Nebraska regents to consider alcohol sales at Haymarket Park, naming football facility after Osborne

LINCOLN — A major Nebraska football facility would be named after a Husker legend and for-sale alcohol would flow during university events at Haymarket Park under proposals headed to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

When the fegents gather next Friday, they will consider naming the Go Big facility the “Osborne Legacy Complex” — in honor of Tom Osborne’s “immense impact on Husker Football, Nebraska Athletics and the University of Nebraska writ large.”

That’s the recommendation of Interim NU President Chris Kabourek and new Husker Athletic Director Troy Dannen.

Nebraska athletics is to operate football, life skills, training table and performance areas within the $165 million, 315,000-square-foot Go Big facility. Those program areas were significantly advanced by Osborne during his service as head football coach and as athletic director, according to information prepared for the Regents. 

Osborne led the Huskers from 1973 to 1997; and his teams earned 13 conference titles and three national championships.

Also during their Lincoln meeting, Regents will look at authorizing sale of alcohol at Husker baseball and softball games in Haymarket Park, which NU jointly owns with NEBCO. Kabourek and Dannen said a newly reached revenue sharing agreement would reinvest sales back into the stadium. 

Haymarket Park is over 20 years old, a release states, and in need of capital improvements.

“This is about improving the fan experience,” Kabourek said. “We do not make recommendations related to alcohol lightly, but our teams have shown that we can responsibly provide this amenity that our fans have been asking for and that almost all of our peers offer.”

Haymarket Park is home to the Lincoln Saltdogs, too, with a total capacity of around 8,500. Alcohol sales are already permitted during Saltdogs games.

NU has previously authorized alcohol sales — with “no significant alcohol-related fan incidents” — at other Husker events, including basketball games at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Volleyball Day in Nebraska at Memorial Stadium and the Big Ten wrestling championships.

Dannen said the move is a “win for our fans, Husker Athletics and the University of Nebraska.”

“Not only does this added fan amenity bring Nebraska in line with national trends, but it gives us an opportunity to make much-needed investments that will make our facilities more competitive,” he continued.

Should the regents vote to approve the proposal, alcohol sales would be permitted at Husker events at Haymarket Park effective immediately.

Regents will not consider the candidacy of Dr. Jeffrey Gold for NU president next week as his 30-day public review period ends next Friday. Public campus forums began in Kearney this week and will continue in Lincoln and Omaha on Monday and Tuesday.

Gold is NU’s chief academic officer and chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center.