Nebraska volleyball to play at Wrigley Field in Chicago

Husker volleyball is heading to the home of the Chicago Cubs.

The University of Nebraska athletic department announced on Monday that NU will play Missouri at Wrigley Field on Sunday, Sept. 6. This is the first time the stadium, which was built in 1914, will host a volleyball game. Behind Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest baseball diamond in the MLB.

The Nebraska-Missouri game is a part of the Big Ten-SEC challenge, which will also feature Penn State and Kentucky at Wrigley. Both contests will air on Fox.

The Husker volleyball program is known for creating or taking part in groundbreaking events for women’s college volleyball, which continues to grow in popularity. The biggest example includes Volleyball Day in Nebraska, which set a new world record for women’s sports attendance in 2023.

“Big Ten-SEC Volleyball Challenge Week culminating at Wrigley Field brings together the highest level of women’s volleyball competition, at one of the most iconic venues in the country,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said on Monday. “As women’s volleyball participation, sponsorship, attendance and viewership continue to grow, we look forward to providing this unique opportunity to showcase the exceptional competition.”

Tickets will hit the market for the general public on April 9.

Ahead of the big event, Nebraska will also visit DePaul University in Chicago for a match on Friday, Sept. 4, the athletic department said in a news release.

The two big college sports conferences and the Cubs have been in talks for a while, the Cubs said in the announcement.

“This is a historic moment for the Chicago Cubs, Big Ten and the SEC that has been months in the making,” said Crane Kenney, president of business operations for the Cubs. “We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible schools and student-athletes to the first-ever collegiate volleyball game at Wrigley Field.”