jimdahl Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Don't know if all the Sioux fans have seen this place, it's amazing. It is multipurpose (also the home of Creighton basketball), seats about 14.7k for hockey, has attached convention space/Hilton hotel, total cost: $291 million. UNO has really been putting together a good hockey program with great fan support and now has the facility to complement it. Check out MavRick's new photos of Qwest Center Omaha (the first I've seen with ice down) So when are the Sioux going to Omaha so I have an excuse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 I saw the building from the outside when I was in Omaha in May. It was quite impressive. That's a very nice barn. I wouldn't mind seeing the Sioux play there sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UMDDogz Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Very impressive!! What do you suppose they do with the empty space behind each goal? Is it sold as SRO, or just kept off limits to fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superman0099 Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Gee... it reminds me of someplace.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sioux fan in phoenix Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 I think the only thing this facility has on REA is the seating capacity. I don't think they have an attached olympic-sized rink, leather seats, marble floors, etc. Nice try, Omaha I think it belongs to the city & hockey will be just one of many venues... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamStrait Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Nice rink. Looks like Ralph may have gotten a lot more for his money though ($104 million vs. $291 million). Not that they would get it anyway, since the NCAA can already sell out much larger NHL venues, but since it's under 15k seating, it's not eligible for as a Frozen Four venue. On second thought, they can probably put in enough temporary seating to get them over the hump, should it be necessary. Wonder what average attendence for UNO will be? It was 8,314 last year according to their official website. Good for #4 in the nation. Couldn't find what their old rink's capacity was though. Kind of reminds me of the Kohl Center. Impressive on the outside, big (& nice) on the inside, but with far less amenities than REA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwing77 Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 The biggest question is: What do the students end up with? Do they end up with the nice arena but the short end of the stick? What this tell me, more than anything is that they are dead serious about their hockey team. They are trying to compete with the big boys in hockey. Wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 What a great facility, good for them, I hope their hockey program continues to grow and prosper over the next couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaNorthStar Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Pretty impressive arena. Good for them. Not crazy about the name though...I hate this naming rights stuff (PacBell Stadium, U.S. Cellular Field, etc...) They need to bring back the classic names like Soldier Field, Comisky Park, Ralph Englestad Arena , and the Rivercentre. It looks like they've learned from REA and built the suites in a place where standing students won't bother them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 It was 8,314 last year according to their official website. Good for #4 in the nation. That number is the "capped out" max in their old barn. Yes, they averaged "sold out" for the season. They'll probably take a good run at #1 total and #1 average in NCAA hockey attendance this season. Not having people right behind them on the glass has to make goalies appreciate the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MavRick Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Hi there. It's my site where you saw the photos. Saw this in my referrer log and thought I'd stop by. Nice place you got, my North Central brothers and sisters. A few points on Qwest Center Omaha. 1. It is owned by the city and run by an independent board called the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority. 2. $291 was the total price tag for the arena and convention center, of which $75 million is attributed to the Arena alone. Not to worry, the Ralph is still the Taj Mahal of college hockey, or, frankly, of any sport played anywhere. 3. The downside to an off-campus facility is ice time and UNO trains on a municipal rink. Still, I was talking to our rookies, and one of them said he played in front of 700 people in Alberta. I think we'll get a little buzz from a recruiting perspective. 4. Creighton University basketball is the co-anchor tenant with UNO Hockey. 5. The seating you saw in the photos was being configured for a concert that took place last night. There will be conventional seats in a 360-degree lower bowl that comes all the way down to the boards for hockey and then a horseshoe-shaped upper bowl. Thre is, however, what we are calling a "patio" or open area in front of the branded concession stands in the shoot-once end. I think the see-and-be-seen types will do a lot of hanging out there. The word is QCO could put in temp seating there to add a couple thou and get over any arbitrary seating requirements needed for an NCAA event. 6. Love to see the Sioux join us down here. (Need to get up the road to GF, for that matter.) I've always heard rumors that it was the Sioux who kept UNO out of the WCHA (never anything concrete) so there may be some emnity there. Whatever the relationships between our schools, if you show up in your Sioux gear and introduce yourself to me at the QCO, I'll buy you an age-appropriate beverage of your choice. Thanks for visiting my site; thanks for letting me in here; good luck with the upcoming season. Rick MavRick's UNO Hockey Pages http://www.foutotheside.com/hockey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Thanks for the info, MavRick. I'd really like to see a game in Omaha's new arena. Someone can (and will) correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd heard that UNO elected not to join the WCHA because it didn't want to go through the waiting period (five years, I believe). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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