A black and gold diamond, along with the words "Pinnacle Bank Arena," were the finishing touches to a 3-D model unveiled Tuesday along with the naming rights to Lincoln's new arena.
The model provides a hands-on display of a beautiful, unique building that will fit perfectly in the historic Haymarket district, officials say.
Everything that's on the model - the court with a large block "N," the risers where students will stand, the suites, the red cushioned chairs - will be there in real life.
But wait, where are all the people?
The model shows the Pinnacle Bank Arena without a roof, and with only a few dozen fans in the stands.
Joint Public Agency member and University of Nebraska Regent Tim Clare joked that he hoped more people would be inside.
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"It's a little empty on the inside," he said. "We've said it's a few hours before game time."
Like the full-size suite unveiled last month, the model is a tool for Legends Hospitality Management, formerly known as CSL Marketing.
"It gives fans a better understanding at the scale and ... tells the story of the place," said Ben Wrigley of Legends. "It's our chance to market the suites and the building itself."
The event floor can be swapped out to demonstrate what a concert will look like when the first act plays there, presumably in 2013.
The 42-inch-wide model, built for about $50,000, will be on display at the chamber, 1135 M St., through December and go to Legends' office in January. It most likely will make trips to Devaney so basketball fans can check it out.
The arena's name was one of the best-kept secrets in Lincoln, with many people guessing something with local ties.
Mayor Chris Beutler teased those at Tuesday's announcement saying, "This is a high point, a peak if you will," before pulling the veil from design boards.
Said arena coordinator Dan Marvin: "We're happy with the name. We think it reflects the direction that Lincoln is going."
Marvin said naming rights often come from a corporation that is within 60 miles of the arena, so officials set out to find a local partner.
The JPA, which oversees the arena, did not send out a request for proposal, instead approaching a handful of local businesses.
Beutler, who sits on the JPA, said he was pleased by Pinnacle's contribution. He also was happy to have a good agreement out of the way early.
"Putting the name on it is like putting the icing on the cake - you know what the cake looks like," Beutler said. "You pretty much know what you're going to get now."
The model reflects the design at about 90 percent completion, said Paula Yancey of PC Sports, who is the arena's project manager.
"We've been looking at it so long in pictures and drawings, to see it built in 3-D it re-emphasizes the excitement," she said. "I'm excited for workers to be able to see it and envision what they'll build."
The actual building, near Seventh and R streets, has gone vertical in the past two months.
The first level of concourses will be poured Dec. 22, Yancey said.
More than 100 workers are on site, and that number will grow, she said.
NU basketball coach Doc Sadler called the model unbelievable and said the model and the actual building will help in recruiting.
"There's a wow factor. Home court advantage is one of the biggest parts of the game. ... It will be fun to play in the Big Ten with this."
The arena, set to open in fall 2013, will hold nearly 15,000 for basketball games and up to 16,000 for concerts.
The model also reflects the arena's unique intimacy as opposed to the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, which was built for hockey.
Hockey arenas, because of the rink's larger size, have gentler slopes, forcing seats further from the action, Marvin said.
"The seats are closer to where the action is," he said. "The slopes are much steeper than a hockey arena so you feel more on top of the action."
Retractable seats will allow Lincoln's arena to host concerts, rodeos and other events - including hockey, he said.
The 450,000-square-foot building comes with 900 club seats, 36 executive suites and 73 concession points.
Pinnacle Bank will have three signs on the outside of the arena as well as logos on the center-hung scoreboard and doors.
According to the Sports Business Journal, two-thirds of minor league or city-owned arenas that have college programs as anchor tenants have corporate names.
Of those, 30 percent have the name of a bank.
And yes, Lincoln's arena will have three Pinnacle Bank ATMs.
