The spectacle was the point.
It wasn’t just that the University of Nebraska canceled classes or sold volleyball merchandise to fans who would otherwise dress in football jerseys to enter those hallowed gates of Memorial Stadium. It didn’t matter only because the crowd was attempting to break a world record. The sea of red was overwhelming and, frankly, more than a bit cathartic.
What 92,003 people did on a Wednesday night in Nebraska won’t soon be forgotten. They showed us that athletic greatness deserves a stage like this — no matter the gender of the participants. They created a phenomenon, a must-see event that we could all marvel at. And marvel we did.
GO DEEPER
Nebraska volleyball breaks women’s sports attendance record
The viral aerial photos were stunning, and the videos of the volleyball team coming out of the tunnel to thunderous applause made me cry. The noise was more than cheering, it was the sound of support. That is what it sounds like when a team is beloved, cherished and supported. You could hear why it’s so hard to get season tickets to see this program; no one ever gives ‘em up.
Our sports culture continues to lean into women’s sports, finding out that there’s a big audience and opportunity for growth. The reason we’ve seen so many TV networks…
