Lincoln bars stocking up ahead of ‘high-volume’ Husker gameday

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — With the Nebraska Men’s Basketball Team having a historical season so far, gameday spots around Lincoln are bracing for another busy night on Thursday.

To keep up with the sea of red that takes over the Haymarket, some bars and restaurants are stocking up early.

“I think it’s going to be a pretty electric environment for fans to come down and watch in the railyard,” said Brandon Akert, the Owner of Gate 25. “In the back of our heads, we’re expecting this to be like a high-volume country show at the arena.”

Gate 25 Bar & Restaurant is one of the prime viewing areas for fans to watch the game on the big screen.

Akert said the entire season is proving to be a boost for business.

“More people are coming down, they’re starting to feel way more like a sense of community,” he said. “I bet we’re seeing the same thing all across town, people are supporting local, going to their neighborhood bars just to be among the mix they wouldn’t normally have. Even our away game revenue is up, which is super great to see.”

In Oklahoma City, many fans said there were so many of them there that the local bars ran out of beer.

So, for the fans watching here in the capital city, Akert is determined not to let that happen.

“We’re pretty much going to be peak football Saturday caliber staffed,” he said. “We’re going to order beer, and then on Friday we’re going to order more beer for the Spring game and hopefully another basketball game for Saturday. We’ll be in touch with the people who give us beer. Oklahoma City was not ready; it was very apparent. There ended up being rules; they had a two-drink minimum for people.”