What lifting Pinnacle seating limit could mean for Husker fans
Husker basketball teams could see a lot more fans at home games under a bill introduced by Lincoln Sen. Jason Prokop that would remove the statutory 16,000-seat capacity limit at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
At a public hearing Friday, Prokop called the bill (LB1192) "pretty straightforward," saying it will allow the arena to admit more attendees for concerts and sporting events.
"I will admit to this committee, that I would have brought this bill even if Nebraska basketball wasn't having a phenomenal season going 20-2 currently and selling out every game and having tickets in high demand," Prokop joked.
Currently, Pinnacle Bank Arena has a standard seating capacity of approximately 15,500 for most events, however, the arena's design allows for potential expansion to approximately 18,500 seats if the seating cap were removed.
Tim Savona, general manager at Pinnacle Bank Arena, said the bill "comes from a place of opportunities" and will allow for discussion about potential arena expansions.
"Lifting the restriction on the cap would allow us to open that door a little bit to try to maximize opportunities in the present day and to potentially create influence," Savona said. "If nothing else, it would be nice to remove this restriction so that we don't have to be fearful for a potential breach from something that will ultimately stem from great success."
Matt Davidson, senior associate athletic director for the University of Nebraska, said by allowing full seating utilization, the arena could become an even more competitive venue for NCAA and Big Ten post-season competitions.
"Lifting seating capacity restrictions aligns with that shared mission that allows both organizations to plan more strategically, compete more effectively for national events and maximize the return on public and private investment in the facility," Davidson said.
Additionally, Davidson said removing the capacity limit could allow for an occasional Nebraska volleyball match to be played at the arena as ticket demand continually exceeds the capacity of traditional volleyball venues.
Nebraska volleyball consistently ranks among national leaders in attendance and fan engagement, having set a world record for any women's sporting event and the NCAA record for women's volleyball with 92,003 attendees at a match between Nebraska and Omaha in August 2023 at Memorial Stadium.
Davidson said this change would offer "a unique opportunity" to not only accommodate the demand but also allow Nebraska volleyball to compete in more marquee matches.
Jeff Maul, executive director of Visit Lincoln and vice president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, said removing the capacity limit would boost the local economy and make Lincoln a more exciting tourist destination.
"Arena expansions are critical to local economies by acting as catalysts for economic development," Maul said. "This will help Lincoln remain relevant for years as we capitalize on a very exciting time for not only youth sports but all the way through collegiate and professional events."
Contact the writer at akleiber@journalstar.com or 402-473-7223. On X @annakleiber03
