Nebraska vs. Oregon, the biggest game of the Husker football season so far*, is set to kick off at 2:36 p.m. Sept. 17. Butch Hug, associate athletic director for facilities and management, Janell Hall, director of concession operations, and Rox Rasmussen, director of concession events, share some statistics about staging an event for more than 90,000 football fans.
Memorial Stadium capacity: 89,959
People who tailgate outside the stadium without actually attending the game: At least 10,000
Fans in Lincoln for Saturday’s volleyball, soccer and cross-country events: more than 30,000
Pages in game day logistics plan: 35
Police, fire, emergency management and other public agencies involved: 50
ROTC cadets to inspect bags: 80 to 100
Concession sellers: 1,250
Roaming hawkers to sell snacks: up to 400
Athletic Department parking lot attendants (donor lots only): 77
Maintenance, grounds and custodial workers: 89
Suite hosts: 100
HuskerVision, sound and wi-fi technicians: 59
Game officials: 18
News media: 375
Total credentials issued for game-day workers: At least 3,200
Buses to transport Oregon delegation (about 250 people) from hotel to stadium: 5
Ambulances stationed outside stadium: 3 plus 1 reserved for athletes
Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department bike medics (who handle emergencies within four blocks of the stadium): 2 teams of 2
Red Cross workers (who handle medical emergencies in the immediate vicinity of the stadium): 55
Plainclothes police officers to monitor crowds: Confidential
“Secret Shoppers” to monitor customer service: Confidential
Operations incidents (spills, clogged toilets, smoking violations, cell phones dropped from stands, etc.): 28 reported during last game
Police incidents (fights, alcohol violations, other disturbances): 29 reported during last game
Medical incidents (bandages to heart attacks): about 50, more if it’s hot
*For the record, Hug says every game is the most important game of the season so far.
