The Huskers announced back in September their plans to move forward with a 350,000 square-foot renovation project that will include major renovations to current pieces of Memorial Stadium and a new standalone, state-of-the-art football facility in place of the current Ed Weir Track. Like so many other things, the timeline has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved revisions to the North Stadium expansion project timeline. The new scope is a bit narrower and broken into phases. Phase one will cost $135 million and phase two will be $20 million. Athletic director Bill Moos released a statement following the board’s vote.
“I am pleased the Board of Regents approved the proposal for changes to the Go BIG project and the associated timelines,” Moos said. “We look forward to getting started on this project in the spring and building the finest facility of its kind in the country. The priority of building a facility that will benefit all Husker student-athletes has not changed. Completing the project in phases best positions us to move forward in light of the challenges presented by the pandemic.
“The first phase of the project will focus on a new state-of-the-art home for our football program that will provide updated and expanded areas critical for daily operations for our coaches, student-athletes and staff. That includes the locker room, meeting rooms, coaches offices, strength and conditioning area and athletic medicine facilities. The completion of the football facility will also be a difference-maker in attracting prospective student-athletes to our program.
“The first phase of the project will also include the building of the infrastructure that will position us to move forward soon with a new academic center and training table that will benefit all student-athletes.”
NU Board of Regents approve to move forward with the Go Big Football Facility project that will be utilized by all @Huskers student-athletes. Thank you to our campus leadership & loyal donors for making this day a reality. It's a great day to be a Husker! #GBR #GameChanger
— Garrett Klassy (@KlassyGBR) December 4, 2020
Moos gave an update to the expected timeline for the project’s completion a couple of weeks ago on his monthly radio appearance.
“We still are hoping to have our design work done here shortly,” Moos said. “By shortly, I mean by the end of this month and be ready to put a shovel in the ground, hopefully, late spring and early summer. So basically, that would delay the project by exactly 12 months. And with the revised schedule we should be able to occupy the building in July, probably June or July of 2023.”
Here is a quick look at the #Huskers’ new facility. #GBR pic.twitter.com/zxgUdUhHm1
— Hail Varsity (@HailVarsity) September 27, 2019
