Badger fans and Madison police are bracing for gameday weekend when up to 40,000 Nebraska fans come to Madison Saturday to witness the Huskers' first Big Ten game.
According to Madison Police Department Lieutenant David McCaw, police are comparing Saturday to ""a first date"" with a crowd this large.
Although police have been told what to expect from the massive influx of Huskers, McCaw said, it is still the first time Madison police have handled such a crowd this large on gameday.
McCaw said part of the reason for the influx of fans is that part of Nebraska fan culture is to be ""happy in a pub experiencing the city their team is playing.""
Due to the throngs of football fans that will surround the Camp Randall area Saturday, Madison police plan to activate their Special Events Team. The team specializes in crowd management and control and works events such as Halloween and the Mifflin Street Block Party.
The team helped with protests at the Capitol this spring.
Night games historically cause more alcohol-related problems because no matter what time the games start, according to police, tailgating in Madison usually starts around 9 a.m.
McCaw said Dane County is also contributing resources.
With this contribution, there will be a total of 120 officers working the Camp Randall and State Street areas.
Regarding the Huskers' unique football culture, McCaw said Nebraska ""is there to participate and remember the game instead of focus on drinking,"" something he hopes will reduce problems for police.
""Drinking doesn't play the role [for Nebraska] the way it does in Wisconsin,"" McCaw said. ""They will drink but not to the point where it will alter their perception of the game.""
Camp Randall has 4,000 reserved seats for Husker fans.
McCaw said Nebraska is rumored to have asked several downtown bars, including State Street Brats, to rent out their venues solely to Huskers fans.
Nebraska boosters succeeded in renting out the Sett's second floor in the Union South, according to Wisconsin Union Communications Director Marc Kennedy.
""With all these Nebraska fans coming, it just makes me want to beat Nebraska so much more,"" freshman Hannah Hecht said. ""I think the UW students need to get out and show their pride, and we need to be that much more loud and rowdy at the game.""
""We encourage our fans to act responsibly,"" UW-Madison Police Department Sergeant Aaron Chapin said. ""Students should act like Badgers and treat visiting fans the way they would like to be treated if they were visiting.""
