NSAA: Lincoln Vs. Omaha

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:00 pm

JournalStar wrote: Omaha, Lincoln compete for tourneys

Without the power to knock down walls or to bolt down additional seats, city officials hoping to keep the state wrestling tournament in Lincoln still intend to show their muscle at the bargaining table.

The bottom line, they say, is convincing the Nebraska School Activities Association that they can't afford to host the tournament anywhere other than the Devaney Sports Center.

"We're going to be very competitive to the point where we're prepared to offer things we haven't offered before," said Wendy Birdsall, president of Lincoln's Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's a monetary issue, and we're going to offset about as much as we possibly can.

"We'll make it well worth their while to keep the tournament in Lincoln."

The NSAA Board of Control will consider proposals for state tournaments in basketball, wrestling, track and field, baseball, swimming and diving, tennis and boys golf during two days of meetings beginning today in Lincoln.

While wrestling has garnered most of the attention, Omaha and Lincoln also are competing over rights to the baseball tournament. And Lincoln is facing challenges from Kearney and North Platte for boys golf.

There is no competing proposal to host the boys and girls basketball tournaments.
Lincoln had not faced competition as host for the wrestling tournament before Qwest Center Omaha opened its doors in 2003.

In their first attempt to win rights to the state wrestling tournament, Omaha officials were turned away two years ago primarily for financial reasons.

Board members had concerns over a $1 tax on every ticket sold and a $6 fee for parking that if passed on to fans could add $21 to the cost of attending three of five sessions during the tournament.

While Qwest Center president Roger Dixon said such fees, mandated as a way to pay off bonds for the new facility, are a non-issue where other events are concerned, Omaha officials have looked into creative ways to reduce the financial impact on not only the NSAA but schools and their fans.

"If anything, Omaha was guilty of really not knowing what to do with such a facility relative to this group the first time around," said Dan Morrissey, president of the Omaha Sports Commission. "I think we all now have a better idea of what the NSAA's goals and interests are."

For those closest to the sport, safety is the overriding issue in promoting a move away from the Sports Center.

"Put simply, it is a matter of the safety and well-being of 896 individuals who earned a chance to compete for a gold medal," Michael Carnes, publisher of Nebraska Wrestling Illustrated, wrote in a recent column. "It is that issue, and not whether one city is better than the other or even which city the fans prefer, that must be considered by the NSAA Board of Control."

The Qwest Center has significantly more floor space, allowing for increased area between mats. In addition, there would be up to 2,000 more seats available for the popular semifinal and finals sessions.

Fans, coaches and wrestlers alike remain split on if a move is the right thing.

Many who have attended the state tournament for years have told Birdsall they'd hate to see the tournament leave Lincoln.

Just above the bottom line, tradition is at the heart of Lincoln's proposal.

"We know how important this is to our community and how important this is to outstate Nebraska," Birdsall said. "We're not taking anything for granted."

Tournament breakdowns

Wrestling
Why it should stay in Lincoln
The Friday night semifinals and the Saturday finals with the spine-tingling Paarade of Champions provide as charged an atmosphere as you'll find at any NSAA-sanctioned championship. There's a rich wrestling tradition in Lincoln and stronger economic benefits for the NSAA, its member schools and fans. Yes, the quarters are cramped at the Devaney Sports Center, but no one was screaming until Qwest Center Omaha came along.
Why it should move to Omaha
"Bigger and better" might be an age-old marketing concept, but it applies in the case of the Qwest Center. The bigger facility would provide a safer competition area for wrestlers; additional mats on which to warm up; additional seating and better sightlines for fans; and convenient parking on paved lots surrounding the arena. Passionate wrestling fans also would have a place to call their own.

Baseball
Why it should move to Lincoln
Haymarket Park would be a more intimate and also exciting venue for the championships. Unlike 25,000-seat Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, which has hosted only a couple of tournament games each year, Haymarket Park would be used extensively, guaranteeing that each team would play at the home of the Huskers at least once during the championships. Sherman Field, Lincoln's secondary venue, is easily accessible from Haymarket Park.
Why it should stay in Omaha
As home to the College World Series, Rosenblatt is sacred ground for ballplayers. And even if just for the finals, the dream of playing on the same field where a national champion is crowned each summer is big. Teams from Omaha have dominated the field in recent years, and moving the tournament could mean a strikeout in attendance. A Lincoln team last qualified for state in 2002.

Boys golf
Why it should stay in Lincoln
The city has four quality municipal courses capable of challenging players in all four classes. There are also economic advantages in having the NSAA staff working within a chip shot of their headquarters rather than spending days on the road. As in most sports, Lincoln is recognized as a destination for those athletes aiming for a championship. Golf is no different.
Why it should move
Courses in central and western Nebraska — both Kearney and North Platte are expected to submit proposals — would likely welcome the championships with open arms, making it a truly special event for coaches, participants and spectators. Because those communities are equipped to handle championships in only a handful of sports, moving boys golf could be viewed as a reward to schools in those parts of the state.

The others

BASKETBALL
Without a radical change in format, the tournament isn't likely to move from Lincoln any time soon. Omaha has potential scheduling conflicts with UNO hockey in the CCHA playoffs and NCAA tournament games at the Qwest Center and a new minor-league club moving into Civic Auditorium.

VOLLEYBALL
Since the Qwest Center will host the 2006 NCAA Championships, staging the 2006 high school tournament there would be a big deal for players and fans. The Coliseum in Lincoln was a great venue for this season's finals but can't be used in years when Nebraska football has a home game that weekend.

SOFTBALL
It's doubtful the tournament would ever leave Omaha, where three classes are centralized at the Seymour Smith complex. While not a true stadium venue like Lincoln's Haymarket Park, Seymour Smith did once host the Women's College World Series. Only Hastings has a comparable complex of fields with ample seating.

TRACK AND FIELD
With so many resources already invested in making Burke Stadium a fine venue, there's little chance that the meet would race from Omaha any time soon. The stadium's bowl is able to accommodate large crowds, and while parking is an issue, such would likely be the case anywhere else in the state.

SOCCER
The championships have bounced back and forth between Omaha and Lincoln in recent years, finally landing at Creighton's new stadium for the first time this May. If all goes well, and Omaha is able to provide a suitable second field for matches, it may be hard for Lincoln to regain the event.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:02 pm

TheOmahaChannel wrote: Omaha Makes State Wrestling Bid
High School Tournament Could Move From Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska State High School Wrestling Tournament could make a move to Omaha.

The Omaha Sports Commission is bidding for the tournament to take place at the Qwest Center in future years. The Nebraska School Activities Association will consider the idea Thursday. A decision is expected Friday.

Two years ago, Omaha got close to luring the State Wrestling Tournament to the Qwest Center. Lincoln's business community offered the Nebraska School Activities Association $50,000, but only if boys and girls basketball and wrestling stayed in Lincoln for five years.

"We don't take anything for granted," said Wendy Birdsall, with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, during a March interview with KETV. "We're not only serious in our bid, but keep people happy when they are here."

Lincoln pulled out all the stops to keep high school sports tournaments in the capital city during the Boys State Basketball Tournament. The boys' tournament draws the largest crowds, and Lincoln wants it to stay at the Devaney Center and other sites across the city.

This year, Lincoln's Convention and Visitors' Bureau offered free shuttle rides from parking areas to the games for the first time. There were ambassadors for each team to help them get around town. At each tournament site, a hospitality table greets teams and answers visitors' questions. It's all an attempt to "out friendly" the competition.

A sample of crowd opinion at the Devaney Center Friday afternoon was split. Some patrons would like a change of venue, but others said they wouldn't drive to Omaha to watch the tournament.

"Omaha's not as friendly a town," said one.

Omaha could win some hearts, though.

"Bigger facility," said Mary Alice Kanger. "Parking is a lot easier. It would minimize a lot of the congestion."

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:24 pm

Twiztid1 wrote:
"Omaha's not as friendly a town," said one.

I don't understand comments like this one. Ask people during the college world series if omaha isn't friendly. But according to elkhorn, neighbors don't wave to each other in omaha.

What are you talking about? I wave the bird all the time at my... Oh wait. Maybe Omaha isn't very friendly.

Going to Lincoln isn't special unless you're from Scottsbluff, Tri-Cities, or Hayscrew Nebraska. Sure it's close for Omahan's but the state is missing out on opportunities to showcase it's biggest city and show the out state youth that the only thing worth staying in Nebraska for is Omaha. That might sound a bit blunt but it's the truth.

I'm sure their was a time when going to Lincoln was appealing but with the Qwest Center (which has wowed more than farmers and ranchers) and being in the Downtown and one true urban area in this state, we can begin a new tradition in Omaha and show that Omaha isn't the big bad city they think it is. (It still is but don't tell them that.

) And that the crime and traffic (unless they go 50 in front of me on I-80) is a non issue.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:49 pm

It's not like I'm going to shoot someone (that's what they'd expect) but I'd let them know to pick up the pace a bit and I have before. I actually try to help out state people when in Omaha. I can't tell you how many people I've stopped from putting change in the meters after 5 or on the weekends.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:36 pm

Shiiit, I’m scared to go out there…. Ever seen Children of the Corn or Deliverance?

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:28 am

I have those same thoughts about rural areas too.

If Omaha had the chance to host the tournament for a few years, the yocals and rubes of Hayscrew, Nebraska would love coming to Omaha for their fun big city fix every year. They're just being stubborn because Lincoln is what they're used to.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:41 am

God, us Omahans are so damn scary. I mean we need bigger priorities than raping, robbing, killing people and visitors, and annexing small towns everywhere! Since downtown is our haven for prostitution, killers, rapists, robbers, and hobos, the Qwest Center is too dangerous to even go to. And since most of the people in omaha (rapists, killers ect), are all over downtown all the time, traffic is always deadlock. Regardless of the fact that the Qwest Center is beautiful, it was built using tax money from the unfair annexation of several small communitites around Omaha. Therefore it needs to stay in the small, out of date, Devaney center in Lincoln so the NSAA can turn away parents, grandparents, and friends of wrestlers competing in the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Oh, and I almost forgot to add that Lincolnites are 100,000,000,000,000x nicer and more prominent in society (b/c they run the state govn't). So basically we all suck and there better than us, even though our dangerous city is good enough for the Big XII and the NCAA(maybe).

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:38 am

DTO next time you are in Hayscrew can you take a few pictures for me. Grow your hair back out first and drive that Buick about 75 miles per hour through the mainstreet. Then jump out and take a buch of pictures and then get the heck out.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:40 am

I'm usually scared that I'll end up at a Texas Chainsaw Massacre out there or worse, a Klan meeting.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:47 am

Lincoln is closer than Omaha for a lot of the people. So I can understand why they wouldn't want to drive any further. Besides, in all fairness, some of the outstate people do not know how to navigate in Omaha yet. It is always a bit nerve racking trying to find a place in heavy traffic not knowing where you are going. Especially if you grew up in rural setting.

It would be nice for Omaha to get a few more tournaments though.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:07 am

A blow from Omaha to Lincoln; I just checked Omaha.com and it's saying that the Omaha Sports Comission is picking up the rental and staffing charges at the Qwest Center, giving team vehicles free parking, and selling tickets instead of the NSAA. Go Omaha! Now if we really don't get it screw them, and when they beg to come offer the MAC.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:13 am

I think the good thing is if we land this the NSAA will get a taste on how good of a host Omaha is and how great of a venue the Qwest Center really is. Once they see this, I think we'll see the volleyball move to the Qwest center in a few years. Basketball, on the other hand, will probably stay in Lincoln for some odd reason. I just hope baseball doesnt leave, but the NSAA is a bunch of morons if they move the championship away from the MECA of college baseball to some new little stadium in Lincoln. It really wouldn't suprise me if it ever did happen though, as sad as that is.

And as for soccer, it says Omaha still neads a suitable second field, how about Central Stadium? I mean its right across the street and is a heck of alot better that holding the tourney on two different sides of town.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:29 am

I would rather go after basketball than wrestling. The Qwest Center is mush better suited and is at it's best during basketball games.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:34 am

It would be really good if we got this because all the outstate folk would realize what a nice place Omaha actually is and they wouldn't screw us as much in the state legislature. Plus it would likely help improve the posetive aspects of their state identity.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:58 pm

Omaha wins State Wrestling Tournament!!
It was just on Channel 6. I'll watch the Lincoln new tonight and see if anyone complains.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:18 pm

On the 5 oclock Lincoln news the tournament was the big story. Their wasn't a whole lot of info but they are going to have the Lincoln peoples reactions at 6. Should be fun.

GoWest · Post by **GoWest** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:15 am

DTO Luv wrote: I'm usually scared that I'll end up at a Texas Chainsaw Massacre

I feel kind of dumb to admit it, but I thought of the Texas Chainsaw massacre once when I was driving in really, really rural Kansas once. There were boots along the top of fence posts and all I could think of, was that these were victims.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:59 am

At 6 on Lincoln's news they talked with teh head of the Lincoln CVB and she said that even though Lincoln put up the best bid they could it showed them that they needed to work on the facilities they have since that's what it came down to in the decision btwn Omaha and Lincoln. They talked with a worker at some Haymarket bar and she siad it didn't surprise her that Omaha got it because "it has a huge Downtown"

but she said it would hurt alot of Lincoln businesses from the money they would lose.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:22 pm

Good gain. I'm not as disapointed about losing baseball because that wasn't a big money maker anyway. I'd love to see volleyball move here too. I think it could happen too.

OmahaBen · Post by **OmahaBen** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:27 am

DTO Luv wrote:I would rather go after basketball than wrestling. The Qwest Center is mush better suited and is at it's best during basketball games.

Problem is the state basketball tournament is always around the same time as conference playoffs for UNO hockey and NCAA regionals for basketball. Frankly I'd rather get the NCAA's every 4th year than the state basketball tourny, but that's just me.

Wisconsin deals somewhat with the same issue, so they've sort of comprimised. The girls bball tourny rotates between the Kohl Center and the Dane County Colossium every other year (Kohl=Qwest, DCC=Civic for comparison's sake). If Wisconsin hockey is hosting the first round of their conference playoffs in years when the state bball tourny is in the Kohl Center, they get bumped out of their own building and put in the DCC.

I think Omaha should try to either get baseball back or land volleyball, and then leave the rest to Lincoln or western Neb. Wrestling + track + soccer + 1 more would be enough, IMO.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:17 pm

of all the state basketball games i went to, the devaney center had no problem accomodating all the fans. The student sections kind of sucked, but besides that, I dont see any reason they would move it to omaha.

custudent · Post by **custudent** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:20 pm

It's disappointing to see the baseball tournament go back to Lincoln, but i'm not suprised. Haymarket probably is a better a venue for it, but the attendance issues they raised in the paper are a good point. However, once Omaha and/or Creighton finish the new ballpark, I see no reason to deny a bid of the New CU/Royals Ballpark and the Finals at Rosenblatt.

Wrestling, though, needed to move. The Devaney Center is simply too small of a venue for it anymore- both in terms of floor space and seating. They had some good articles during the season about how the smaller floor space is a serious injury waiting to happen at the Bob. Once MECA and the Sports Commission agreed to cover more of the fees, this really became a no-brainer.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 12:28 am

Let's go after football.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Tue Apr 12, 2005 12:52 am

DTO Luv wrote:Let's go after football.

With our new NFL team's stadium perhaps...

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:31 pm

http://www.ketv.com/news/7045886/detail ... 42006&ts=H

According to the KETV story the NSAA is not happy with the way the rules are panning out for the Qwest and alcohol in the suites. If they hold true to the statems that are made here this may be the last time they are at the Qwest since it sounds like the Suites have a contract that says Booze is OK.

They need to work something out to keep it out for these events. There does not need to be official alcohol at a High School event no mater what the contract for the suites say. ... and Omaha needs to keep the Wrestling tourny.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:41 pm

When NCAA events occur at the Qwest Center, alcohol will not be allowed in the suites, so this is probably much-to-do-about-nothing. Omaha certainly won't lose the wrestling tournament on this issue. If they put on a bad tournament, this will get added to the list of reasons why it goes back to Lincoln, but if Omaha puts on a great tournament with more fans enjoying themselves, this issue will be a minor technicality that will get cleared up.

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:11 pm

HskrFanMike wrote:When NCAA events occur at the Qwest Center, alcohol will not be allowed in the suites, so this is probably much-to-do-about-nothing. Omaha certainly won't lose the wrestling tournament on this issue. If they put on a bad tournament, this will get added to the list of reasons why it goes back to Lincoln, but if Omaha puts on a great tournament with more fans enjoying themselves, this issue will be a minor technicality that will get cleared up.

Everything that I have read today says that alcohol will be allowed in the suites during the wresling tourny. This is from more than one source that I found while doing my noon reading. Better read what has been publised today, I think you will find the NSAA stating that they will pull out after the two year contract with this araingnment.

Also the NCAA and NSAA are two difforent things. Alcohol, by the way was not allowed in the general area for the NCAA volllyball tourney but was in the suites. The NSAA is the Nebr State Athletic Assoc.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2116622
Here is the OWH story. IT states that it will be available.

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/200 ... 865246.txt
And from the Lincoln Paper, more of the same.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:33 pm

MECA board member Hal Daub said the facility has bent over backward to accommodate the association's concerns and pointed out that the association signed a two-year contract.

Daub asked whether the wrestlers in the tournament would be staying at alcohol-free hotels.

"It doesn't seem like a very modern or consistent approach," Daub said. "I would ask that folks be a little more reasonable in their attitude."

The suites represent private, leased areas that bring in big business and lower the cost of the facility's use for everyone else, he said.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:42 pm

What a bunch of teetotaling phonies. I loved the line about "Do they stay at liquor free hotels?"

The morning version of this article (that I can't find now) had a quote from someone lamenting the fact that high school sports was the last level of sporting that still provided "wholesome fun" or something like that. I couldn't help but think: "Yeah, like sweaty teenage boys wrestling in their underwear."

"Won't somebody please think of the children!"

-Big E

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:47 pm

Yeah, this is definitely a

.

I had friends that would go down to the wrestling tournament just so they could get drunk. Be serious people.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:13 pm

The Q should do what ever helps the bottom line, but I do know that attendees love the fact that they will sell them alcohol. I’m kind of getting the impression that the Q is walking a fine line with the NSAA as in they are waiting for any excuse to give events back to Lincoln.

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:38 pm

I have no probelm with drinking, I have proven it many times.

Glad to have a beer when I go to a CU game and wish I could in Lincoln at a Husker basketball game. God only know it might help watching what goes on down there at some games.

That being said, a high school tournement is no place for alcohol in any way shape or form. I know there are plenty of high school drinkers and many people there as fans will be drinking before and after the event but it shoulds not be available or acessable to even a select few at the event. IT is not the message that should be sent The Qwest and MECA need to get this in order before it blows up on them. They are the right location for the HS Wrestling tourny.

custudent · Post by **custudent** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:44 pm

This is a bunch of dirty tricks on the part of the NSAA. The status of the suites, i'm sure, was not hidden from the moment MECA bid for the tournament. If it was a deal breaker, it should have been raised then.

No reason MECA should bend on what is a signed contract. The NSAA is acting in bad faith. Considering what we've heard about how the floor space and smaller capacity at the Deavney Center was such an issue, the NSAA needs Omaha far more than Omaha needs the NSAA. The Wrestling Tournament is nice, but it's not the end of the world. Creighton and UNO probably wouldn't be exactly down about it if the NSAA took their ball and cried all the way home.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:10 pm

I can certainly see both sides of the coin. School (as in K-12) events should be alchohol free to set a good example for the students involved. There's the basic premise that we can all agree on. But the list of reality checks is growing by the second.

- Availability of alchohol in the suites was not a "hidden claus". The NSAA saw it when they signed up.

- Staying at alchohol free hotels? Kids shouldn't be running around in the bar anyway. The "duh" factor is high here...

- etc, etc...

The NSAA seems to be succumbing to the ZT way of thinking, which is an awful idea to subscribe to. Educating kids about drinking by pretending nobody has alchohol, anywhere at anytime is the worst idea ever. As others have said, the NSAA seems to be looking for a reason to move it back to Lincoln. I'll cut the rant short there...

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:15 pm

Well don’t worry about the kids too much, I seen a |expletive| load of students bringing alcohol to the wrestling tourney back when I was in hi-school. heck most of them could pry drink me under the table specially the more rural they are.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 1:01 am

I dont see the problem since at the state football championships you can have booze in the suites, so whats the difference? This is just the NSAA trying to make omaha look like the big evil moster that we are, as usual. What else should we expect. I guess they need to go back to letting the wrestlers hit tables, warm up in the hallways, and run out of tickets for spectators, sometimes it was even parents shut out. Whatever, screw the NSAA, I'm more worried about the NCAA.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:22 am

It's not like the kids them selves are going to be drinking so I don't see what all the bitching's about.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:56 pm

If not having any alcohol will get us more high school events then MECA needs to step up and get the box owners to agree to this. I can understand not having it at a high school event. Des Moines got this worked out at WFA no reason we can't. This is going to be a huge event for our city, no reason to lose it after two years over this.

Downtown Omaha is going to be packed this weekend. Should be a great one for the hotels, restaraunts and bars.

Greg