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Omaha, K.C. give taste of arena experience

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Saturday, Mar 22, 2008 - 12:30:50 am CDT

Local sports fans who traveled to Omaha and Kansas City in recent days for basketball tournaments had a chance to experience the energy and fun that come with state-of-the-art arenas.

In both cities, an arena is a major anchor for redevelopment that has transformed formerly humdrum areas into lively districts crowded with people out to enjoy themselves.

The newest is the Sprint Center at 14th Street and Grand Boulevard, in the newly designated Power and Light District in the heart of downtown Kansas City.

The center hosted the Big 12 basketball tournament last week. The Kansas City Star reported that thousands of fans “took in an area that has gone from ghost town during the last tournament here in 2005 to a burgeoning district with plenty of places to eat, drink and hang out.”

New spots in the district include the Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant, the Howl at the Moon Bar, Ted’s Montana Grill and more.

Next door to the Sprint Center is the College Basketball Experience and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. As Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple reported, “basically everything was cool about it,” including indoor courts where people can shoot hoops and a wing where fans can dial up videos of basketball greats.

The district is still a work in progress, with scaffolding covering buildings where other restaurants and entertainment options will soon open.

But the district already is drawing people — and not only for basketball tournaments. On St. Patrick’s Day this week, the Raglan Road Irish Pub was standing room only.

The Qwest Center in Omaha has been the focal point in a similar surge of humanity and festivities for the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

An estimated 50,000-plus fans thronged the city’s entertainment district, pouring into long-established bars like Mr. Toad in the Old Market and new places like the Old Mattress Factory Bar and Grill, known to some as “hoops headquarters.”

The new arena proposed for Lincoln in the West Haymarket District has the potential to host similar activity-generating events on a smaller scale, according to a recent consultant report. The arena, possible new home of Husker basketball, would not compete directly with the Qwest Center since it would have a few thousand fewer seats.

The proposed new Haymarket arena is still far from a done deal. Much careful scrutiny is necessary as the proposal moves through an approval process that will include a public vote.

But local fans who sampled the festivities in Omaha and Kansas City the past few days certainly had their appetite whetted for comparable experiences in their own hometown.


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Ricky wrote on March 22, 2008 7:06 am:
" As I have said many times; build the arena.
It will compliment our Qwest Center.
Allow beer sales for the Husker basketball games.
Do NOT have a MECA-like entity manage the facility.
Good Luck and I will come down and see Bruce Springsteen play again.

Ricky From Omaha "

 russell wrote on March 22, 2008 7:59 am:
" Can Lincoln afford both the arena and the research park? I do not think so and thus we must choose one. The arena will bring 'transients' with out of town money that will be spent at the motels/hotels and restaurants chains (whose profits leave town) plus pay minimum wages. The research center will bring out of town money that will be spent by well paid persons that will live and establish roots here. "

 Dreamers wrote on March 22, 2008 9:21 am:
" When is Lincoln going to quit dreaming they are someone they are no. Just look at the economic base those City's have and see what Lincoln's is. They are NOT the same. Find your nitch and go for it quit trying to be someone you are not. Your NOT Indianpolis, Denver, Milwaukee, etc. You are like Waverly saying they are Lincoln. Cann't anyone see it will only ruin this City. "

 Compare wrote on March 22, 2008 9:26 am:
" Compare what those City's have and look what Lincoln has to offer. I do not believe there is a comparrison. they have a lot more to offer. We do not have the Hotels or outside activities for people to come and spend money. Are malls are a poor excuse for malls. Well maybe we do have micro malls but nothing as big as they have. They have Henry Doorly zoo, we Have folsum zoo is that a good comparrison, I think not. They have the Casino's, we have keno, lol "

 and the other point you just made is... wrote on March 22, 2008 10:37 am:
" ...that there are now two top notch facilities within a couple hours of Lincoln, both of which have a much larger population base in the immediate area to draw from. While the Qwest arena has done well the convention center is shaky financially, since Lincoln is looking at a smaller arena they really need to consider what the convention center can support. "

 Dream Big Lincoln wrote on March 22, 2008 10:47 am:
" Dear Compare - Dare to dream big. Don't allow Lincoln to miss out on a potentially great project like the arena that could have a huge positive impact on the city. The ripple effects of what a state of the art arena would bring the Haymnarket would be HUGE! Who know's, with more attractions to Lincoln it could likely encourage more talented young professionals to call Lincoln home as well. You talk about what Lincoln "doesn't have", why not try using some of that energy to help encourage new possibilities in Lincoln so we "do have!!" "

 I wonder wrote on March 22, 2008 10:55 am:
" why people just will not admit that lincoln cannot compete with omaha and kansas city. Omaha has a base of 450,000 people and kansas city over a million. Come on think of a better way to spend tax money. Another thing, the drivers of lincoln have a bad attitude for any visitors getting on THEIR streets. Listen to the locals when the fair or state tournaments are in town. What would the drivers do with an extra 25,000-50,000 out of towners driving on THEIR streets? Use the devaney center until you can afford a grandeous temple. By the time I pay my taxes (in two payments, thanks as it takes two payments to make it) then add in the price of fuel, utilitys and everything else thats going up. I don't think I can afford to have the city invest in all these dreams that only a minority of the population can afford. "

 city wrote on March 22, 2008 11:26 am:
" of lincoln has too much going on. why don't they finish one project before starting another? and why are we continuing to build new homes when the mayor wants to put families and build up home ownership in older neighborhoods? each property pays taxes. so tax per child and have more coming in to pay for schools. single people and retired people shouldn't pay as much for people who have kids in schools. Unl wants more students. are they paying big taxes to lps so kids will stay here? if not maybe they should. leadership is all about the buck not about the common citizen. "

 Is that enough wrote on March 22, 2008 12:05 pm:
" The editorial states that KC's district is growing with places where people can drink, eat and hang out. More places where people can drink and hang out. Great! Is the emphasis more on the drinking establishments or other business aspects of KC? I thought one of the reasons for Lincon's proposed arena was that people would spend money in speciality stores. Is KC developing their speciality shops or just more bars? Lincoln already has plenty of those.

"

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on March 22, 2008 12:09 pm:
" Both KC and Omaha have highways next to their arenas. How is Lincoln going to move the traffic? Something has got to give and those who be giving have yet to be told. What neighborhoods and areas will have to give up major sections to accomodate the roads that will be needed? Speak up 2015. "

 Mr. Optimism wrote on March 22, 2008 8:13 pm:
" Lincoln cannot compete with Kansas City or Omaha. Don't build the arena. Lincoln cannot compete with other cities that have research parks. Don't build the research park. Lincoln cannot compete with other cities when it comes to building new streets and parks. Don't build the Antelope Valley project. Encourage everyone to adopt these common-sense attitudes.

Then join me in a couple of years wondering why Lincoln is not growing. "

 JB wrote on March 23, 2008 8:35 am:
" I'm the same age as Pershing and I know it is time for it to be replaced. Do we have to lose state basketball before we do something? "

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