University of Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen, having recently completed his first year at the school, is shaking up how fans experience football and volleyball in Lincoln, and the reactions are mixed.
In a move that puts Nebraska in line with most stadiums, Husker football fans will no longer be allowed re-entry to Memorial Stadium should they leave during a game.
ABC affiliate KETV in Omaha reported that Dannen's decision was driving by a safety review by the Department of Homeland Security.
“They’ve made a lot of recommendations that will be implemented in our gameday process, and that's probably going to be most obvious to fans,” Dannen said of the new re-entry rule, which he categorized as "best practice" during an interview on the Huskers Radio Network.
According to KETV, one fan said going in and out of the stadium is a part of the Husker scene.
“It really is part of the culture of the football game,” Luke Lanphier said. “That just takes down some of the freedom. Part of being a Husker is being free, enjoying the freedom with the game. The reentry is kind of boring.”
Lanphier said some of his best memories at the stadium are those that don't involve sitting in the bleachers.
“When I was a kid, it was fun to be able to leave the stadium and come back,” Lanphier said. “Or when I was over 21, drinking a beer with somebody who's tailgating is one of the funnest parts of the game.”
Another fan understands the frustration of others, but supports Dannen.
“When Dannen took over, it's been through a lot of changes, and I like that,” Husker fan Debra Vollmer said. “I think this is something good for Nebraska and the Nebraska fans.”
A Nebraska Athletics spokesperson said the new rule important to “reduce vulnerability to security and safety risks,” as well as protecting the "integrity" of alcohol vendors in Memorial Stadium.
To Lampheir, that equates to a buzzkill for fans. “They’re not going to be able to catch a buzz because they're going to have to spend 40 bucks,” he said. “It's not going to be nearly as fun.”
Meanwhile, Lincoln's ABC affiliate, KLKN, reported a new seating chart is coming to the Bob Devaney Center for Nebraska volleyball. The university recently announced plans to reseat season ticket holders ahead of the 2026 season after the addition of more than 1,000 seats.
Some season ticket holders are seeing an increase in the price of their seats.
“I’m a little jaded by it,” said Bruce Gottsleben, a 12-year ticket holder. “We’re so happy to have our tickets. Just this year, our mandatory donation was doubled, so we’re like, ‘Well geez, what’s that for?' ”
Season ticket holders will select new seats in July 2026, KLKN reported.
“So potentially you have somebody that’s had their tickets like me for 10 to 12 years that could be completely out of their tickets because someone else with more money comes in and buys the seats,” Gottsleben said.
Dannen said this may feel like a big change, but it should be happening regularly.
“I think you’re going to see it in football as well and at some point in time, you will see it at PBA [Pinnacle Bank Arena, home to Husker basketball],” he said. “So it’s something that happens fairly regularly, if we do it in the right way. It just so happens that we haven’t been doing it that way, so it’ll be backed up a little bit.”
