Cornhusker Case Competition | Nebraska Business Honors Academy | Academics | Business

2023 Cornhusker Case Competition

Thank you for your interest in representing your institution at the 2023 Cornhusker Business Case Competition hosted by the Nebraska Business Honors Academy. This is a competition for students by students. Undergraduate teams eager to apply their analytical and problem-solving skills to a sports business case are invited to compete!

October 19-20, 2023
Register Now
Early Bird Registration Deadline: September 1, 2023, $250 per team
Final Registration Deadline: October 2, 2023, $400 per team

Important Information

Team Composition

Teams of 4-5 undergraduate students

Prizes

As a recognition for excellence, top teams win the following cash prizes split evenly between team members:

1st Place:

$3,000

2nd Place:

$2,000

3rd Place:

$1,000

Case Information

Teams have been “hired” by an investment group looking to launch a Major League Soccer expansion franchise. They must create a proposal and gain approval from officials from their chosen city, the investment group and MLS leadership. Successful teams will analyze the economic opportunity for the city, ascertain key financial and operational details, and design a unique value proposition for fans and the league.

Pre-Competition Work

The first week of October, participating teams will be sent a case overview packet which will include details on the case, presentation expectations, and other required final deliverables. All case deliverables, supporting documents, and presentation will be required to be returned by October 16.

Tentative Competition Schedule

DAY 1 \| Thursday, October 19 \| Howard L Hawks Hall, Nebraska City Campus
6-8 p.m.	Networking

DAY 2 \| Friday, October 20 \| Howard L Hawks Hall, Nebraska City Campus
8:15 a.m.	Check In
8:30-9 a.m.	Opening Remarks
9:15-11 a.m.	Presentation 1 (All Teams)
11 a.m.- 12 p.m.	Lunch
12 p.m.	New Case Information Released
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Teamwork Time
1:15-2:45 p.m.	Presentation 2 (All Teams)
3-3:30 p.m.	Break
3:30-4:45 p.m.	Final Presentation (Top 4 Teams)
5-5:30 p.m.	Awards

Travel Accommodations

Each visiting team is responsible for their own hotel and travel accommodations.

Location

Howard L. Hawks Hall

730 N 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588

Hotel

Lincoln offers a variety of hotels within walking distance of the College of Business. The closest hotels are in the Haymarket district or downtown Lincoln. The Graduate Lincoln hotel has set aside a block of rooms for Cornhusker Case Competition participants. The group rate is $112 per night, including breakfast, if booked by Thursday, September 28. Parking will be an additional charge.

Book the group rate at the Graduate Lincoln hotel here

Air Travel

Destination: Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK)

4 miles to City Campus
Visit go.unl.edu/airport-transportation for ground transportation and car rental options

Destination: Omaha Municipal Airport (OMA)
About 65 miles from campus or around an hour drive. Here are some options for getting from OMA to your visit in Lincoln:

Car Rental
Shuttle from Omaha airport to Lincoln will be provided upon request. Please email erin.burnette@unl.edu

Drive

When you drive to Lincoln, you'll have many options for parking near campus.

Explore UNL Parking Explore Lincoln Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a successful team?

The most competitive team will have a group of students who possess the skills to analyze information critically, move quickly and deliberatively, and consider feedback from the judges.

What should I expect?

This is a competition for students run by students. We promise you a minimum of two presentations. You will also get two sets of feedback from the judges. Judges will be comprised of both faculty and industry representatives.

What does my registration cost cover?

Registration costs cover Thursday evenings networking social which includes heavy appetizers and desserts, Friday’s lunch, and other associated programming costs.

Do I have to be a business major to be on a team?

No, we welcome all majors to participate.

Who will the judges be?

A combination of industry professionals and faculty. Throughout the competition you will have the opportunity to receive both written and verbal feedback from the judges.