CenturyLink Center Omaha
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This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (April 2008) |
| CenturyLink Center Omaha | |
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| Former names | Qwest Center Omaha (2003-2011) |
| Location | 455 N 10th Street Omaha, Nebraska, 68102-1151 |
| Coordinates | 41°15′45.60″N 95°55′41.54″W / 41.262667°N 95.9282056°W |
| Broke ground | 2001 |
| Opened | September 24, 2003[1] |
| Renovated | 2011-2014[citation needed] |
| Expanded | 2006 |
| Owner | City of Omaha |
| Operator | Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction cost | USD $291 million ($347 million in 2012 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | DLR Group |
| Project Manager | Kiewit Construction Co.[1] |
| Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti[3] |
| Capacity | 18,300 (concerts) 17,560 (basketball) 16,680 (hockey) |
| Tenants | |
| Creighton Bluejays UNO Mavericks |
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CenturyLink Center is an arena and convention center facility in the North Downtown neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. The 1.1 million ft² facility has an 18,300-seat arena, a 194,000-ft² exhibition hall and 62,000 ft² of meeting space.
The arena opened in 2003 as Qwest Center Omaha. It adopted its current name on July 15, 2011[4] as part of a $22 billion buyout of Qwest by CenturyLink (formerly CenturyTel).[5] All signage, inside and outside, will be changed to conform to the new arena name; lighting will also be switched (from blue to green). The transition was expected to be completed by August 1, 2011. However, all the inside changes had been made, the outside name changes were finally completed on December 20, 2011.
The arena hosts various basketball games, hockey games, professional wrestling events and concerts. Another notable event held there is the annual shareholders meeting of Omaha-based conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway.
Other names for the facility are "The Qwest", "The Riverfront Centre", "The Omaha Convention Center & Arena" or "The CLink".
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[edit] History
In 2000, Omaha voters approved a $216 million bond issue to build a new convention center and arena; the remainder of the $291 million project was provided by private organizations and individuals. The facility design was led by architectural firm DLR Group. Naming rights to the arena were purchased by Qwest.
Qwest Center Omaha opened in September 2003 with an initial seating capacity of 17,000 for concerts, 15,500 for basketball, and 14,700 for hockey. In 2006, a $5.7-million expansion of the arena increased capacity by approximately 1,500 seats.
The Qwest Center displaced the 1954 Omaha Civic Auditorium as the premier indoor arena in the city. The venerable Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum was closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2005.
The arena hosted games in the first and second rounds of the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Wrestling Championships. It was also home to the WWE Judgment Day 2008 pay-per-view, as well as other events from WWE.
The 2008 USA Swimming Summer Olympic Trials were hosted over eight days at the Qwest Center and on June 29, 2009 it was announced the trials would return again in 2012. The 2008 event averaged more than 12,000 spectators each night.[6]
Part of the first and second round games for the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament will be held on either March 15 and March 17 or March 16 and March 18.
A portion of the roof, "The Hat", was damaged by a storm on June 27, 2008. There was no structural damage, however, the damage caused water to pour into parts of the Qwest Center, flowed down two sets of arena steps and onto the deck of the competition pool for the USA Swimming Summer Olympic Trials. The schedule for the trials went on as scheduled.[7]
In 2011 it was announced the name would be changed to The CenturyLink Center Omaha.
[edit] Tenants
- Creighton Bluejays men's basketball
- UNO Mavericks ice hockey
- Nebraska School Activities Association -- Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament
[edit] Attendance history
Top 10 Largest Home Crowds at Qwest Center Omaha, Creighton History
[citation needed]
| Rank | Attendance | Opponent | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18,436 | Bradley | W 73-59 | January 28, 2012 |
| 2 | 17,954 | Wichita State | W 68-56 | December 28, 2008 |
| 3 | 17,676 | Northwestern | W 87-79 | December 22, 2011 |
| 4 | 17,665 | Missouri State | L 77-65 | December 28, 2011 |
| 5 | 17,607 | Drexel | L 58-64 | February 17, 2007 |
| 6 | 17,459 | Southern Illinois | L 57-58 | January 20, 2007 |
| 7 | 17,411 | Indiana State | W 75-49 | January 21, 2012 |
| 8 | 17,411 | George Mason | W 76-63 | February 21, 2009 |
| 9 | 17,371 | Indiana State | W 86-69 | January 19, 2008 |
| 10 | 17,263 | Indiana State | W 71-55 | January 27, 2007 |
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White Out vs Wichita St.
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US Olympic Swimming Trials June, 2008
[edit] Records and milestones
On the evening of January 28, 2012, the largest crowd to attend a Creighton University basketball game occurred when 18,436 fans witnessed the Creighton men's team defeat Bradley University.[8][9] This crowd was also the largest crowd to witness a Missouri Valley Conference regular season men's basketball game.[citation needed]
On January 13, 2011, the largest crowd to ever watch a hockey game in Nebraska occurred when 16,138 fans attended the game between the University of Nebraska @ Omaha and Minnesota-Duluth.
The CenturyLink Center holds several NCAA attendance records, especially in college volleyball. Qwest Center owns the top three NCAA tournament attendance record. The highest attendance to ever watch a volleyball match in the United States occurred when 17,340 fans watched the 2008 NCAA National Semifinal match between Penn State and Nebraska. The second highest attendance in NCAA tournament history occurred when 17,209 fans watched Nebraska defeat Stanford for the 2006 NCAA championship. For the 2008 NCAA National Championship, 14,299 people watched Penn State defeat Stanford, the third highest attendance in NCAA tournament history and just two days after the Qwest Center broke the attendance record for the semifinals.[10]
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[edit] See also
- Omaha Civic Auditorium
- Mid-America Center
- Rosenblatt Stadium
- Ak-Sar-Ben - (defunct)
- TD Ameritrade Park
- Morrison Stadium
[edit] References
- ^ a b Broughton, David (November 23, 2003). "City finishes Qwest for new arena". SportsBusinessDaily.com. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/11/20031124/Facilities/City-Finishes-Qwest-For-New-Arena.aspx?hl=%22club%20seats%22&sc=0. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ^ http://s3.amazonaws.com/tt_assets/pdf/SportsEntertainmentBrochure.pdf
- ^ Robb, Jeffrey (July 15, 2011). "Qwest Center gets new name". Omaha.com. http://www.omaha.com/article/20110715/NEWS01/110719678. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ^ Boettcher, Ross (March 24, 2011). "New name for Qwest Center". Omaha.com. http://www.omaha.com/article/20110324/NEWS01/703249831/9. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ^ (nd) [1]
- ^ (nd) Severe storm in Omaha damages swimming arena Retrieved 7/1/2008.
- ^ Pivovar, Steven (January 29, 2012). "McDermott leads Jays in front of colorful crowd". Omaha.com. http://www.omaha.com/article/20120128/NEWS/301289904/1031960. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ Olson, Eric (January 29, 2012). "Struggling Bradley loses 73-59 to No. 15 Creighton". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_basketball/articles/2012/01/29/struggling_bradley_loses_73_59_to_no_15_creighton/. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ "2008 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship Match Notes". GoPSUSports.com. December 20, 2008. http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/122108aac.html. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Omaha Civic Auditorium |
Home of Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball 2003 – present |
Succeeded by Current |
| Preceded by Omaha Civic Auditorium |
Home of UNO Mavericks Men's Hockey 2003 – present |
Succeeded by Current |
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- Event venues established in 2003
- College basketball venues in the United States
- College ice hockey venues in the United States
- Convention centers in Nebraska
- Creighton Bluejays basketball venues
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Music venues in Omaha, Nebraska
- Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks ice hockey
- Sports venues in Omaha, Nebraska
- Sports venues in Nebraska
- CenturyLink
