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Qwest Center Omaha - Where People Want to Be

It started with a promise nine years ago: big name acts and conventions would come to Omaha if offered the proper venue. And they’ve come—U2, Elton John, Billy Joel and many of the biggest names in entertainment. “Qwest Center Omaha is accomplishing what we wanted—to reclaim industrial land and turn it into a bright place filled with energy where people want to be,” said Roger Dixon, president/CEO, Qwest Center Omaha.

Qwest Center Omaha spans 422 acres, contains excess of 1.1 million square feet, including a 194,000-square-foot exhibition hall. There is more than 63,000 square feet of meeting space. Depending on how the arena is configured, it can seat more than 17,000.

Since its riverfront debut in September 2003, the $290 million Qwest Center Omaha has welcomed approximately 5.5 million guests and rock legends Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones, and country superstars Brad Paisley, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Sports fans have also had their pick of preference. Both the Creighton University men’s basketball team and the University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team continue to build on their solid fan bases. The 2008 NCAA Division I Basketball champions, the University of Kansas Jayhawks, started their run in the arena during the first and second rounds of March Madness. Olympian Michael Phelps broke world records at Qwest Center Omaha before he broke more world records in Beijing.

“The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming certainly proved to be one of our most unique events. The two Olympic size pools, a warm up pool in the convention center and the competition pool in the arena, each held nearly a million gallons of water. Many out-of-town guests had no idea the pools were temporary,” said Dixon.

More than 160,000 tickets were sold for the 2008 Trials, more than any other Olympic Swim Trials in U.S. history. The value of media impressions for Omaha from the trials and during the Beijing Olympics was an estimated $96 million. Omaha will once again host the Trials in 2012.

“One of our biggest accomplishments over the past six years is the strong relationship we have built with the NCAA,” said Dixon.

In 2008 alone, Qwest Center Omaha hosted two NCAA events: Men’s Division I Basketball First and Second Rounds and the 2008 Women’s Division I Volleyball Championship. “We look forward to bringing more great NCAA action to the arena with the 2009 Women’s Division I Regional Volleyball Championship and the 2010 Division I Wrestling Championships,” added Dixon.

He said Qwest Center Omaha’s relationship with the NCAA continues to grow with its latest project, the new $128 million TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha and an unprecedented agreement to keep the College World Series there for the next 25 years. “We welcomed the NCAA to Omaha in January for the official groundbreaking. In two years the first pitch will fly in this new stadium,” said Dixon.

Dixon said Qwest Center Omaha’s local economic impact can soar into the millions when events such as the U.S. Olympic Team Trials or NCAA championships fill Omaha’s hotels, restaurants and shops with visitors. Each new concert means another bustling evening in downtown Omaha and more hotel reservations for out-of-town guests. And, while those public events draw the attention, Dixon said corporate events also leave a positive impression on the city’s economy. “Many visiting conferences never make the news but contribute thousands of dollars to Omaha’s bottom line.”

Qwest Center Omaha has hosted events as varied as the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Stockholder’s Meeting to the Pheasants Forever National Convention, John Deere Product Rollout and American Idol auditions. Future events include: American Dairy Science Association conferences in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the American Public Works Snow Conference in April 2010; and the National Catholic Forensic League conference in May 2010.

Big plans, big crowds, big returns.

“Qwest Center Omaha has far exceeded financial expectations,” said Dixon.

Financed, in large part, by a $216 million voter-approved bond issue, Qwest Center Omaha has shown a profit each year of operation and has generated to date, $14.9 million in sales tax, seat tax and parking revenue. A City subvention designed to ensure a solid start for the facility ended five years earlier than scheduled, saving taxpayers more than $10.5 million.

The promise to taxpayers now is that the momentum will continue for the next six years—and beyond.

Opportunity abounds

DANIEL: “What I love about Omaha is that it’s a big city but has a small town feel. There’s a strong sense of community here.”

HELEN: “It has most things that you might look for in a big city, but the pace of life isn’t too fast: it’s just right.”

JACKIE: “I like Omaha’s diversity. Events like the Polish Festival and the Italian Festival give people the opportunity to experience different cultures here.”

KERRY: “The public school system is very good in Omaha and it’s a great place to raise children.”

CHRIS: “I love how there is a strong sense of historical pride and tradition in Omaha.”

NICOLE: “The cost of living in Omaha is low compared with most other big cities and there isn’t a lot of traffic.”

BROOK: “I love that young professionals are taken seriously in Omaha. Our ideas and concerns are heard and our contributions are valued. You can make a difference here at any age.”

CORY: “I suppose the Midwest mentality is one of the best features of Omaha. People work hard here and help each other out, which is probably one of the reasons why we have a strong economy.”

DJANGO: “The Omaha music scene is great. We have a lot of local talent and some great concert venues.”

JULIA: “I love the fact that we get all four seasons in Omaha. It keeps things interesting when you’re changing from one season to the next.”

LINDSAY: “There’s a small but strong arts scene in Omaha. Places like Film Streams, the Holland Performing Arts Center and the Rose Theater provide a strong foundation for the arts and make for great entertainment.”

BEN: “I love how Omaha mixes the past with the present. The Old Market is a perfect example: you have old cobblestone streets blended with contemporary shopping and dining options.”

ELIZABETH: “The bicycle trails in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area are awesome. And there are a lot of parks around that give you a great way to either stay active or wind down after a long work week.”

RYAN: “The College World Series is definitely my favorite Omaha event. I go every year and it’s always a blast. It’s great to see people from all over the country come to Omaha to cheer their team on.”

JON: “The thing I love most about Omaha is that it’s a city in the making. There is a feeling of optimism among young professionals, the feeling that we can play a major role in deciding how our city develops in the future. Opportunity abounds in Omaha.”