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Arena task force names favored site

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Oct 13, 2006 - 09:57:39 am CDT

The mayor’s arena task force has narrowed potential locations for a new arena to replace the Pershing Center to one favorite: Just west of the Lincoln Station in the Haymarket District.

However, the task force is just a group of volunteers — albeit an influential bunch — who will recommend the site to Mayor Coleen Seng. They acknowledged that if a private developer agrees to build a convention center and hotel near the arena, their desires probably would be superceded.

The task force has been meeting since early 2005 to study the feasibility of building a new entertainment arena to replace the city’s 50-year-old Pershing Center. The group has previously recommended the city build a 15,000-seat arena, parking garage, new roads and extra surface parking at an estimated cost of $244 million.

Story Photo
Just west of Lincoln Station. (LJS File)

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Sound Off: Is the Haymarket the best place for a new Lincoln arena?

They’re banking on a private developer to build a hotel and convention center near the arena for about $95 million.

In June, the task force narrowed down nine sites to three; the other two remaining options would put the arena on the site of the downtown post office or south of the Harris Overpass.

On Thursday the task force voted on its top choice, but made it clear it’s open to community input.

Pershing Center General Manager Tom Lorenz, a member of the task force, said he likes the idea of using the Lincoln Station as the entrance to an arena. He said the arena would be centrally located, easier to assemble and close to the Haymarket.

Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall agreed, saying it would spur more development south of the Harris Overpass, since the arena wouldn’t swallow up that area.

Of course, if a private developer is willing to shell out some $100 million to build an accompanying hotel and convention center, the task force would likely defer to their wishes, task force chairman Dick Campbell said.

“I think they’re gonna have a lot to say about it,” he said.

Missouri hotel magnate John Q. Hammons has expressed interest in building a hotel and convention center “if” the city builds a new arena.

Lincoln attorney Kent Seacrest has been working on the arena idea since fall 2004, when a group of business leaders began meeting privately to explore the idea. He now sits on the task force.

He cautioned against picking one site, saying it was premature, but agreed it would be OK if the committee made it clear other options could be viable.

Stan Meradith — principal architect with DLR Group, the Omaha firm that designed the Qwest Center — headed up a brainstorming session on possible Lincoln arena designs in March, and attended Thursday’s task force meeting.

He said he has long considered the Lincoln Station option the darkhorse and said it would be more economical to build. He said designing Lincoln’s arena will be more difficult than Omaha’s because it has to fit in the Haymarket.

The committee also:

* Talked about recommending to the mayor that a citizens’ committee take the torch from them, analyzing their work and carrying the idea to the public.

* Decided to recommend that an independent consultant analyze the feasibility of a new arena.

The task force hopes to wrap up its work and report to the mayor in two or three weeks.

Campbell said the earliest he foresees an arena opening is 2010, assuming the community endorses it and many other pieces fall into place.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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SS wrote on October 13, 2006 6:55 am:
" What are you people thinking! Putting an arena in a area plagued with homeless people all over the place and not to mention the streets are not really able to handle the traffic down there for big ticket events. "
Jan wrote on October 13, 2006 7:44 am:
" I love the idea. Lets build it and stop talking about it. For some reason all Lincoln knows how to do is talk about something forever. It's time to act. "
NLB wrote on October 13, 2006 7:47 am:
" Where do they think we taxpayers are going to come up with this money? Maybe refinance our homes to pay more property taxes. Oh, "Don't worry"!!! They will spend our money without putting it to a vote, just like they did to build the baseball park. "
Long Time Lincolnite wrote on October 13, 2006 8:03 am:
" What possible value can these recommendations have when the "task force" is composed of parties that have a direct financial interest in the outcome? The arena will succeed primarily if it can draw in a large enough crowd to cover its expenses. People don't go down to the Haymarket now because it's just too difficult to find parking. The Post Office would like to move because it's just too difficult to get its trucks in and out of the area. If the area is already overcrowded, the public is not going to go to events there. LJS, please stop publicizing this group's recommendations. It's just free advertising for them and bad for Lincolnites. "
Jason wrote on October 13, 2006 8:09 am:
" And we wouldn't have a baseball park if they didn't because people in this town don't want to have fun. "
Big Red Tank wrote on October 13, 2006 8:13 am:
" Build it! The baseball park is a smashing success despite what others have wrote here. People who come in from out of town love the park and it is a selling point to this town...so much so that Omaha is actually jealous of this facility and want to build something akin to it in NoDO. "
Just do it! wrote on October 13, 2006 8:14 am:
" The need is obvious. Opporutunity is passing us by. The recommendation is in. Why don't we just pull the pieces together and get moving? What a statement that would make to the young people who will determine our future success as a city / region. Oh, I forgot, that takes thoughtful, far sighted LEADERSHIP, a commodity that is in short supply in Lincoln - in both the public and private sectors. "
Jane Q Public wrote on October 13, 2006 8:30 am:
" Someone needs to take the time to explain to us why it's so important to build it in the sacred Haymarket District where expense will most certainly be higher and the infrastructure; roads, parking, etc. will all cost far more than a location on the edge of town. How do the economics work? We are confused... "
Best Location wrote on October 13, 2006 8:31 am:
" The best location would be at State Fair Park, tons of land area, close to dining, shopping, restaurants and it would bring additional guests to an area that hasn't seen it in a while. Sure, we all like the Haymarket area, but why make everything so congested? It's time this city stops trying to revitalize the downtown area and looks outward to best utilize space. "
Jerry wrote on October 13, 2006 8:32 am:
" Kansas City keeps up with New York, Omaha keeps up with Kansas City, Lincoln trys to keep up with Omaha. Where does it stop! Come on property owners, get a loan, and give to the city until it draws blood. Maybe if you are lucky you can just sign your retirement money and social security to the mayor. What is wrong with these people in charge? "
Herbie wrote on October 13, 2006 8:52 am:
" Young people are leaving Lincoln because of people who only want to whine about taxes and are consistently offended by any sort of progressive thought. Progress is good! New roads are good! Redeveloping neglected areas is good! Give this task force some credit. They are all smart(er thand any of us), professional, well qualified people volunteering their time and expertise for the benefit of Lincoln's future. "
Task force unsupporter wrote on October 13, 2006 8:55 am:
" I find it ironic the arena task force has to basically only look at land owned by a government entity. They cannot look at private land because the minute they pick it the dollar signs go off and the owner of that parcel of land would double their minimum sale price. Just like the Chinese restaurant next to the old starship 9. No emanate domain no new arena. Just yesterday I hear an Economic Development guy who works for the city talking about how we need a task force to do site selection for the drag strip. Well I am sorry Mr. Economic development guru, that just won’t work. The minute they pick a site the landowner of that site goes cha-ching and doubles what price they would be willing to take for their land. "
Hattie wrote on October 13, 2006 8:59 am:
" Why put it in the middle of downtown? Why not combine it with the New Drag Strip and make it a great venue? This would put traffic patterns in Lincoln in a better light and decrease the foot traffic in a area that is littered with "BLIGHT". "
Why can't we wrote on October 13, 2006 9:10 am:
" just expand Pershing and save ourselves a $100 million. The streets are wide enough for traffic. Nearby parcking facilities can be expanded and we can keep that beautiful work of art that adorns the entrance. This would also stimulate an increasing interest in new retail stores opening nearby and towards downtown. Thus exposing visitors to all that's between Pershing and The Haymarket which narrow streets will take a breating with increased traffic flow. There are other interest here then just those of the nvestors of the Haymarket who are trying to control all of Lincolns dollars to benefit their personal interest. And if we can spend $200 some million on an arena, why can't we use those funds to increase our police force which is badly needed bringing it up to national standards and to add more fire stations to help reduce responce time. How come saftey of our citizens doesn't play a larger picture in our spending anymore. "
memorial wrote on October 13, 2006 9:28 am:
" tear down memorial stadium and put it right there, we want concerts not football games. that way it is close to downtown and close to the people who will use it most, the students. "
JT wrote on October 13, 2006 9:31 am:
" Have you been to Oklahoma City? They have their arena in the middle of beatiful Bricktown and it works perfectly. This arena would be a huge step forward for Lincoln. NCAA basketball first rounds, concerts, conventions could all be attracted to Lincoln, things that wouldn't even think about holding events at Pershing. Let's get this thing going!! By the way "Long Time Lincolnite," how can people not go to the Haymarket because it's too croweded? That doesn't make sense. "
Alan wrote on October 13, 2006 9:32 am:
" I agree with the majority of you on here. This thing needs to be built but..........It needs to be done right. Just don't build it because you want an arena so bad that you can't wait. To just toss something up without thinking is dumb. It needs to be someplace else. In a big open area where they can build the roads, build the hotels; build the restaurants and where traffic can flow. Also an arena that only seats 15,000 is a dumb idea. I said it about the Quest and I will say it about this. If you are going to spend that kind of money do it right the first time. Make it big have it seat over 19,000-19-500. Quest in Omaha didn't do it and sure enough realized they made a mistake and added seats. That is why they are going to be a host sight for one of the first and second round contests for the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament in 2008. If they had expanded they wouldn't have been able to host that event because they didn't seat enough people. Also shutting down the place over the summer to build the extra seats cost them A LOT of money I know of one big name show that passed them by because of that. They can't expand anymore in that place and Wish they could. If it is going to cost you another 50-80 million to do it right it's worth it. Why spend $244 million just so you can say well we have an arena now thank god! You will only have an arena that seats 15,000 and all the big name shows and NCAA events will pass you by and still go to Omaha and you are sitting there with a $244 million dollar mistake. Build it right and this will be a home run build it wrong and you will be paying for that arena forever. "
John Holmes wrote on October 13, 2006 9:46 am:
" I agree, tear down Memorial Stadium, and build a NICE place with sitting room to watch football, and build the new arena where the Devaney center was, after you tear that down too. "
x-lincoln wrote on October 13, 2006 10:00 am:
" What are we going to use the convention center for. You have no airport in Lincoln to get people in town. How are you the tax payers going to pay for this. Oh I forgot the liberal mayor and city council with figure it out. Ha Ha They are a joke. Good luck lincoln. "
Dick wrote on October 13, 2006 10:00 am:
" Is there anyway I can keep my tax money from going to this project? I just don't think it is a good idea, but if they want to build it, go for it. I just don't want to fund it. "
missing the mark wrote on October 13, 2006 10:19 am:
" 1st and O Street would be a better spot. If they only moved the arena a little further west the city could remove and redevelop a blighted area. The potential for improved parking for football and baseball would be huge. The area is in a flood zone which makes land cheep. The Harris overpass reconstruction could be tied into also, instead of adding an independent bridge like the one used to tie in the ballpark lanes could be added into the new bridge design. Another added bonus could be with the relocation of the Peoples City Mission a building with better suitable conditions and larger space could be found. What about the hotel at NW 12 and cornhusker? A lot of beds could be added there. How about it, when does the people get a say? "
yoshiki wrote on October 13, 2006 11:36 am:
" I have an idea. Why don't we plow up all of the paved roads in the community & turn them into dirt, demolish all of the city libraries, close the city parks, not replace any street light bulbs or put up anymore, turn the Police & Fire Departments to an all volunteer force, no more StarTran for those who need it, put the burden of maintaining & upkeep of the public schools onto the students, etc. etc. etc. all in the name of the taxpayer. That way, Lincoln will be way ahead of the curve of thinking of modern American cities, we'll have definitely have found a solution to the brain -drain that plagues our city & Nebraska, and of course recruit (and retain) new business, corporations, and well-paying jobs because of our great quality of Lincoln life: no taxes, no services. We'll call this new way of thinking "You get what you pay for" or "You can't get a free lunch anymore". Maybe even Socialist-lite for short. Way to go Lincon ^_~ ! "

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