in the southwest corner of the Pavilion. Spread out across the Ed Weir Track, kids of all ages will enjoy participating in games, inflatable bounce areas and numerous choices of tailgate foods. At every game this fall, First National Bank will be selling its collector gift cards featuring the Best Games Played in Memorial Stadium and there is also an auxiliary Huskers Authentic Team Store at the Pavilion. Fans can also pick up stickers provided by the athletic department, the Lincoln Journal Star and the Alumni Association that promote good sportsmanship and the theme “Great Fans, Great Sports” at the Pavilion while supplies last. Please note, because Saturday’s game is offered on pay-per-view, it is not permissible to show the live broadcast on the big screens at the Pavilion.

United We Stand Flag on Display...A beautiful 22 by 32-foot “United We Stand” flag, complete with the names of everyone who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be on display at the Husker Nation Pavilion on Saturday. The flag will make its way to many venues this season.

West Stadium Fan Zone...Because of construction this spring, the Husker Nation Pavilion was stationed on Stadium Drive just west of Memorial Stadium for the spring game. It was such a big hit with fans that a permanent new fan zone was created. Also free and open to the public, the West Stadium Fan Zone will feature food vendors, face painting, a Dixie Land Band, and games for kids on Stadium Drive beginning three hours before each home game this fall. Stadium Drive is closed to traffic on game day.

National Championship Banners...New banners saluting the Huskers' five national championship teams (1970, 1971, 1994, 1995 and 1997) are on display on the west side of the stadium. Before the scoreboard was removed in north stadium, the national championship teams were honored on the back side of the scoreboard that faced Avery Avenue.

West Stadium Tours...Come early on game day and check out the Heisman Room in the West Stadium, or the newest display, the Hall of Distinction, which is located just inside the West Stadium by the Hewit and Boekel Center. The Hall of Distinction will be officially unveiled on Thursday and features a beautiful display of the names of every Husker letterwinner who graduated since 1892. Both areas are open four hours before kickoff, but closed to the public two hours before kickoff.

Construction Pass Through for Husker Nation Pavilion...Construction work continues on the north end of Memorial Stadium, but thanks to great teamwork, very little of the construction will hamper fans' game-day experience. In order to provide access to the Husker Pavilion from the north, Sampson Construction has poured a cement walkway from Lot 8 to the northwest corner of the Ed Weir Track and the Husker Nation Pavilion. The 60-yard walkway will be fenced in on both sides for fans' safety, and will be complete with popcorn lights. Fans are asked to please observe safety signs and remember to take care as they pass through the construction zone. The pass-through will allow wheelchair access to the Husker Nation Pavilion. Access to the Pavilion is also available from the south at the top of the Ed Weir columns, and via the road from the north that passes by the Cook Pavilion.

The Walk...Where will you be two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff? Coach Bill Callahan and his staff hope that Husker fans will join the Husker Pep Band on the east side of the stadium for a new tradition, called “The Walk.” The Huskers will arrive from their team hotel via charter bus, and will walk from the East Stadium loop to Gate 24 and into the locker room.  Watch the countdown on the big screens in the Pavilion, then cheer on the Husker team’s arrival.  The Walk is slated to take place at 3:45 p.m. on Sept. 4.

N-Club...All former Husker letterwinners are invited to renew old acquaintances in the N-Club room, which is located just off the southeast corner of the field. Open 90 minutes before each home game, the N-Club room will provide soft drinks and a venue for great conversation. Members must show their N-Club Card and game ticket for admittance. The N-Club room, which is also used as Nebraska’s postgame interview room, will close at kickoff.  Media will be admitted to the N-Club room near the end of halftime after Nebraska has returned to the playing field.

Express Lanes Available...Even with increased security, Husker fans can enjoy easy access into Memorial Stadium this year by utilizing express lanes, available at every gate. In order to pass through quickly, fans may not carry in any items that would need to be checked by security. However, the following items (fanny packs, purses and camera bags) are permissible, but only by entrance through security check lines. Fans who utilize the express lanes should be carrying coats and tickets only.

Gate 14 Closed...Because of construction, Gate 14 (northeast corner) has closed. Patrons who previously entered through Gate 14 should now enter through Gates 15 or 16. This year, Gate 1 (southwest corner) will be used exclusively as a player guests, recruits, high school coaches and student-athlete pass gate for home and visiting teams.

INSIDE THE STADIUM...

The Tunnel Walk...Husker fans will again experience The Tunnel Walk, which has become a Nebraska Tradition. Nebraska will enter and exit the field from the southwest corner as usual, while the opposing team will enter and exit from the southeast corner of the stadium, in order to proceed to the temporary locker rooms in East Stadium. Fans in the southeast corner are encouraged to continue Nebraska’s long-standing tradition of giving the opposing team a standing ovation as they leave the field. In two years with the completion of the Tom and Nancy Osborne Field House, fans in the North Stadium will have the opportunity to greet and cheer the Huskers as they will enter and exit from the north.

Sound System in Place...The large scoreboard and speaker system in the North Stadium was removed with the demolition of the North Field House. A new temporary stadium sound system has been installed on towers above the East Stadium. The speakers will be in a temporary housing for this fall and will eventually be permanently located on the two towers of the East Stadium. The temporary system will rise approximately 15 feet above the stadium between Gates 18 and 19 and will be lowered after each game. At every game this season, fans will also be treated to music as provided by the Cornhusker Marching Band, which will celebrate its 125th anniversary this season. Western Illinois will also bring its marching band on Sept. 4.

Scorebugs To Make Debut...To make up for the temporary loss of the scoreboard in North Stadium, the HuskerVision screens will have continuous scorebugs this season. In addition, score tickers have been added to all the concourse monitors.

East Stadium Waterproofing and Repair is Complete...The athletic department did a thorough and comprehensive inspection of the entire stadium in 1993.  As a result, beginning with the West Stadium in 1994, NU has systematically completed a waterproofing and structural and seismic repair of the entire stadium. At a total cost of approximately $19 million ($5.7 for waterproofing and approximately $13 million for repairs and inspections), the eight-phase project is now nearly complete.  The last major section, the East balcony, was finished this summer at a cost of $1.4 million.  Nebraska will continue to have annual inspections of the stadium.

Concessions...At the request of the Husker Nation, changes to the concession areas this season include new items as well as more full-service concessions. The new items include a super nacho to be served in the upper level south concourse at two kiosk locations. Also new to the upper south concourse is a BBQ Beef sandwich that was only sold in the North concourse last season. New items available this year include a chocolate malt, Lemon-Lime Ice and a jumbo Snickers bar.  A basic change this year is a move to more general concession stands with most every stand in the North, South and West concourses offering a full concessions menu. Fans will be able to purchase a Fairbury hot dog, Valentino’s pizza, or Runza sandwich at any of these full-service stands. The East concourse concession stands will stay the same as in the past because of space constraints.

AFTER THE GAME...
Opponent Postgame Interview Room...The Huskers will utilize the same postgame interview room as they have in the past, which is the N-Club room located in the southeast corner of the Stadium. The visiting team’s postgame interview room will now be located on the far south end of East Stadium, approximately 20 yards away from Nebraska’s postgame interview room. Media are asked to please allow the visiting team to enter the garage door entrance to their temporary locker rooms in East Stadium, before entering the same doors and proceeding to the postgame interview room, which is just past the visitor’s locker room.