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City, consultants molding arena ‘site concepts’

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 - 03:39:58 pm CDT

Plans for  a possible new arena in Lincoln continue to evolve, and a public relations consultant has been hired to “engage the public” on the arena in the coming months.

Kent Morgan, the city’s point person for the arena project, said the city is working on various site layouts now that a developer, architect and several consultants have been chosen to work on the arena project.

An arena planning committee had previously come up with a preferred site layout that would put the arena straight west of the downtown post office at 700 R St.

Story Photo
A conceptual model of the Haymarket arena project proposed by Lincoln Traction Partners.

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That layout was supported by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Athletic Director Tom Osborne because it would put the arena closest to their campus.

But the site layout is being tweaked now that the city is integrating its plans with Lincoln Traction Partners, a development team headed up by Robert and Will Scott.

Their team was chosen to develop two hotels, a conference center, retail, offices and condos associated with the arena.

Morgan said the Scotts’ proposal was somewhat different from the city’s site concepts, in areas such as road layouts and their proposal to develop retail and condos and integrate a hotel into the arena.

Once a revised site concept is solidified, it will go before the city’s arena planning committee and then be presented to the public for input.

“Typically people provide better input when they are able to react to concepts rather than working from a blank slate,” Morgan said.

In other arena news, the private group of business leaders called 2015 Vision recently hired a consultant to help engage the public on the arena project.

They hired Jennifer Brinkman, who has been self-employed since 2005, but prior to that served as an adviser to several local and statewide elected officials. 

She worked in the Legislature and as a lobbyist for the governor’s office and the city of Lincoln.

Brinkman worked in Sen. Don Wesely’s office for five years and served as an aide to Wesely when he was mayor of Lincoln, until 2001.

She is now a partner with Richters Brinkman, a consulting firm founded by mayoral aide Rick Hoppe. He sold the company several years ago to go to work for former Mayor Coleen Seng.

Brinkman said she will work on educating the public and giving the public ways to offer feedback on the arena project.

She is setting up a Web site about the arena project and is assembling a “speaker’s bureau” — a group of arena ambassadors who can explain the project to area groups. They and the Web site will try to help the public understand everything from what the arena would look like to how it would be financed.

If the City Council votes (most likely in February) to put the arena issue on the ballot, Lincoln voters will decide whether to build a new arena in the spring.   

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


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Imagine That wrote on July 17, 2008 3:56 pm:
" This just proves again the public really has no say in the matter now a website to try and ease you into what they have already set in stone you watch. "
dog and pony wrote on July 17, 2008 4:04 pm:
" How about voting on this to see if the PEOPLE want to pay for this. I can't believe the 2015 group will pay for this out of the goodness of their wallets. The piper will come calling and when we get 2nd rate acts to come here and play to a 1/2 full house, how will this be payed for? Increase taxes. "
JB wrote on July 17, 2008 4:06 pm:
" Should have been built yesterday. How many years did Lincoln wait for Pershing? Over thirty! Want first class. No Kearney, Grand Island, or Council Bluffs cheapy. "
SB wrote on July 17, 2008 4:15 pm:
" Or I could just come to my own conclusions and assumptions about the arena/convention center? "
Get ready wrote on July 17, 2008 4:17 pm:
" What's up with the last sentence "if the City Council votes to put the arena issue on the ballot"? Sounds like they might not allow us to vote at all, kind of like the State Fair issue. "
Comm UnSense wrote on July 17, 2008 4:18 pm:
" So how is the 2015 group going to bill the public for the hiring of the consultant who is supposed to talk us into voting for the arena? Stick a fork in it folks, this deal is done. "
mark wrote on July 17, 2008 4:28 pm:
" great news. keep pushing it forward. "
Big Question wrote on July 17, 2008 5:14 pm:
" Who do you think will get most of any kickbacks that come out of this cash-burner? "
Mark wrote on July 17, 2008 5:18 pm:
" I think the public is already "educated" on the project, and its not most don't want it, but we can't afford it now. Increases in taxes, fee's, gas etc have put many property owners in a position of dire straights. To add another tax to pay for an arena when times are this bad is something no spin from a public relations consultant can overcome. They are struggling to balance the city budget for this year. Next year will probably be worse. The county is about to level a new tax to pay for the jail. What is it a spin consultant says to taxpayers when our taxes just keep going up, and up, and up to support and arena? There is no spin that can convince folks this is a necessary project at this time. Why does the city continue to spend the kind of money they are on this project when voters have not even been asked what they think yet? And to think they may cut pool and library hours, and some services to spend money on this project long before the responsible time to do so. Some will argue this is necessary planning, but when you don’t have money, you don't have approval, you don't spend money the city so desperately needs right now in other areas, period. "
Zeeb wrote on July 17, 2008 5:21 pm:
" I'm somewhat of a no frills kinda guy BUT Holy Cow! That arena looks like a WWII Quonset Hut. How much imagination did it take to dream that up. Pershing looks better than that. "
upbeat wrote on July 17, 2008 5:58 pm:
" Go for it! "
Rediculous wrote on July 17, 2008 6:00 pm:
" Great... another person is taking our tax money from a project that won't even be close to getting approval through a vote. I love how the city loves to spend money on things that it doesn't have approval for. "
Mary wrote on July 17, 2008 6:10 pm:
" I do not understand how the arena issue could not be on the ballot. How could a project of this size move ahead without the approval of the citizens? "
John Bailey wrote on July 17, 2008 7:06 pm:
" You have got to be kidding me. The mayoral aide of the last three Lincoln mayors business partners got the business. How surprising. And she must be terrible because she is in the paper being quoted that she is going to "engage the public". What kind of PR person telegraphs a move like that. Bizarre. You do what you can and still the city seems fueled by greed and selfishness. I honestly don't know why it was that I had hope that things would be different. Between the Arena double talk and manipulation, the school closings after the quarter of a billion dollar bond issue, the mayor cutting services to under privileged youth, the mayor lacking the leadership to lead investment in the community sector I am fatigued. "
Its a done deal wrote on July 17, 2008 7:13 pm:
" I believe our city leaders have already decided to build the arena. The only thing we will be allowed to vote on is how to finance it. If we shoot down their proposed financing, they will only find a way to STEAL the money out of our pockets without a vote. "
interested wrote on July 17, 2008 8:41 pm:
" I lived in Oklahoma City in the early 90's and everybody was talking about how stupid it was to build an arena and all the projects in their downtown "Bricktown" area. The city had just lost a few major corporations (United Airlines and GM being the main ones). But a funny thing happened on the way...They have an area that actually collects taxes (all the money spent on hotel rooms, restaurants, etc). Plus more and more corporations and business are moving there, bringing in more tax dollars. And look, and NBA team.
We are not going to get an NBA team...but it is important if we are going to continue to make our city grow and thrive, we have to make ourselves attractive to new and expanding business looking to get out of larger, costly cities. These are the things that will help. Take a larger view of Lincoln and look to the future. People in OKC said the same things 10 years ago...now look at them. "
Ridiculous NOT Rediculous wrote on July 17, 2008 9:01 pm:
" And, it's ridiculous how many negative-nellies post on here. Do you honestly think that when Pershing was built finances for everyone in town were rosy, peachy-keen? When EXACTLY would a good time be to build something like this? For the past 15 years, even in good times, people have complained about TAXES TAXES TAXES. And what has Lincoln become in the last 15 years? Worse than it's ever been. BECAUSE our idiot leaders don't have the guts to re-invest in Lincoln we now have a city government that is RIDICULOUS (NOT REDiculous)! Raise the taxes for our city before we collapse completely, and ignore the YUPS and the Comm Unsenses of the city and DO SOMETHING to better it.

I'm tired of the complainers. I'm damn glad someone in this town is trying to do SOMETHING. Thank you 2015Vision for at least trying. And I sure hope there are enough young people left to vote YES on the arena. (and I'm 47) I already moved from a dying, typical backwards city and I don't want it to happen here. "
Arena supporter wrote on July 17, 2008 9:32 pm:
" The design is awesome, but.........did somebody forget where to put all of the parking for all of the people they hope to attract to it? Last time I went to the Haymarket in this already highly populated area parking is already scarce and it doesn't appear to be within the whole design pictured. Not to mention if the hopes are to attract not only local patrons, but those from out of town as well is there enough affordable hotel space within respective distance from said arena. something tells me that the Embasy being on the high end of the scale and then you take the holiday inn a few blocks away being still remotely high, but yet a bit less costly wont be able to accomodate all especially if something were to be held on a husker event day! Just a little bit more to contemplate before diving into it. "
DBM wrote on July 17, 2008 10:15 pm:
" Has anyone checked to see how much it will cost to move the railroad and how much it will cost to buy the property and how much it will cost to clean up the property and how much it will cost to build all this in a flood prone area of Lincoln. These are questions that need to be answered before any more planning is done. "
Dano wrote on July 18, 2008 8:28 am:
" While most of the public state they are informed, it appears by posts, that many still are not. The railroad move, post office issues, etc have all been researched and vetted out. the question becomes, how much money will continue to be spent on this after the vote of the people kills this? And where does the money come from to support this, when the rest of the city suffers from budget shortfalls?

Look, I support the arena, I support doing something to replace the out dated facilities of Devaney and Pershing with one facility that serves many more purposes and gets utlized more often. I may not support it at it current location or its current airport hanger design, because I believe it is going to be a logistical traffic mess, but that is outside of my control.

I really want to know how it is going to be paid for. I have no faith in the notion that taxes will not increase because of this. I just want some honest, true, and understandable financing answers with a conservative approach. If you want to continue to build support for this, you need to build a strong, realistic financial case for it. People will support something that is viable, but if it is questionably viable, or comes off as sketchy, then it will fail miserably. The State Fair is a perfect example. (The State poured money into that, with everyone questioning where it was going and why the facilities were getting worse) I just don;t want to see another Fair gorund issue at the heart of our city. "
Ron wrote on July 18, 2008 8:40 am:
" my biggest question is , how do we access that arena?, through one street? the basball stadium was a good idea also but the planners didn't take into account that people in the north bottoms would not like th traffic, so now you have a nice baseball field that can only be accessed from one street. Is that what is going to haoppen here? And has the railroad already accepted the plan to take over their land or is the city going to pull the old eminent domain crap out again? "
JL wrote on July 18, 2008 9:23 am:
" "Engaging" and "educating" the public? Hey, 2015 Group -- I've been to the meetings, listened to the presentations, asked questions, and read everything I could find on the substance of your proposal. The problem for me is there just isn't any substance, just a lot of flowery language about how "great all this will be for Lincoln." When I moved to Lincoln 25 years ago, it was obvious that Pershing needed to be replaced. My problem with your plan is that it doesn't solve any of the problems that the current facility has, other than it would increase audience capacity. I've seen little no data on access to the area, real parking needs (not the city's never-ending underestimates), new streets needed, how and where the tracks would be moved and how that would impact other transportation, the number and wages of proposed new employees (more minimal wage service workers?), site contamination cleanup costs, flood plain amelioration costs, federal and/or state flood plain replacement requirements, infrastructure requirements (communications, electrical, sewer, water, etc.), etc., etc. Meanwhile, I've heard nothing that convinces me that the project's primary purpose is anything other than to shore up the downtown property owners' investments, at the expense of taxpayers. "
Cynic wrote on July 18, 2008 9:39 am:
" When the city hires a PR expert to put the proper spin on an issue, you can be sure that we are about to be sold an apple with a worm in it. This is a done deal and I've got even money that says that we will never get the opportunity to vote on this multi-million dollar money pit that will never break even, let alone turn a profit. When are we ever going to learn? "
Good call wrote on July 18, 2008 9:58 am:
" Spend even more money on this money pit!! What in the heck is wrong with this city? Oh wait the Mayor! Are you people stupid? This arena will never make money, face it! Look at Pershing, it hosted speed roller blading finals.....wow! Get real Lincoln nobody else thinks this city is cool. "
To interested wrote on July 18, 2008 10:00 am:
" get real that will never happen!! That would happen to Omaha light years before Lincoln. OK city is much bigger than Lincoln. Good god people educate yourself on how the entertainment business works. "
I want the Arena.... wrote on July 18, 2008 10:03 am:
" to be built. Then when it is everyone supporting it will see how big of a mistake it was! All it is going to be is another Pershing, face it people. This isn't being negative this is being realistic. The other weekend Pershing hosted some roller blading thing, WOW. By the time it does fail I will be long gone and living in a city that knows how to treat its people. "
New to Lincoln wrote on July 18, 2008 10:21 am:
" No more money should be spent on this joke until it has been voted on. "
Simply idiotic wrote on July 18, 2008 10:35 am:
" Omaha pushed through a $140+ million downtown ballpark approval with no vote. I think the Lincoln mayor/coucil thinks they can do the same. The only difference is that omaha has money and a plan that will work. Lincoln is just throwing an arena into a downtown area with insufficient access and a floodplain. "
Simply idiotic wrote on July 18, 2008 10:46 am:
" Yeah... where are the 6,000 additional parking spaces coming from? The quest/downtown omaha has nearly 9,000 spaces to serve the Quest and north downtown for their events. Lincoln will have no downtown spaces left after the Scotts hotel is built due to the residential buildings residents in the haymarket have parking passes at haymarket garage. There is simply not enough room for continual growth after the arena and parking is resolved.

Also, people are saying there is "one way out". In all reality that is true because you can't head north bound on I-180 without heading south first and to cross traffic will be impossible. It will take hours to get out of the area even with the continuation of the four lane road underneath I-180 from "the big X" by devaney. "
Alan wrote on July 18, 2008 11:25 am:
" There is organized opposition forming to counter the propaganda that the city will soon be spreading. Why do we need a new venue when Devaney sits largely unused? Why doesn’t UNL allow concerts there anymore? Why can’t we sell out the Lied center? Why is Omaha raising taxes to support the Qwest center? Will we be allowed a meaningful vote? If our so called elected representatives refuse the people a meaningful vote yet again then it’s time for some direct democracy. "
from interested again wrote on July 18, 2008 11:44 am:
" I know OKC is not the same size...you mention that people do not understand the entertainment business. The point is that this is not about the entertainment business. and that is where you and others are hung up. It is about business period. About growing a community so businesses will start and move here. The point we are competing with cities like OKC, Des Moines and Omaha for future growth.

As far as people complaining about parking...last I checked we have enough parking for 80,000 people for events that take place on Saturdays in the fall...and that stadium is only about a 3 minute walk from this proposed site. "
Parking wrote on July 18, 2008 12:14 pm:
" Are those not 2 new parking garages west of the arena and hotel? Of course this isn't an exact drawing of what it will be like, but it appears those 2 garages are quite a bit bigger than the 9th and Q garage (which holds 500 cars). I would say from the drawing they're probably 5-6 times larger. Which would be upwards of 6000 new spaces.

As for an opposition "group forming" can I suggest Roger Yant as chairman? He's usually a good one, I hear, for successful oppositions. "
to interested again... wrote on July 18, 2008 12:20 pm:
" how are businesses going to grow if the arena won't bring any acts to it and it will sit empty? Buisnesses will be built and won't be supported because they have nothing to support them. Do you need a business class too? I love how people have the "build and they will come" mentality. If you think we can compete with Omaha and KC you are just plain crazy or just...... If you think acts like Def Leopard and Speed Roller skating is going to "grow" a community and businesses your dead wrong. I hate to break it to you but A list acts are not going to stop here before Omaha or KC. I know you may think Nebraska is great but A list acts wanna spend as less time here as possible. There just isnt enought people. So if you want this thing to be built then see businesses be built and fail then keep thinking it will be a good idea. And could you imagine if there was a concert the same time as say a Saltdogs game? I wouldn't want to be in that traffic. "
lol wrote on July 18, 2008 12:40 pm:
" Parking said there is a 500 space parking garage at 9th and Q. Well, there may be a parking garage there but how many stalls are already spoken for and given to others in exchange for development. My guess is 400 thus you have room for another 100 is all. The city always gives away what it needs. "
Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 1:29 pm:
" After reading through the comments I will offer my opinion. I have followed this process from the beginning, have been to the public information meetings, and have been in a small group for a presentation by Kent Seacrest, spokesman for the Vision2015 group. First I would like to disspell the ill-will towards Vision2015. They are not trying to take over this city, or pull the wool over the eyes of Lincoln, or trying to screw the citizens of Lincoln into building an arena for them. Here's the deal: 2015 is the business leadership of Lincoln. They already control the majority of commerce in the city. They understand that an improved and expanding Lincoln is good for Lincoln and good for their business. If they had alterior motives, you would not even know they existed, they don't need to be in the public eye to manipulate things.

Second, Interested and Interested Again is absolutely right. A city must invest in itself if they would like to attract private investment from outside the city. There is no question there. The success of Haymarket Park should show that a partnership between UNL and the City of Lincoln, as well as Private business is a recipe for success. It is proven.

As far as parking, the parking in the model is probably not event parking, but parking for the hotels/convention center. All plans I have seen include large parking lots across the tracks, with large pedestrian promenades connecting the parking to the arena. Interested is correct again. If we have parking for an 80,000 person event only three blocks away, a 20,000 person event should be no problem. Further, this location is ideal b/c it allows people to park anywhere downtown as well, and allows traffic to dissipate through downtown. I envision local traffic parking strategically, since they know how to get around downtown, and vistitors using the lots near the stadium.

I am excited for this project, and excited for the future of Lincoln. Naysayers be darned.

Oh, and using the comments here, the responses were about 2 negative for every positive. A 2:1 ratio. If we use the 60% silent majority factor, this vote will pass about 60% for and 40% against. "
To Chris... wrote on July 18, 2008 2:12 pm:
" please explain how this will succeed. Seriously explain. Do you honestly think an arena is going to pull A list acts from Omaha and KC? How are the businesses who built solely on the hope of profit from the arena going to stay a float on a week stretch of no acts? Where are these businesses going to build in the first place? What kind of businesses do you think will magically appear once this is built? I am all for growth in Lincoln, but this is not going to work plain and simple. Please go to ticketmaster.com and look how tour scheduling works for large acts. They will only stop in Omaha and KC, they will not make a stop in Lincoln and Omaha. Touring just does not work that way. What other things will occupy the arena? Roller Derby,Motley Crue, and a circus? Please think about what you are expecting. I was all for this at first but have come to realize this will be a flop and it will bring a lot of Lincolnites down with it. "
Bubba wrote on July 18, 2008 2:29 pm:
" Vision 2015? Is this group for real, thinking they can dictate what is to be done in Lincoln? Who voted for them? The Scotts? "
Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 2:43 pm:
" Sure I'll respond. Instead of worrying about what A list acts we are going to pull from Kansas City, try worrying about what will happen if we do nothing. First, music entertainment is only one part of what the arena will be about. One part. Musical acts are not going to make or break an arena. But since so many are fixated on that aspect, I'll address it first. The acts that would normally hit a city in the 250-500k population range bypass Lincoln because of a lack of a decent facility. Are these "A-list" acts? No. They aren't. But aren't there more possible acts than the mere A-list? Is an event a failure because it draws 10,000 fans instead of a sellout of 18000 or whatever a the concert capacity is? I'd say that is a success. Is Lincoln trying to compete with KC, Denver or Minneapolis? No. Is Lincoln trying to compete with Omaha, Des Moines, Ft. Collins, Wichita, Lawrence? You bet we are. Are we going to win every battle? No. Will we win some with a new arena? Yes. Will we win any with only Pershing? No.

So I ask you, what happens if Lincoln doesn't build an arena? Do we lose boys and girls state basketball? Probably, we already lost wrestling. Do we lose state volleyball? Probably not, we can probably hold that w/ current facilities. The arena will have an "Anchor Tenent" in UNL Basketball. Will a winning basketball team fill this arena? I don't know, but probably, look at the interest in baseball w/ a winning team.

Will we attract any new businesses because of a top notch facility? Probably. Many relocating/expanding firms look to such things as entertainment options for employees. They realize that employees value such things when they are chosing where to accept jobs. Now will these firms choose Lincoln solely because of a new arena? Probably not, but it makes the city as a whole package more attractive. Will we attract any such firms with Pershing? Probably, but it will be despite of Pershing, not because of it.

It comes down to this, do you invest in your city and try to make it a dynamic place, which invites more people/business to move here, or do you stagnate, ensuring that business as a whole will bypass your city, ensuring that young graduates will continue to leave upon graduation? Grow and prosper, or stagnate and decline. It's your choice Lincoln. "
Well if history repeats wrote on July 18, 2008 2:47 pm:
" The Omaha Civic auditorium was built in 1954 and Pershing in 1957. I wonder how many people at that time said "no way can Lincoln compete with the Civic since it's bigger/better/supported by more citizens, etc." Pershing did fine.

To do nothing would be a BIG step backwards. "
To Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 2:56 pm:
" Does your estimate of 80,000 parking stalls (for I assume the attendees at UNL football games) include the people who are parking twenty or more blocks away and walking in? Or the people who park at various large malls and are bussed in? Of the people who are dropped off near downtown Lincoln and then walk the rest of the way? There isn't parking for 80,000 in this area. There's not even parking for 40,000 (assuming 2 persons per vehicle) in all of downtown and the surrounding area. You're right that the 2015 Vision Group is looking out for their own interests. It must astound them that the rest of the population demands some return to the community instead of just the wealthy with this project. "
Simply the facts wrote on July 18, 2008 2:59 pm:
" You can't compare the "room for 80,000 to park" to the new downtown facility and it's parking. The people that go to memorial stadium often come on buses and walk miles from the stadium to get to the game. Also, most of the parking they use is all university parking that the university opens/closes only during gamedays. The rest of the days you must have a student/faculty parking pass. And I guarantee the university will not open up any of its parking for a "dierks bentley" concert at a new arena because there are many night classes etc and students pay for those lots so they don't become full.

So in available parking right now for the arena there really is none because the scotts are taking the leftover in the haymarket parking garage with their hotel and there will be a 2 hour limit or less on most street parking due to the haymarket not wanting people going to only the arena to take the parking for their business. It's the same in Omaha. There has to be sufficient parking within a 5 minute walk to the arena. This is simply due to the winter climate here which is the big concert season cause during the summer they do there outdoor festival/fair concerts like "lollapalooza" in Chicago. "
Will the spending ever stop wrote on July 18, 2008 3:08 pm:
" Just take a 3 hour drive to Des Moines and talk to the people running that arena. Des Moines metro area and the area the arena supports is three times the population of Lincoln (and don't call lincoln a "metro" cause that is simply a joke). Des Moines is finding it impossible to keep its arena afloat and it only cost the city $99 million! (though I still find this construction figure hard to believe) They even have two year long tenants and it continues to lose money.

I myself believe that arena is in the future for Lincoln, but not for at least another 10 years. It is simply to expensive for the city to pay for during the current economic down period. What ever happened to preparing for the future and saving money? Is that so hard for our government to do?!?! How bout start setting aside some money each year and thus we'll have a good base to pay for this come 10 years from now.

Ohhh wait... we're dumb american's who like taking risky loans and ending up foreclosing on our homes (aka arena) later on during tough times. Get a clue people. "
Oh my gosh simply the facts wrote on July 18, 2008 3:18 pm:
" You're assuming there won't be any new parking garages! Of course there won't be "just the 500 stalls" at 9th and Q.

You really are grasping straws if you're arguing parking stalls. Garages are really simple to construct. I'm certain anyone with some intelligence isn't overlooking parking. Wow. "
Answer me this wrote on July 18, 2008 3:23 pm:
" face it lincoln. You are not just building an arena here and thowing in some flat blacktop parking lots that are easy to create within existing blocks (like the Quest Center). You are trying to squeeze a 16,000 seat arena and the parking for it in an area that has multiple train tracks that need to be moved not just to fit the arena but to accomodate enough surface parking. Second, you won't be able to pay for parking garrages because the cost millions upon millions of dollars more to create than surface parking (see MECA/Quest vs. new omaha ballpark parking issue). Third, to create the surface parking and arena you will need to rebuild the levees along salt creek because they currently contain a high amount of calcium and the levees are graded to barely contain a 50 year flood due to saturation of the high calcium content levees. Third, you'll have to raise all the surface area parking in the flood plain much like they did haymarket park. And most important of all, you'll have to figure out how in the world to get 16,000 people in and out of the arena with the lack of a sufficient road infrastructure. Somehow the "O" street and Rosa Parks Way bridges needs to be reconfigured to be like the raised "X" by devaney in the middle of it to have easy south/West bound access. And also you're going to have to figure how in the world to get people on I-180 northbout without creating a complete mess on P and Q streets and without costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

There are my questions. If someone can answer them with some facts you got my vote. "
Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 3:42 pm:
" Parking Issue: You are correct that it is not a proper comparison with football games. There are many special instances such as busing and university lots. But consider that we are only talking about 1/4 at most the number of people. Further, as I stated in my original post, there are plans to build very large lots north of the tracks contiguous to the current Salt Dogs parking connected by an elevated pavillion. Also consider. There is the exiting garage in the haymarket which you all correctly state will likely be at or near capacity already. There is also a garage at 10th and Q. There is a garage at 11th and Q. There is a garage at 12th and P. There are two garages in this project directly. There are plans for a garage south of 7th and O St. Please recall that parking for Devaney consists of street parking in the fair grounds, reserved lots, and the "midway", which in walking distance is up to 6 blocks away from the devaney. If you place that same six block radius around the proposed arena with the upgrades in parking in the plans, you will see that parking fears are unfounded. "
Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 3:51 pm:
" Also: After 6pm all street parking is open. No meters are checked after 6pm. "
Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 3:57 pm:
" http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/plan/what/mtg/070828/a.pdf

click on "Draft Concept A" It is the most accurate to what is being proposed.


http://www.2015vision.org/index.html

Click on "Members". No secrets here. Again, if they were trying to screw you, you wouldn't know who they were. "
dewboy wrote on July 18, 2008 4:25 pm:
" Gosh, here I had a bad impression about the 2015 Vision group. However, after reading SEVERAL COMMENTS from chris I have changed my mind. I feel a more appropriate term for the 2015 Vision group might be somewhat like LEECHES. Also, chris should state just how many businesses and residential properties will be taken. Original plans called for an overpass over the North Bottoms. However, for some strange reason the overpass was removed from later plans. Sorry to say but this is a done deal. They are even bringing in the political cronies to help out. This deal is setup just like the Antelope Valley deal. Lets talk don't raise taxes. Well Omaha has not raised taxes YEEEET. However, property values in Omaha have risen 44% over the past 4 years. "
Bill wrote on July 18, 2008 5:01 pm:
" I'm curious as to what happens to the Devaney Sports Center when the Athletic Department moves to a new arena...... Never mind, Devaney in on Fairgrounds property and will likely be torn down with all the rest of the buildings. "
Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 5:19 pm:
" Dewboy: The only land being "taken" is BNSF, and the city is actually doing a land swap near their operations in northeast Lincoln. BNSF wants to consolidate their switching and storage rails in that area, which is currently the purpose of the tracks that are slated to be moved. Other than that, I know of no other business or residences that need to be moved. Do you know of any?

As far as the road infrastructure: How is this area any worse than Devaney? Plus, this plan calls for more road infrastructure to be built. This site is superior to the Devaney location in terms of road infrastructure. And the levee is a city wide problem, not an Arena problem. The Arena will not sit any lower than the train station, the Post office, Haymarket Park. And the parking is not raised at Haymarket...have you been there? It's in depressions. Does anyone base their opinions in fact anymore? Or is it all conjecture? "
Been Around wrote on July 18, 2008 6:06 pm:
" Well Chris looks like you bought their propaganda hook line and sinker, thank goodness the rest of us are a little more experienced about what goes on with Lincoln politics. Once we vote this thing down then the city can try an end run around the people, then we can impeach them. "
Paul wrote on July 18, 2008 6:17 pm:
" Seems like everyone is arguing all these "details" of this and "details" of that. I'll cut right to brass tax: "Do you honestly believe that this thing will pass if put to a vote today? How about next month? How about in six months or a year?"

It doesn't take Captain Obvious to have the answer "no" to all of those questions. The city can go ahead and try to push this, but I guarantee if approved by the coucil a petition (or multiple petitions!) will follow and you will see tens of thousands of signatures.

I'm all for progress and the arena. I just think this is terrible timing (economy) to bring this huge idea to city residents. Kinda sad actually. Could be nice someday though. "
Lincolnite wrote on July 18, 2008 6:21 pm:
" Question: When is the antelope valley project going to be paid for? Does anyone know? Isn't it going to cost over $300 million to finish it? Don't we want to finish paying for that before we start another $300 million dollar project? "
Resident wrote on July 18, 2008 7:37 pm:
" Is it possible we will not be able to vote on this arena. I agree with those who say it is a great idea but now is definitely not the time for it. "
Here is my question wrote on July 18, 2008 7:43 pm:
" If this is such a terrible time to start this - when would it be ideal? Eight years ago, pre-GW? When the Nebraska economy was struggling? When the state was in the middle of a drought? After you are dead and gone? Or at least moved away? When EXACTLY would you build it? I keep hearing "not now, not now" but as I recall that is what the citizens used to say all the time in the dead town I was originally from. That town has dropped in population at an unheard of amount.

Yeah, not now. That's a great idea. "
Chris Richters Brinkman wrote on July 18, 2008 9:04 pm:
" I think that I smell a ringer. Maybe not? Lincoln absolutely needs to invest to continue. I was thinking that the arena project for Lincoln is similar to what the Civic was for Omaha less the number of people in the metro area. Lincoln has near to 250,000 in the city and 280,00 in the metro region. Omaha in 1950 had 366,395 people in the metro region. A significant difference. I would prefer to see Lincoln invest its dollars in innovation new ideas rather than pulling things out of the already been done hat. Pershing is tired and needs to be retired but an arena is not going to make or break the business downtown. Business owners downtown have been successful in spite of the semi-annual set backs and failed plans on the cities part. When you hire a company to assess the viability of an arena that has the words "Sports, Leisure, and Conventions" then you get the answer that you paid for. "
dewboy wrote on July 19, 2008 10:11 am:
" Sounds like the same ole politicial cronies. By the way PARKING for events at the proposed arena is projected to cost in the range of $6.00 to #10.00. Lets get it all out in the open and NOT just spin garbage. "
dewboy wrote on July 19, 2008 11:51 am:
" First of all the contamination problem in the entire area will have to be solved. Also, the water table is very high in the entire area. All we need is some meathead to statr digging and disturb and or contaminate the water table and then watch out. I worked at the depot yards for 3 years. But wait the experts say there is NO contamination in the area. "
Mr. Pershing wrote on July 19, 2008 1:10 pm:
" Has to be one of the worse locations for an Arena. All one has to do is count the negatives such as, furthest location from the general population of Lincoln. That should tell you something right there. Floodplain area, HEAVY soil contamination and loss of businesses and residential properties in the area, dangerous water table in the entire area, and last but not least the cost of parking. "
JB wrote on July 19, 2008 1:47 pm:
" Omaha is a "do" city. Lincoln is a "think about it" city. Anything that Lincoln wants to do people act like the whole cost is coming out of their own pocket. Always complaining out something. "
to Chris... wrote on July 19, 2008 5:32 pm:
" please get real. I will tell you what happens if Lincoln does nothing. We won't have a money pit that looks like a WWII nuclear shelter. Lincoln will continue to grow. If you seriously think we should compete with Omaha and Des Moines you may want to visit them. We will NEVER be Omaha. And if we don't get A list acts who will we get? Please tell. If you think the likes of Journey and Chicago are going to make the place a success then you lost all your creditbility. You really have no clue.No one even goes to Haymarket Park for Saltdog games what makes you think someone is going to go see a B list act at a new arena? Hate to break it to you but people who live in small towns are going to choose Omaha over Lincoln anyday to see an event. "
dewboy wrote on July 19, 2008 6:30 pm:
" To Chris: For your info: I worked at the depot area for several years for the Burlington. However, I realize you are an authority on the area and a meeting attender. I do feel it is strange that you go on and on about parking in the area without mentioning the projected cost to park in the parking lots which I might add (for your info) is within the range of $6:00 to $10:00. Your might mention to those in authority at the next meeting you attend that irregardless of the statements made last week by City of Lincoln Officials that in fact there is heavy various forms of contamination in the entire area. "
Parking wrote on July 19, 2008 7:57 pm:
" So what if it is "$6.00 to #10.00". The current Husker game day parking is anywhere from $5-$20. So, you park a bit aways (like I do) and walk. Can't walk far? Have someone drop you off. Geez people, nit-pick the little things to death. That's such a small part of the project - parking costs. Do you really thing everything in life ought to be cheap or free? "

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