Nebraska Athletes

[Coyote]

New Nebraska facility to offer breathing room for Husker power and nutrition

The 12-month countdown is on for the debut of Nebraska’s new $160 million North Stadium facility. And two of the school’s top performance specialists couldn’t be more ready. Anticipation — like the structure — continues to build every day, football strength coach Zach Duval and director of performance nutrition Dave Ellis said this week during a podcast appearance on the Huskers Radio Network. Both are among NU personnel who will not only benefit from the opulent setup but have been key figures in imaging its design. “It’s kind of my last great magnum opus,” Duval said with a laugh.

“It will take a year to settle in there,” Ellis said, “but it will have an immediate impact on performance and recruiting you can be sure.” The project — set to complete in the summer of 2023 — will roughly double the size of Nebraska’s weight room, which currently resides in North Stadium at about 17,000 square feet. That means more space for a relatively large roster of more than 150 scholarship players and walk-ons. The area will allow multiple performance heads to be under the same roof including those from sports psychology, sports medicine and the Nebraska Athletic Performance Lab. Ellis’s and Duval’s offices will be right next to each other.



University of Nebraska President Ted Carter (left), Chancellor Ronnie Green and football coach Scott Frost shovel dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for NU's facilities project April 30, 2021, near Memorial Stadium. The $160 million facility is set to open in 2023.

[Coyote]

Nebraska Track and Field Head Coach Gary Pepin Announces Retirement

Nebraska Head Track and Field Coach Gary Pepin, the leader of the Husker program for 42 years, announced his retirement on Thursday, bringing to a close one of the most successful coaching careers in collegiate track and field history. In his 42 years as the head coach of the Husker Track and Field program, Pepin's list of career accomplishments includes three NCAA Championship teams, 73 conference team titles, 59 individual NCAA Champions, 639 All-Americans, 597 individual conference champions and 68 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. A USTFCCCA Hall of Fame member, Pepin was named Big 12 and Big Ten Coach of the Year a combined 28 times, and he was the USTFCCCA Region Coach of the Year 11 times.

[Coyote]

Five facts about Gary Pepin



Omaha World-Herald

Here are five facts about Gary Pepin.

[Coyote]

Nebraska Athletics Seeking Beer Sales, New Multimedia Rights Deal Approval
The MMR deal is valued at over $300 million

Nebraska Athletics may have more money coming in if a couple items are approved at the next Nebraska Board of Regents meeting. Nebraska will seek approval for alcohol sales at Pinnacle Bank Arena and a new multimedia rights agreement with Playfly Sports Properties LLC. Playfly has offices across the country, including Chicago. The regents are set to meet Friday, Sept. 30. If approved, alcohol sales at PBA would begin with the start of Nebraska men's and women's basketball seasons. Alcohol was allowed at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships at PBA in the spring, where sales reached $350,000. The City of Lincoln, which owns PBA and operates concessions at the arena, would receive 90 percent of the net revenue. UNL would get 10 percent, minus the cost of goods sold at UNL events. There is no mention of sales at Memorial Stadium, Bob Devaney Sports Center or Haymarket Park. Those venues would likely be addressed in the future.

The MMR agreement with Playfly would be for 15 years, beginning with a nine-month transition Oct. 1, 2022. The deal is valued at over $300 million including $273.6 million of guaranteed revenue payments.
Other financial terms in the deal include:
- $ 7.5 million of signing bonuses
- $6.5 million in royalties (estimated)
- $6.0 million in capital investments
- $5.5 million digital suite (web/app)
- $2.25 million for NIL fund

[Coyote]

Nebraska athletics proposing bold moves including $300 million multimedia deal, beer at basketball

Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska athletics is set to sign a massive multimedia rights deal, start serving alcohol at PBA and begin the conversation of overhauling Memorial Stadium.

[Coyote]

Nebraska Board of Regents to consider alcohol sales at Husker basketball games
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is considering allowing alcohol sales at Nebraska basketball games.

KEARNEY, Neb. -- The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is considering allowing alcohol sales at Nebraska basketball games. At the board's upcoming Sept. 30 meeting, which will be held on the campus of UNK at a yet-to-be-specified location, an amendment to the University's operations agreement with Pinnacle Bank Arena will be considered, allowing for alcohol sales at Nebraska men's and women's basketball games beginning this season. In February, the Board of Regents updated the university's policy on alcohol sales at athletic events, allowing for the sale of alcohol at Pinnacle Bank Arena for the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament. The City of Lincoln will also be involved, as it owns Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The proposal in front of the regents would send 90 percent of revenue from alcohol sales to the city, and 10 percent to the university. There are no current proposals that would open up alcohol sales at Haymarket Park or Memorial Stadium. The board will also be discussing potential renovations to Memorial Stadium, as well as Nebraska's recently proposed multimedia rights deal.

[Coyote]

Nebraska and Playfly Sports announce 15-year multimedia rights agreement
The University of Nebraska - Lincoln and Playfly Sports, a sports marketing company, announced Thursday a new 15-year multimedia rights agreement.

The University of Nebraska - Lincoln and Playfly Sports, a sports marketing company, announced Thursday a new 15-year multimedia rights agreement. The deal makes Playfly Nebraska’s exclusive MMR rights holder and sponsorship arm effective Oct. 1, 2022. “We are pleased for the opportunity to work with Playfly as our multi-media rights partner over the next 15 years. In our discussions, we quickly found they will be a true partner who shares the same level of commitment and passion for collegiate athletics as Nebraska,” said Trev Alberts, vice chancellor and director of athletics at Nebraska. “They are a growing company who is innovative, creative, and ready to adapt to the evolving collegiate athletics environment. We are excited this agreement will continue to help Nebraska Athletics provide resources to support our student-athletes.”

It was reported, Nebraska’s partnership with Playfly will leverage the company’s multimedia rights expertise and tap into its expansive suite of marketing and media solutions to further grow the Huskers brand regionally, nationally and globally. The press release said together, Nebraska and Playfly will work to maximize traditional MMR assets, such as in-venue signage and broadcast feature elements, in addition to leveraging Playfly’s full capabilities set to enhance Nebraska’s digital footprint and fan experience.

“Nebraska is one of the premier athletic programs in the country, and we are honored that Trev Alberts, his staff, and the university have entrusted us with such an important element of their future growth and success," said Christy Hedgpeth, president at Playfly Sports Properties. “Playfly is incredibly energized to support the Huskers with innovative marketing and media solutions that seek to improve the experience of Nebraska’s student-athletes, fans, and alumni across the state and throughout the country.” The addition of Nebraska to Playfly’s growing portfolio marks its third Big Ten program within its growing college property portfolio, joining Michigan State University and the University of Maryland, in addition to the company’s partnership with the Big Ten Network. In total, Playfly now oversees more than 35 collegiate and high school state association properties with integrated capabilities that expand beyond traditional multimedia rights including naming rights and valuation consulting, esports program development, digital technology offerings, and unique sponsorship innovations such as the recently developed Campus Cast Live broadcasts. The new MMR agreement between Nebraska and Playfly Sports is pending approval from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. The item is on the agenda for the Board’s Sept. 30 meeting.

[Greg S]

The beer revenue will be very good for PBA. Absolutely love PBA and the area around it. They did such a great job with the Haymarket District.

Greg

[Coyote]

NU President Ted Carter talks beer sales, stadium renovation and more

[Coyote]

Regents approve alcohol sales for Husker basketball, new multi-media agreement

KEARNEY, Neb. (KOLN) - The University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously approved allowing alcohol sales at Nebraska basketball games, the start of the process for potential renovations at Memorial Stadium, and the approval of a new $300 million multi-media rights agreement. At Friday’s board meeting in Kearney, regents voted on an amendment to the University’s operations agreement with Pinnacle Bank Arena, to allow for alcohol sales at Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball games beginning this season. One person who came forward during public comment period urged the Regents to turn down approving alcohol sales, citing experiences he had while at the Garth Brooks Concert at Memorial Stadium. There is no plan currently to allow alcohol sales at Memorial Stadium or Haymarket Park.

Back in February, the Board of Regents updated the University’s policy on alcohol sales at athletic events, allowing for the sale of alcohol at Pinnacle Bank Arena for the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament. The City of Lincoln will also be involved, as it owns Pinnacle Bank Arena. With this now approved proposal, 90 percent of revenue from alcohol sales will go to the city, and 10 percent to the University.

[Coyote]

Regents approve PBA alcohol sales, Memorial Stadium upgrades, multimedia rights deal