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Council OKs spending $1.2 million on arena studies

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 - 12:33:28 am CST

The Lincoln City Council voted Monday to spend $1.2 million on studies to help voters decide next year whether to build a new arena to replace the Pershing Center.

Even though the final vote was unanimous, the council’s support didn’t come easy. That’s because city officials had proposed getting half the money from interest earnings on the $10 million stormwater bond issue voters approved in 2005.

Several council members felt it inappropriate to use the stormwater money, since arena studies weren’t on the list of projects voters approved. Normally that money would be used for additional floodplain projects or to pay down the principal and interest on the bond issue.

Council OKs changes for liquor licenses

Restaurants in older areas of the city will soon find it easier to get liquor licenses even if they're close to residential areas.

Currently, restaurants can get permits to serve alcohol if they're at least 100 feet away from day cares, churches, parks, state mental health institutions or homes. On Monday, the Lincoln City Council reduced the minimum distance between restaurants and homes from 100 feet to 25 feet, as long as the restaurant meets certain criteria.

The change was sought by 9 South Chargrill restaurant, which had been unable to get a liquor license since opening at Ninth and South streets because it's 47 feet from homes.

Supporters of the change said loosening the law would help develop older areas of Lincoln, where there is less of a buffer between homes and businesses than in the city's outskirts.

The restaurants must abide by several criteria, including closing outdoor areas by 10 p.m. and indoors by 11 p.m.

And while city Finance Director Don Herz said it would be permissible to use the money for floodplain studies for the arena, council members doubted it would pass muster with the public.

Councilman Jon Camp said he believes recent bond issues have failed because voters don’t trust city government with their money, and spending stormwater funds on arena studies could violate that trust.

Councilman Ken Svoboda said some people would have voted against the stormwater bond issue if they’d known some of the money would be spent on arena studies.

Monday marked the first time the council was asked to spend money on the arena project, or, as Councilwoman Robin Eschliman put it, “This is the first time you’ve come and asked us for the moola.”

City officials say studies will give voters solid data when they vote on a new arena in spring 2009. For example, the money will be used to complete about 20 percent of the arena design, so voters can have accurate cost estimates, Herz said.

Some council members also worried about spending $1.2 million on arena work before voters approve the project.

The city’s money will be more than matched by 2015 Vision, a private group of business leaders promoting the arena and nine other Lincoln economic development projects. The group is kicking in $1.65 million to help pay for arena studies and other costs.

The total $2.85 million will be used for things such as floodplain and stormwater analysis; wetlands evaluation; facilities design; soils, traffic, pedestrian, parking and other transportation studies; financing options; land appraisals and possibly small parcel purchases.

Council members repeatedly thanked 2015 Vision. The group hopes to be repaid if the project is approved by voters.

Kent Seacrest, representing 2015 Vision, urged the council to make a strong statement with its Monday vote, saying he wouldn’t be “real excited” if he had to ask 2015 Vision to pony up $1.65 million with a tepid 4-3 council vote.

“Four to 3 votes along the way will not get us the big (public) vote,” he said.

Some council members also seemed miffed that even after several years of budget cutting, officials seem to find money for pet projects. Councilman Doug Emery said the unearthing of $1.2 million “gives the appearance that budgets aren’t as tight as they appear.”

City officials proposed coming up with their share by using $500,000 in Municipal Infrastructure Redevelopment Fund dollars, $100,000 from the city’s advance acquisition fund and $600,000 in leftover interest earnings from the stormwater bond issue. MIRF money comes from cigarette tax revenue collected by the state and distributed to cities.

The money could be reimbursed to those funds if voters approve the project, Herz said.

In the end, the council voted to spend the $1.2 million but find $600,000 from other city funds, even though Herz said city officials “looked hard” for other sources and “these are all the ones we were able to find.”

The city is soliciting proposals from developers interested in building a convention hotel to accompany an arena for a project that could cost between $200 million and $300 million.

Kent Morgan, arena project coordinator for the city, said based on talks with developers, he expects more than one proposal.

The city also recently began advertising for proposals from consultants for other arena consulting work.

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


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WAKE UP PEOPLE wrote on January 15, 2008 6:11 am:
" Read this article CLOSE, the 2015 group expects to get their money BACK when the bond issue passes in 2009. These people 2015 group(attorney's, consultants and contractors)will be double dipping. They put money in the project, then get the pre-construction and construction contracts then get all the money back with interest. If they truelly believe in this project why do they want the money back????????? Sounds self serving to me. "
stignob wrote on January 15, 2008 6:21 am:
" Funny they need a study done for the arena. Appears this is already a done deal by the business "leaders" of Lincoln. I bet the voters vote NO on this one. "
tom b wrote on January 15, 2008 7:18 am:
" how about saving the money...i think voters more than
likely have already made up their minds one way or
another...i certainly don't need 1.2 million dollars
spent to make my decision... "
russell wrote on January 15, 2008 7:29 am:
" Is the railroad putting any money into this study that will take this contaminated albatross piece of land off their hands? Better yet, will the study force the railroad to clean up their land? "
I'm awake wrote on January 15, 2008 7:37 am:
" And I'm glad this is moving forward! Thank goodness for forward thinking people. There are too many "in the good ole days..." people expecting things to be done like they used to be done. It's a new world people, and I'm darn happy to be living it compared to the "good ole days". Keep moving forward 2015 group. I (along with a LOT of poeple) support you 100 percent!!! "
jmk wrote on January 15, 2008 7:54 am:
" I know I will vote against it and will encourage everyone I know to do the same "
Jack wrote on January 15, 2008 8:31 am:
" What a waste of time and money. Are the consultants and study groups being hired affilliated with any of the council members?? What a shock that would be..... "
Karl wrote on January 15, 2008 8:52 am:
" Its funny how the $1.2 million they are waisting here is the same amount that the city council fought about for 5 years with the Lincoln Fire Department over the new Fire Trucks. Everyone complained about the $1.2million dollar fire trucks but yet this $1.2 million they are wasting on some stupid study and no one bats an eye. "
Severed Trust wrote on January 15, 2008 9:20 am:
" Sure is inappropriate to abuse public trust. It may appear to have a strong element of scandel...and alignment of the council with special interests rather than the citizen. "
tim wrote on January 15, 2008 9:20 am:
" save the money and do the project. its well documented there's a need. every time the 2015 group gets mentions the class envy people come out of the woodwork. i wonder who would be putting money into any progress for this city if it weren't business people like the 2015 group. certainly not wakeup, stignob, tom or russell. what have you done to help the local economy? "
NS wrote on January 15, 2008 9:20 am:
" I was at a convention and the mayor said we are getting a new areana, so appearantly he feels this is a done deal. He didn't say we are considering it, he said we are getting it. So why waste more money on this study and just start moving the dirt already will you? None of the people involved in making this poor decision care one bit what anyone else thinks so just get it built already and start the proceedings for the bankruptcy. It won't make enough money to stay afloat but some people seem determined to shoot themselves in the foot. We can try to tell them this until we are blue in the face but if they don't care, they don't care and they aren't going to listen. Someone has the smell of money in their nostrils and they won't let it go. "
Faux Leadership? wrote on January 15, 2008 9:31 am:
" This is outrageous and looks fishy. Council members saw the inappropriate reason that conflicts with the voter approved bond issue and defied the citizenry? Why are they complaining there are funds for road s/streets? What impact does this have on taxes when there is a shifting away from existing budget debts? "
Just Say No wrote on January 15, 2008 9:31 am:
" Who benefits from this whole project anyway. Maybe the people that benefit should cough up the $1.2 million. Our non-representative City Council at work once again. And shame on the Mayor for supporting it.
Vote no on this TURKEY! "
... wrote on January 15, 2008 9:47 am:
" Someone still needs to explain to me why we need an arena the size of the Qwest Center. Why are we trying so hard to compete with Omaha? And even if the council votes 7-0 in favor of it, it does not mean the public will go along with it. "
Again wrote on January 15, 2008 10:02 am:
" Just remember this at the next city council election and vote everyone out as they have BETRAYED the people of this city under the preasure of a small group of rich people by telling them they needed a whole support of the council voting to show the people they are right.Well council you showed us you can be bought out and can not be trusted with our money as Camp and Svoboda pointed out ,so they are aware of this mistrust by the voters and STILL sold out.I will never vote for anyone of them again or for any bond again and hope all working class people do the same.Believe me this will be brought up at the next election.Come on middle,lower and fixed income people
lets vote this arena down and for once show 2015 and our council we do have a say so in this city.Maybe its time for a recall. "
James wrote on January 15, 2008 10:11 am:
" Someone wrote in to ask what some of the citizens that are questioning the arena decision process have done to help the local economy. Please consider the fact that Lincolnites work jobs to pay state, federal and local taxes, including the city sales tax and local property taxes. Over-spending of those hard earned dollars is not necessarily progress. We all should have a say in how those tax dollars are allocated and any one using elitist phrases like "Class Envy" make me squirm with discomfort. In a democracy, a healthy bankbook does not buy a citizen any more weight to their vote than a pauper. The answer is simple: Put this issue to a vote and let the people of this area decide. But do NOT shovel tax dollars into an advertising and PR campaign to sway voter opinion. And if the issue is defeated at the polls, do NOT try and ram it down Lincoln's throat as another political "done deal." The LJS recently ran an article featuring the shortfall of the city sales tax base and, within days, we're talking about dropping hundreds of millions into the new arena project. Is it any wonder that many tax-paying Lincolnites are saying, "Whoa! Let's think about this!" Please believe in the democracy we preach and let the voters decide. But please also don't belittle any person who dares to ask how we are going to be able to afford it. Thanks for reading. "
Amazed wrote on January 15, 2008 10:23 am:
" I am absolutely amazed and astounded that all of sudden there is an extra $1.2 million in the city coffers for this boondoggle but there is no extra money to fix the streets or hire more police/fire personnel. How far our city has fallen in terms of government and common sense is truly saddening. "
Shadow wrote on January 15, 2008 10:33 am:
" I want to know what exactly these people think is going to pay for this arena and then upkeep it. the only reason i can see them wanting it is so they can get the highly coveted state wresteling tournaments back. there has been no talk of real scenarios that will keep this building going after construction. Big name bands WILL NOT even consider comming to lincoln after playing a show in omaha and more to the point, the would play omaha first since they can pull people from K.C., des moines and lincoln to their shows. data shows that the quest convention center is loosing money and the only thing keeping it all going is their huge revenue shows. i can also garantee that the quest center will work harder to convince shows to choose them and be in a better position to offer incentives. I will never vote for any for profit business to be run by local, state or federal gov't because i have seen them falter one too many times. "
viuxt wrote on January 15, 2008 10:38 am:
" jon Camp knows the public, "voters don’t trust city government with their money, and spending stormwater funds on arena studies could violate that trust." So why doesn't he hold that confidence with actions to reflect his constituents? Is the council breaking that trust with arrogance and risking public support? How do recalls work? "
Matt Poulsen wrote on January 15, 2008 10:39 am:
" You people do realize that you don't just draw up plans for a $300 million project on the back of a napkin...don't you??!! Things like this take a lot of planning and consideration. Good grief. I applaud the 2015 group's work. "
Concerned wrote on January 15, 2008 10:47 am:
" This is just wrong. "
Smith wrote on January 15, 2008 10:52 am:
" This is the why we as a city are 9 million dollars in debt. So now we can be 10.2 million dollars in debt. It seems to me that the city should be slapped with a spending freeze until such time as they can get the debts paid down to zero. "
EJ wrote on January 15, 2008 11:25 am:
" Who needs a study? It's pretty obvious most all of you, that's who. With all of the questions about who will pay for this? Who will clean up this? Who will be responsible for this? That's what the study will do. Not that is will matter, of course, to the woah-is-me naysayers who believe this is just a scam to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. "
7waft wrote on January 15, 2008 11:30 am:
" Excuse me, what is the UNL Athletic Dept contributing? Seems like there isn’t clarity about what that principal is asking for and what/how much it will contribute. There really needs to be due diligence, folks. Shadowy business deals are the least trusted and often most corrupt. Such is the breeding ground against democracy and a weapon of covert motives. "
Growth wrote on January 15, 2008 11:44 am:
" Lincoln needs to start thinking long-term to grow its tax base to fix the budget shortfalls. Not sure that this study is necessary but we need someone like the 2015 group needs to be thinking outside the box. Finally a group that sees growth is essential to Lincoln, or for any city for that matter. If we want better roads and infrastructure without raising taxes we need a bigger tax base. I agree with you Tim. Stop pointing what is wrong wtih a situation without providing a solution. "
Better venue wrote on January 15, 2008 12:01 pm:
" I hardly think we are trying to compete with Omaha and the Qwest center. The capacity level is going to be comparable to the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, and while that thing is large, it's not really quite size of the Qwest Center. I say, give it a chance and enable more income via the new arena. Pershing is outdated, too small, and not an optimal venue. State basketball was at Devaney last year, whereas it used to be Pershing. I think the only exciting thing happening there these days is Sesame Street LIVE! Woo-hoo!
However, I do agree that 11.2 million is nuts just for a study, when the council voted 7-0. Just wait for the vote and save that money! "
T. Jefferson wrote on January 15, 2008 12:16 pm:
" Wasn't the City on a limited budget due to sales receipts?Wasn't a city hiring freeze imposed because of tight budgets? If this Project was being privately funded by it wealthy supporters it would be fine. But it isn't. It is the usual group of individuals lining up for public funds that will financially benefit themselves. The attorney to the developers, the usual architects, the usual concrete company, the named developer - is this the best that Lincoln can do and still use the term leadership? "
Superfantastic wrote on January 15, 2008 12:24 pm:
" Let's just inflate a big bubble over the flood plain where they're planning to put in this arena then harvest and store that rainwater. If we're going to think ahead then darnit, let's hear some new ideas! Lincoln doesn't need a 300 million dollar arena. It needs a 20 million dollar bubble! Where's my 1.2 million dollar consultant fee now? I'll be happy with 6.6 % of that and will produce whatever documentation the city requests. "
Trust Betrayed? wrote on January 15, 2008 12:32 pm:
" Citizens did vote for higher taxes to pay for infrastructure use; the city is ignoring that moral contract and applying a trust in a diverted and contrived manner. Did the council even discuss if the $500,000 should be used to improve streets, There are growing concerns about conduct of city government. "
Growth?? wrote on January 15, 2008 12:43 pm:
" So you want to grow the tax base? Why doesn't the city focus on attracting businesses to Lincoln that will provide long-term economic growth? Wouldn't our money be better spent on economic growth versus entertainment growth? "
stignob wrote on January 15, 2008 12:45 pm:
" "Class envy" LOL, far from it. This has political bureaucracy written all over it. Don't question what other people do for the economy, just worry about yourself, which seems to be 2015 boards vision. I suppose you think building a 90 million dollar jail is forward thinking too? Sure just throw the money at them, don't question the great "thinkers" of this little over sized grown hick town. "
Dano wrote on January 15, 2008 1:09 pm:
" I would prefer to see the money go towards economic development. I still think this is a good thing for Lincoln, but I would like to see more jobs being created in the city. Bringing in more companies, bring in more job opprotuniteis and better pay. Unless of course they are just telemarketing and service jobs. I would hope city leadership sees that economic stability is far more important than just entertainment. People won't go to shows if they don't have income or jobs. "
Max A. wrote on January 15, 2008 1:11 pm:
" To the City Council: Please do not come to us, the taxpayers, with hat in hand asking for another bond issue, not after you took sewer bond interest money and poored it down the sewer! The 7-0 vote is a violation of the trust of the taxpayers. This why politicians such as yourselves have a bad rep. I guarantee you, I vote and it won't be for another bond issue or for any of you running for re-election! "
excuse me.... wrote on January 15, 2008 1:27 pm:
" have bids been let for the "study" ? I hereby bid ummm.... $1,199,998....NO! 99 ...dollars. There. "
So wrong wrote on January 15, 2008 2:32 pm:
" This is wrong on so many levels. First, this is not what the stormwater money was supposed to be used for. Everyone who agrees with that should call their city councilperson on it. Second, the Vision 2015 group--the same group that WANTS this arena--is putting up half the money for the study. Talk about conflict of interest. Third, Vision 2015 "expects to be paid back" if things go as they plan. What? And the city agreed to that? Where will that money come from? Fourth, $2.85 million for a study!? You've got to be kidding. What's left to study, really. In the paper last week they had already picked their spot. "
Please! wrote on January 15, 2008 2:50 pm:
" The city council did not "betray" the voters and did not "sell out". Please read the article more carefully. Mr. Camp stated he did not think it would be appropriate to utilize the $600,000.00 in leftover interest from the stormwater bond. The council then decided NOT to use the money from the stormwater bond. "
doubledip wrote on January 15, 2008 2:55 pm:
" why not build the convention center on the new state fair grounds. take advantage of the parking like the devaney center does currently. its going to get built so lets double dip on the two projects. "
Bob wrote on January 15, 2008 5:25 pm:
" This arena is designed to compete with the Quest. Per the 2015 website, they would like a 15,000 person arena. That's pretty darn close to the 16,000 the Quest holds. Hard to believe they wouldn't compete directly. I doubt Bruce Srpingstein is coming to Omaha on a Tuesday and playing Lincoln on a Wednesday. That's not plausible, nor sustainable whatsoever and it will never happen.

Unless the University has a significant part in this new arena, it will fail miserably and be a major burden to all of Lincoln for many years ahead. I appluad those who think Lincoln has room to improve, but burdening the tax payers in an already existing overtaxed environment, shows no forethought or consideration on the ramifications should the project fail. Lincoln needs to find another way to distinguish ourselves from other cities and attract new people. Building a 15,000 person arena in a traffic congested floodplain at the taxpayer's expense with no pledge of University involvement is not the answer. "
JoBeth wrote on January 15, 2008 5:35 pm:
" Good God. The City is cutting services and cutting jobs and they WASTE money on junk like this???? Let's vote them all out. How stupid. "
Chris wrote on January 15, 2008 6:35 pm:
" $1.2 million. $1.2 million. All the cuts to services, the necessity of officers to deal with increased crime, and everything else so much more worthy than this. $1.2 million. This is sick. "
frankly wrote on January 15, 2008 6:56 pm:
" these heya republican't's are gonna shuv it down ya'll's throat, just
like the war that is going so great. "
what a fiasco wrote on January 15, 2008 7:54 pm:
" WAKE UP There is no way this project ever makes any money. The study already done, acknowledged that the market was already saturated and what was really needed was a livestock facility, but they had been paid to do a study with a predetermined outcome....If anyone would really look at this objectively there are very few large livestock facilities and they are swamped and overbooked. These people don't need an airport, they are driving and pulling trailers. The only competition is in OK City, a small facility in Mason City IA. We are smack in the middle of the country. I go to bed each night praying the public won't buy into this and will vote it down. We don't need to spend 1.2 million to know this is a very BAD idea. The Quest can't even break even, how is this going to? Our taxes are ridiculously high. If this was a money maker a private person would do it. They only want the cash cow part, the hotel and convention center. They know the event center is a losing proposition, so they aren't willing to risk there only money. THINK ABOUT IT. If they thought they could make money they would do it themselves. Wake up! "
DBM wrote on January 15, 2008 9:00 pm:
" How about the city can build a new arena as soon as the streets are in good repair and 27th, 48th, and 70th streets are 5 lanes from one end of Lincoln to the other. This should have been done 30 years ago. "
Just wondering wrote on January 15, 2008 10:27 pm:
" Which Vision 2015 "investor" gets the architecture contract, the General contract, the electrical contract, the plumbing contract, the communications contract, oh and what about the 99 year concessions contract? Just wondering...... "
... wrote on January 16, 2008 7:18 am:
" DBM, I like your proposal, but making 48th Street 5 lanes all across town will involve tearing down about 2 miles worth of houses since 48th stops at Old Cheney. And to Bob: This thing is going to be 15000 to 18000 seats. MAC is only 9000. They are building this thing to go against the Qwest Center. If they wanted to make it the size of the MAC, I would be for it since Pershing does need to be replaced. One other thing to think about: They build this in the flood plain, taking the necessary steps to raise the land or the building. That displaced flood water HAS to go somewhere. What businesses and homes get impacted by a changed flood plain? "
Shep wrote on January 16, 2008 8:39 am:
" You didn't need to spend these $millions, you council people need to be recalled and shipped to Siberia. "
Mercy wrote on January 16, 2008 9:50 am:
" Children living in poverty, but let's do a 1.2 million dollar study on something else we don't need. If this arena would open door for people in this state, more people might support it. But let's hire everything out of state, and let our families of out great state of Nebraska sink lower into poverty. This state has become a joke. A very sick joke. Give the $1.2 million back to the children of the state who need it. "
TW wrote on January 16, 2008 10:25 am:
" Its not the Republicans shovin' it down our throats, you
might notice you lovely mayor, a Democrat is right in
there rootin' with the "click". I'm outta here, you all
can pay for this white elephant. "
irresponsibility wrote on January 16, 2008 12:03 pm:
" This whole issue indicates to me just how irresponsible our city council is. The article indicates several times that several concil members questioned whether this was really a good idea, if it was necessary, and yet it passed unanimously. Time to use that money to finance a better city council! "
airedale wrote on January 16, 2008 12:09 pm:
" I could get more value for my dollars if I just piled them up and burned them. "
I like it wrote on January 16, 2008 12:38 pm:
" I love reading all the comments. Keep them coming. If you don't like it, leave town. Quit complaining, and start doing something about it. For all of you complaining about special interest groups getting these contracts, one could argue that every person that works in the city of Lincoln will benefit from the visitors that will be coming to the new center. Quit complaining. "
JR wrote on January 16, 2008 3:25 pm:
" I was wondering when this would turn into another Republican calling the pot black issue. Didn't take long. Maybe it is time to remind people the current Lincoln City Council is a Republican majority and the Mayor is Democrat. Neither one can do much without the other, so let's just remember that. "
WHY? wrote on January 16, 2008 5:58 pm:
" Why do the people of Lincoln seem to be opposed to EVERYTHING? There is a need for a new arena in Lincoln and this will create a nice draw for the haymarket. What is there to be opposed to? Any attempt at progress is seen as a waste by the old crowd in Lincoln. WAKE UP AND ALLOW LINCOLN TO MOVE INTO THE 21st CENTURY! "
Older Voters to Arms wrote on January 16, 2008 6:49 pm:
" Let's see. Just last year we cut $750,000 from the City's Aging Division. Lifetime Health, the program that provides health maintenance service to countless low income elderly is being secretly eliminated. Senior Centers are closing.
What's more important to our City leaders: an Arena Study or caring for the last of the World War II generation. Older voters and those who love them should be watching the next City budget and ready to climb all over this Mayor, the Council, their budget, and arena proposal.
"
Joe Everyman wrote on January 16, 2008 8:19 pm:
" It would be helpful to see a comparison of the Qwest Center studies, discussions, steps taken, and compare the costs of the Qwest Arena project. Omaha populace were against it and now it is the hub of a great area that includes a former Lincoln company, Gallup. Lincoln needs to do this but they need to be efficient with the peoples money. "
Julie wrote on January 16, 2008 8:32 pm:
" http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/05/20/news/local/doc464f7c1d9ac4e060283437.txt - this is a link to a story last May regarding this arena. This arena in Lincoln WILL compete with the Quest Center in Omaha. If Lincoln is always short on funds how is this going to be covered?? The 5-20-07 article states that to pay for the Quest Center taxpayers agreed to the $198 million bond and received $75 million in private money. Lincoln is NOT Omaha, we do not have the population or amenities to compete with Omaha, and some of us are glad we are not like Omaha. The article also refers to the numerous meetings the "2015" committe had behind closed doors. We seriously need some honest, intelligent individuals to run for the council seats at the next election and then we as concerned citizens need to make sure we support them by giving them our vote. The way the City Council members spend our tax money is disturbing and I would rather the $1.2 million be spent on a private firm to investigate where all our money goes. It seems there are always more bonds the taxpayers need to support but Lincoln needs major improvements on the streets and many other areas that would be far more beneficial for the majority of the Lincoln population. "
Qwest, not Quest wrote on January 16, 2008 8:58 pm:
" And the city of Lincoln website has all budget figures and expenses available for anyone with a computer. Looking through the past few year's budgets it's quite clear that the city is already very efficient. C'mon people, take the time for yourself and look it up. Instead of just making blanket statements like "they're spending all of our money" look it up. Show me EXACTLY where you would cut funds!

As far as the 2015 group...they're quite an intelligent group in my opinion, and I'd stand behind most of them waayyyyyyyy before I let a lot of you make a decision for me. "
wrestler wrote on January 16, 2008 9:21 pm:
" Part of the reason, actually the MAIN reason the state wrestling tournament moved to Omaha was because Lincoln could not accomodate the attendence. Tell me how building an arena smaller than the Qwest Center will accomodate that. Those of you that have kids good enough to qualify for state know you still must purchase your state wrestling tickets many months in advance before the tournament even begins. Remember Lincoln won't be competing with just the "arena down the road" but an Arena that is one of the top venues in the WORLD, that's right, the WORLD. Hey, if the money is there and the Vision 2015 thinks this is a good investment let's see the members cough up 2/3 or more of the cost. Any takers? I didn't think so. Yeah, Lincoln needs to move forward but Lincoln doesn't have a blank check to make it happen. Where was Vision 2015 when cities like Omaha, Council Bluffs, Grand Island, Kearney and Sioux City were thinking "Vision 2015" 15 to 20 years ago? Heck even Norfolk has an Arena. And don't think Basketball will bail the arena out. Sorry UNL isn't Creighton and it probably never will be. Sure every 10 years or so we'll get a new coach and excitement will build but UNL doesn't approach the Basketball loyalty of the average Creighton fan. I'd like to see Lincoln move forward, but I think more cooperation between Lincoln and Omaha on common goals with Omaha leading the way is a better approach. Lincoln simply didn't invest as it needed to 15 to 20 years ago and with globalization Lincoln is just one of those communities that moved down a "class" and needs to learn to accept it's new place in the world. "

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