It may have featured a now former football player at its announcement, and the whole thing was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but shovels hit dirt Friday afternoon at the groundbreaking of Nebraska Athletics’ Go B1G Project.
“Everyday is a good day to be at Nebraska,” UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Today is a particularly good day.”
The $155 million, 350,000-square-foot North Expansion Project includes enhancements for not only the football team but all student-athletes. More than $80 has already been raised by donors for Phase One of the project, which is primarily the football side.
“I’ve traveled all over the world,” NU System President Ted Carter said. “I’ve seen huge projects, billion dollar projects, federal projects, state projects, philanthropic projects—I’ve never seen anything where a group of people would come together for a single purpose like this.
“When you go to go to do something that is this great, there’s going to be an outcome. This is going to draw the best athletes.”
Football will benefit from a new performance center, including an athletic medicine area, strength complex, equipment room, locker room, football offices, meeting spaces, and important room for future expansion.
“What we have right now is nice,” football coach Scott Frost said. “I think when this is done what we’re gonna have is the best.”
Other student-athletes will be able to take advantage of a new academic center, training table, and student-athlete lobby.
“As former Nebraska student-athletes, coach Frost and myself were both beneficiaries of this university’s commitment to innovation,” women’s basketball coach Amy Williams said. “Today as the head coach and leader of our women’s basketball program I feel the same pride as the university’s commitment to innovation continues.
“This facility will have an immediate impact on the recruiting efforts for all of our sports programs and the university as a whole.”
The area primarily being redeveloped is the area north of Memorial Stadium and the current track and field complex. The track team is having a new track built near the Devaney Center to put all team needs in one location.
The project was delayed last year due to the pandemic shutting down or hampering most businesses across the world, and disrupting business at the University. Athletic Director Bill Moos says that extra time has been put to good use.
“The extra year has enable the design team to really fine tune this project that, believe me, will be the finest in the country,” Moos said. “It has details to it that will ensure our student-athletes are trained and fueled and educated better than anywhere in the country.
“And that’s how we like to do it at Nebraska.”
Phase One is expected to be completed by the summer of 2023. Chancellor Green says he expects the remaining funds to be raised by the end of this calendar year, meaning that Phase Two, the support parts of the unit, can be built simultaneously.
More project images are below.
Courtesy Nebraska Athletic Communications
Courtesy Nebraska Athletic Communications
Courtesy Nebraska Athletic Communications
Courtesy Nebraska Athletic Communications