Downtown UNO campus and stadium

[Linkin5]

I wasn't aware that there was ever a push for a UNO downtown campus or stadium at all. Does anybody have any other information about this, or any memories of what the proposals entailed?

This is a newspaper clipping from March 11, 1971.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I was 9 years old when this article was published..

Obviously a failed endeavor.. But I have never heard of this proposed idea though..

Interesting.. And an entire downtown campus idea as well.. I’d think that idea might have been too ambitious for the powers to be in Lincoln. Likely would have been frowned upon. Maybe someone else has intel on the history of this...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[iamjacobm]

The 1974 DT master plan showed a downtown UNO campus. I swear some images from that plan were posted here probably 1000 years ago. I can't find anything in the search right now.

[Garrett]

The 1974 DT master plan showed a downtown UNO campus. I swear some images from that plan were posted here probably 1000 years ago. I can't find anything in the search right now.

There are some images from it in the 2008 plan. Pages 11-13

https://urbanplanning.cityofomaha.org/i ... 30_web.pdf

[Linkin5]

The 1974 DT master plan showed a downtown UNO campus. I swear some images from that plan were posted here probably 1000 years ago. I can't find anything in the search right now.

There are some images from it in the 2008 plan. Pages 11-13

https://urbanplanning.cityofomaha.org/i ... 30_web.pdf

Thank you!

[Padre]

What was the logic behind a domed stadium? Did they have aspirations of getting major league football or baseball?

[Greg S]

What was the logic behind a domed stadium? Did they have aspirations of getting major league football or baseball?

I don't think so. I remember Shatel writing about the OmaDome at one point. It was going to be a cross between a dome and a arena.

Greg

[Bob from Omaha]

I remember this proposal. There were a number of them floating around in those days.
As far as the 100,000 seat dome is concerned, it really wasn't anything more than a "What do we do with that land over there? Well, there are lots of domed stadiums nowadays, let's put one there." When cities ask for ideas for redevelopment they get all kinds of them. It's not just an Omaha thing. Lots of cities have seen many "Oh boy!" never built schemes.

[Garrett]

Omaha was sharing the Kansas City Kings in the early 1970s, so it's not totally insane that they'd imagine a huge stadium down there.

Sidebar, but googling "Omadome" leads to some interesting conspiracy theories about weather manipulation from Offutt

[Bob from Omaha]

Omaha was sharing the Kansas City Kings in the early 1970s, so it's not totally insane that they'd imagine a huge stadium down there.

Sidebar, but googling "Omadome" leads to some interesting conspiracy theories about weather manipulation from Offutt

This idea was before the Kings

On the other hand, this is interesting.... https://medium.com/@PaulEmoryPutz/the-nba-comes-to-omaha-a-short-history-of-the-kansas-city-omaha-kings-346aa7358ba4

[Greg S]

Was the Kiewit Conference Center for UNO downtown sprung out of this?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Was the Kiewit Conference Center for UNO downtown sprung out of this?

I believe it was Greg...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Bob from Omaha]

Was the Kiewit Conference Center for UNO downtown sprung out of this?

I believe it was Greg...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

The proposal called for two 4-6 story buildings on each side of the mall, the south one ended up being the Kiewit conference center. I remember laughing that one of the labels for the UNO downtown campus was "UNO Center for the Study of the Urban Man". Wow.

As always, it was just a proposal. But hey, Omaha got the Kiewit Conference Center.

[ita]

Was the Kiewit Conference Center for UNO downtown sprung out of this?

I believe it was Greg...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

The proposal called for two 4-6 story buildings on each side of the mall, the south one ended up being the Kiewit conference center. I remember laughing that one of the labels for the UNO downtown campus was "UNO Center for the Study of the Urban Man". Wow.

As always, it was just a proposal. But hey, Omaha got the Kiewit Conference Center.

How much does Kiewit Conference Center take in that building? Since it's closed, is it time for redevelopment?

[Fort Calhoun]

The Kiewit Conference Center was built to provide a facility where UNO could hold some classes downtown. UNO did have some classes there for a few years but they were poorly attended. UNO reduced the number of classes and then discontinued the remaining ones.

The domed stadium was an idea that was proposed because the city was afraid the NCAA might move the College World Series to a facility in another city where they would not have to reschedule games due to rain outs. The 1971 Omaha Mustangs programs included a picture of a facility at Idaho State and said the Omaha Sports Commission was considering building a similar structure in Omaha that would cost $5 million. The stadium would be used by the Mustangs, basketball, hockey, and other events.

[omaha79]

The Kiewit Conference Center was built to provide a facility where UNO could hold some classes downtown. UNO did have some classes there for a few years but they were poorly attended. UNO reduced the number of classes and then discontinued the remaining ones.

The domed stadium was an idea that was proposed because the city was afraid the NCAA might move the College World Series to a facility in another city where they would not have to reschedule games due to rain outs. The 1971 Omaha Mustangs programs included a picture of a facility at Idaho State and said the Omaha Sports Commission was considering building a similar structure in Omaha that would cost $5 million. The stadium would be used by the Mustangs, basketball, hockey, and other events.

I missed this thread in 2020, but was just thinking what you said there. I always remember walking by the Kiewit Conference Center when I was younger, and in college at UNO. Always thought it odd that UNO had a downtown building. Maybe this was the first step towards a downtown campus that never materialized. I, for one, am glad it didn't.

As for the domed stadium, that was all the rage in most cities in the 70's, 80's, and into the early 90's.

Who here is old enough to remember the idea that was constantly floated in the late 80's and early 90's to demolish Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and build a "90,000 seat domed stadium halfway between Omaha and Lincoln." Another terrible idea that would have been an absolute disaster and probably led to the team not achieving the greatness they did in the mid to late 90's. But, this was not just random pie in the sky thinking. people were seriously talking about it and I remember news articles and constant talk on KFAB about it.

[almighty_tuna]

Hah, between this domed stadium, a giant reservoir, NHL arena, and massive international airport the farmland between Omaha and Lincoln might have been a happening place!

[Garrett]

Hah, between this domed stadium, a giant reservoir, NHL arena, and massive international airport the farmland between Omaha and Lincoln might have been a happening place!

No love for Minard Land?

[almighty_tuna]

I totally left out Minard! For shame!!