Sports
2026 Nebraska volleyball reseating concerns some longtime fans
Nebraska Athletics is increasing capacity inside the John Cook Arena for the 2026 Husker Volleyball season, but some fans say the reseating is a worrisome change.The arena, inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center, will go from 8,300 to 10,000 seats next year. It’s the first full reseating in the program’s history. Longtime ticket holders like Jim Bunch said their season-ticket spots will no longer be guaranteed under the reseating. “A lot of people in our section, that have now been dispersed, have been together for over well over 30 years,” Bunch said. “It’s really sad.”The Athletic Fund says the reseat will increase revenue for the program. Bunch said he worries that Nebraska Athletics is prioritizing profit over fans.”I understand the landscape of college athletics today, NIL, transfer portal, and now the revenue sharing. But you know, the feeling in Nebraska for me is we’re no longer fans, we’re consumers, and they’re trying to squeeze every nickel out of us that they can,” Bunch said. In a February interview with KETV Sports, UNL Athletic Director Troy Dannen said updates like this one are part of keeping up with the evolution of college athletics.”In this new era of college athletics, for moving into how we generate revenues, stadiums are the primary revenue generators that every institution that plays at this level have,” Dannen said.Bunch said the changes are already beginning, after the University announced the reseating would begin for the NCAA tournament. Bunch said many friends of his no longer could sit in their season-ticket spots.”If you’re a current season ticket holder, you will get a seat somewhere in the building. That has not been true,” Bunch said. The process is outlined on the Nebraska Athletic Fund website, where it lists that season ticket holders will get an assigned appointment time to select their seats, as well as the donation and priority seating costs. The contribution deadline is March 18, 2026, and ticket holders will be notified in April and May of their selection date and time.”We don’t know where we’re going to be for next season, and we’re hopeful that we’re going to be able to stay close to the action,” Bunch said.
Nebraska Athletics is increasing capacity inside the John Cook Arena for the 2026 Husker Volleyball season, but some fans say the reseating is a worrisome change.
The arena, inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center, will go from 8,300 to 10,000 seats next year. It’s the first full reseating in the program’s history. Longtime ticket holders like Jim Bunch said their season-ticket spots will no longer be guaranteed under the reseating.
“A lot of people in our section, that have now been dispersed, have been together for over well over 30 years,” Bunch said. “It’s really sad.”
The Athletic Fund says the reseat will increase revenue for the program. Bunch said he worries that Nebraska Athletics is prioritizing profit over fans.
“I understand the landscape of college athletics today, NIL, transfer portal, and now the revenue sharing. But you know, the feeling in Nebraska for me is we’re no longer fans, we’re consumers, and they’re trying to squeeze every nickel out of us that they can,” Bunch said.
In a February interview with KETV Sports, UNL Athletic Director Troy Dannen said updates like this one are part of keeping up with the evolution of college athletics.
“In this new era of college athletics, for moving into how we generate revenues, stadiums are the primary revenue generators that every institution that plays at this level have,” Dannen said.
Bunch said the changes are already beginning, after the University announced the reseating would begin for the NCAA tournament. Bunch said many friends of his no longer could sit in their season-ticket spots.
“If you’re a current season ticket holder, you will get a seat somewhere in the building. That has not been true,” Bunch said.
The process is outlined on the Nebraska Athletic Fund website, where it lists that season ticket holders will get an assigned appointment time to select their seats, as well as the donation and priority seating costs. The contribution deadline is March 18, 2026, and ticket holders will be notified in April and May of their selection date and time.
“We don’t know where we’re going to be for next season, and we’re hopeful that we’re going to be able to stay close to the action,” Bunch said.