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Troy Dannen: Arrowhead Stadium Game is a 'Win-Win-Win-Win' for Nebraska Football

The Huskers' athletic director says the opportunity to play in Kansas City "came out of nowhere."

Austin Jacobsen

Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen watches warmups before the Nov. 4th Husker men's basketball game against UT Rio Grande Valley.
Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen watches warmups before the Nov. 4th Husker men's basketball game against UT Rio Grande Valley. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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Troy Dannen was surprised the opportunity even arose for Nebraska to play at Arrowhead Stadium. Regardless, the Nebraska athletic director says it is an all-around victory for the program and its fans.

"All of a sudden, Arrowhead came and said, 'We're interested in this game.' For us, Arrowhead is Memorial Stadium South," Dannen said Wednesday during his monthly appearance on the Huskers Radio Network's "Sports Nightly" program. "It's fairly lucrative for us."

It was announced last week that Nebraska football would play at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 28 for its season opener against Cincinnati, a game previously slated for Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) takes the field prior to a game
Dec 8, 2024; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones takes the field prior to a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. / Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The nonconference matchup is officially a Cincinnati home game, but Nebraska will still receive plenty of perks outside of having a rabid fan base within a few hours' driving distance.

"You don't normally play a home-and-home and get money, but 25 percent of the gross gate comes to Nebraska. It could be a million-dollar day for us on top of a game, that with seven home games, can be an eighth for our fans," Dannen said.

Dannen said the benefits go beyond finances and proximity.

"We're trying to recruit the Kansas City metropolitan area fairly heavily," he said. "So having that presence there, it's a win-win-win-win all the way around for us."

Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen speaks at the annual "A Night At The Lied" event April 28, 2024.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen speaks at the annual "A Night At The Lied" event April 28, 2024. / Nebraska Athletics

Dannen also discussed Nebraska's upcoming bowl game, the Huskers' first since 2016. Reaching bowl eligibility "hopefully feels anticlimactic at some point," Dannen said, referencing the field-storming at Memorial Stadium that followed the 44-25 victory over Wisconsin that gave the Huskers their needed sixth win.

The Husker AD added that Nebraska might have been headed for a warmer December locale if a few games in the final week of the regular season had flipped, including Nebraska's 13-10 loss at Iowa and Michigan's 13-10 victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State. Dannen said the Huskers "had a chance to be in Nashville" in the Music City Bowl had the Wolverines not upset the Buckeyes.

Dannen said the Huskers are still excited for the trip to the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City to face Boston College. Bowl preparation, he said, can become a springboard into the 2025 season.

"In a lot of ways, this is Game One of 2025 ... more so today than it's ever been," Dannen said. "Because of the stuff in December with all the movement and everything else - try to start looking like you're going to look next year. Probably more important than ever that you play in these games."

Dannen opened his show by talking about the Nebraska volleyball program, stating that he is proud and that fans should "never quit celebrating" Final Four appearances or start taking them for granted. He also expressed amazement at the "crazy loud" atmosphere during Sunday's NCAA Tournament regional final against Wisconsin at Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Dannen said the telecast of the Nebraska-Wisconsin match "compared to putting Notre Dame football on ABC" for the 2 p.m. start time Sunday. While he did not confirm the 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase would take place in Lincoln as has been reported, he did say there would be a Husker volleyball match at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2025.

Dannen touched on other topics Wednesday night, including men's and women's basketball and NIL initiatives happening at Nebraska. Watch the full show below.

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Austin Jacobsen
AUSTIN JACOBSEN

Austin Jacobsen is a radio broadcaster and former Sports Director in Central Nebraska. He has seen the Cornhusker state from all corners; growing up in the Panhandle, completing his college degree in Kearney, working in the rural Sandhills, and now residing in Omaha. Austin is a statewide, regional, and national radio award winner and can usually be found at a high school football field on Friday nights and tuning in to the Huskers wherever they travel. If he is not on the road, Austin enjoys movie dates with his girlfriend and their dog, Ava.

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