Nebraska Basketball's Opening Night Moving Outdoors to The Railyard

Both Nebraska men's and women's basketball teams will introduce themselves to Husker fans at Opening Night, this time set as an outdoor event in The Railyard.

Kaleb Henry | Sep 11, 2024

Nebraska fans pack The Railyard to watch a Husker volleyball match before the football game begins. / Nebraska Athletics, @Huskers on X

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Nebraska basketball fans are going to get an even closer look at this year's men's and women's teams at the next Opening Night.

The event is slated for Oct. 4. Instead of being held inside Pinnacle Bank Arena, the street next to the Railyard (Canopy Street between Q and R Streets) will be closed. This will be free to public, with a start time slated for 7 p.m. CDT.

Opening Night will feature introductions of both Husker teams, remarks from coaches Fred Hoiberg and Amy Williams and selected players, contests with players and fans and much more. In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled.

“Opening Night is an event our players look forward to because it’s a chance to show their personality and have some fun with our fans,” Hoiberg said. “Moving it to the Railyard should create a fun environment and allow for more fan interaction with both our basketball programs and kick off what should be a fun Homecoming weekend on campus.”

Nebraska Cornhuskers fans celebrate after the first score of the game by forward Rienk Mast (51) against the Rutgers Scarlet

Mar 3, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers fans celebrate after the first score of the game by forward Rienk Mast (51) against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

“We are so excited for the upcoming season, and we can’t wait to see all the Husker fans in the Haymarket,” Williams said. “It should be a great atmosphere as part of the University’s Homecoming weekend and a fun event for everyone.”

Both Husker teams come off NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023-24 and have many of their key returnees back this season.

The Husker men return seven letterwinners, including three starters, from a team that went 23-11 and reached the NCAA Tournament for Big Ten Coach of the Year Fred Hoiberg. NU is led by the senior duo of Brice Williams (13.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg) and Juwan Gary (11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) while adding the services of seven Division I transfers to the lineup.

The Husker women are coming off a 23-12 season which included a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Coach Amy Williams. The Husker women are led by All-Big Ten center

Alexis Markowski (15.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg) and reigning Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year Natalie Potts (10.2 ppg, 5.5rpg) The Huskers also welcome a strong class of newcomers led by two-time Nebraska High School Player-of-the-Year Britt Prince.

Both teams open their seasons Nov. 4: women vs. Omaha; men vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley.

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Published Sep 11, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.