Chase Rice is set to headline the first major concert at Lincoln's Bob Devaney Sports Center in more than two decades, with the country star taking the stage at John Cook Arena on Jan. 9, 2027, at 7 p.m. The show will also feature rising country artist Josh Ross, with Kylie Morgan opening.
Tickets Go On Sale Next Week
According to huskers.com, tickets go on sale Tuesday, with a Huskers Athletic Fund presale starting at 9 a.m. and public sales opening at 2 p.m. Prices will range from $45 to $105, including taxes and fees. As KETV reports, the Jan. 9 date marks the first major concert at the Devaney Center in more than two decades.
The concert is part of Devaney Nights: A Welcome Back, an event designed to celebrate the start of the spring semester by welcoming students back to campus. Chase Rice is described in the huskers.com announcement as a 10-time platinum-certified artist who has surpassed 3 billion career streams.
A Venue Getting a Major Makeover
The return of big-name acts comes amid an expansion and full reseating project at the arena. Nebraska Athletics announced an expansion and full reseating project for John Cook Arena, according to KETV, with the work bringing the venue's capacity to more than 10,000. The reseat was scheduled to take place from June 8 through July 17, 2026, per the same report.
The Chase Rice booking marks the return of major concerts to the Devaney Sports Center after more than 20 years. The Journal Star notes that the venue hosted its final major event in its previous configuration before the renovation work began, closing out a long chapter in the arena's history.
Decades of Devaney Center Memories
The Devaney Center has hosted plenty of big names over the years. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played there in 1984, and Garth Brooks performed five consecutive nights at the venue in 1997, according to the Journal Star. The Dixie Chicks also performed at the arena in 2000, per the same outlet, which has chronicled the venue's concert legacy over the decades.
Nebraska fans looking to catch Chase Rice, Josh Ross and Kylie Morgan on Jan. 9 will want to mark their calendars for the Tuesday ticket sale, with presale access reserved for Huskers Athletic Fund members before the show goes on general sale later that afternoon.
