Iconic NFL arena undergoes dramatic change days before new season with historic $1m prize up for grabs

An historic night for women’s sports is coming to the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

AT&T Stadium is set to host the inaugural – and lucrative – Spikes Under the Lights event that will set a landmark for prize money in NCAA women’s sport.

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The made-for-TV volleyball exhibition will take place on August 27 with Nebraska, Florida, Penn State, and SMU competing for a $1 million purse.

It is both the first women’s collegiate event at the home of the Dallas Cowboys and the biggest prize ever awarded to female NCAA stars.

Just two days before the Cowboys final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T, a court will be set up at center field, with temporary stands surrounding it.

Nebraska plays Florida for the right to take on the winner of Penn State vs SMU in the final.

Each team is already guaranteed a $200,000 appearance fee with an additional $200,000 up for grabs at the event with the winner taking the lion’s share.

The schools will decide how to distribute money among the players via NIL.

Women’s volleyball is booming in popularity and the AT&T Stadium booking showcases a bright future for the sport.

“We are excited and honored to be part of this historic event that showcases the continued growth of women’s volleyball,” Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. “This will be a great opportunity to face some talented teams in an iconic setting as we ramp up to the start of the season.

“It should be an awesome night and hopefully a lot of Husker fans will be able to experience it with us in Dallas.”

SMU coach Sam Erger added: “Is there anything more exciting than big-time volleyball in a big-time venue?

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“Playing at the Dallas Cowboys home field, AT&T Stadium, and representing SMU and the city of Dallas is an honor. This is the kind of opportunity we want our players to expect when they choose to play here.

“We hope the Dallas volleyball community will come out and support this team that includes many of their hometown stars as we play in the best venue the city has to offer.”

AT&T Stadium is no stranger to a change in use, and has enjoyed a busy year.

Nine games were held their during the FIFA World Cup over the summer, including the semifinal between eventual champions Spain and France.

Staff put down a grass surface for the soccer tournament, which has already been ripped up.

NFL players hate synthetic turf, but it is more resilient than natural fields for events like Spikes Under the Lights which require a lot of heavy equipment.

Mark Cuban was interested in buying a stake in America’s Team, but Jerry Jones has decided to keep the world’s most valuable sports franchise in the family.

Success hasn’t been as easy to come by on the field in recent years, but Jones will hope Von Miller’s arrival can change that.

The Cowboys kick off the 2026 season on the road, when they visit the New York Giants in the opening Sunday Night Football of the season.