There has been no formal request, but speculation runs high that the University of Nebraska- Lincoln Athletic Department may ask for funds to help with the planned $450 million renovation of Memorial Stadium.
Earlier this year the Legislature directed $30 million in state funds to Creighton University in Omaha, including millions to help the private school build new baseball and softball stadiums to accommodate needs for the annual College World Series. School officials said the baseball stadium would be available as a practice field for teams coming to the event which has a nearly $90 million annual economic impact in Omaha.
Memorial Stadium was built a century ago with private donor dollars, and it’s been expanded since, with only donor funds and athletics proceeds.Thanks to the football program, the NU athletic department receives no annual tax dollar, tuition, or student fee support. It’s one of just a handful of college athletic programs nationally that can make that claim and one of four Big Ten schools along with Penn State, Ohio State and Purdue that operate without such funds.
