Nebraska trying to get a new arena

[Sooner23]

NU Basketball Teams Would Be Anchor Tenants

Nebraska fans might think about circling May 11, 2010, on their calendars - the date the Lincoln Haymarket Arena Project will be decided by a public vote.

The linchpin in the vote is a new 16,000-seat arena that would be built in the city's West Haymarket Area. The project also includes an ice center, a 200-room hotel, 100,000 square feet of retail space, another 100,000 square feet of office space and 100 residential units.

In addition, 2,340 parking stalls will be added, increasing the total to 7,100 parking stalls within walking distance of an arena intended to become the city's primary public gathering place.

The new arena would become the home of the Nebraska men's and women's basketball programs because the NU Athletic Department would commit to 30-year leases for both teams as anchor tenants.

As planned, Nebraska basketball will benefit from a first-class Division I basketball facility that will include suites, club seating and all the other amenities. The arena also would become a new venue for other sports, entertainment, recreation and retail in Nebraska's Capital City.

"We're embarking on a joint public agency that brings together the City of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska and enables both to do some financing that a single entity can't do," Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne said.

The creation of an estimated 1,200 permanent jobs "would certainly be good for the tax base of Lincoln and would certainly attract people to the community," Osborne said, adding that the Lincoln Haymarket Arena Project is designed to transform underutilized land into an expanded downtown core.

"From a basketball standpoint in the Big 12 Conference, we obviously have fallen quite a ways behind," Osborne said. "All of the schools in the Big 12 either have a practice facility for basketball or have one under construction."

That will change in the next year-and-a-half when a new NU practice facility will be built next to the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG4CcuSdUw0[/ame]

 

[SoonerBounce13]

thats pretty badass. I would love for something like this at OU

 

[Big Old Booger]

The Devaney Center is newer than the LNC. I think Devaney opened somewhere between 78 and 80, while LNC opened in 76 (I think).

 

[Mr.B!!!]

The Devaney Center is newer than the LNC. I think Devaney opened somewhere between 78 and 80, while LNC opened in 76 (I think).

Off campus arena that serves the entire City and paid for by bonds = not a bad idea. Unfortunately, probably not a likely thing to happen for OU.

 

[kbsooner]

What if they did something similar to this at University North Park, say adjacent to the Embassy Suites? That way they could utilize as a convention type space for a true multi-purpose venue. I would venture to say it would help with attendance, as those driving from OKC and suburbs would cut out at least 15 minutes of commute. The could set up shuttles for students. I like it.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I would be fine if they just took out the orange seats in the LNC

 

[JHop71]

What if they did something similar to this at University North Park, say adjacent to the Embassy Suites? That way they could utilize as a convention type space for a true multi-purpose venue. I would venture to say it would help with attendance, as those driving from OKC and suburbs would cut out at least 15 minutes of commute. The could set up shuttles for students. I like it.

This area of Lincoln is barely off-campus. It's right across the interstate from Memorial Stadium and appears to be closer to the heart of their campus than the LNC.

 

[Sam]

That will be a lot of empty seats.

 

[JBaker]

I would be fine if they just took out the orange seats in the LNC

That is a bit ridiculous and has always pissed me off.
What moron thought of this?
Aside from the fact that crimson seats would make the arena look more full.

 

[okcsooner83]

Anyone heard the rumor oU has plans to gut the inside of lloyd noble and will do so once the economy turns around?

 

[seniorsooner]

No. They've already done quite a bit as it is.

 

[T_Neal's Twitter]

They couldn't fill that place up if their lives depended on it. Also, that video had banners up on the rafters........Um........Nebraska has basketball banners?

 

[Max Power]

They couldn't fill that place up if their lives depended on it. Also, that video had banners up on the rafters........Um........Nebraska has basketball banners?

They made some for the football team and put them there :ez-laugh:

 

[BoulderSooner]

Anyone heard the rumor oU has plans to gut the inside of lloyd noble and will do so once the economy turns around?

there are already some very early plans for this to happen ... the question is when?

 

[campbest]

What if they did something similar to this at University North Park, say adjacent to the Embassy Suites? That way they could utilize as a convention type space for a true multi-purpose venue. I would venture to say it would help with attendance, as those driving from OKC and suburbs would cut out at least 15 minutes of commute. The could set up shuttles for students. I like it.

This would be an absolute terrible idea.

 

[Max Power]

This would be an absolute terrible idea.

I agree, moving basketball further away from campus would be disastrous