Kearney Rumor Mill

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Wed Jul 06, 2022 7:31 am

Heard that Kearney Regional Medical Center is going to build a separate building for cancer treatment. Between Yanney and the hospital.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Wed Jul 06, 2022 7:34 am

Leaders are saying that Talmadge street which isn’t finished yet will be unrecognizable in five years due to all the developments in process. Assuming this is hotels and restruants to support new multi sports complex

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:03 am

I made my first visit to Kearney this past weekend in close to 5 years (I used to work here part time before I retired in 2018). I was stunned to see the Crowne Plaza resting on what had been an empty field last time I was here. I walked through the snazzy lobby and through the Starbuck’s before taking my walk on the adjacent exercise trail over to Yanney Park. As I walked past the hotel I scratched my head, wondering “I could have swore the Younes Convention Center was located across the street, by the Comfort Inn.” WOW, now they have 2 of them! All in all I think there are now 12 motels/hotels located on the north side of the I-80 interchange here. Even Omaha doesn’t have anywhere near that number of lodging properties at one interchange.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:16 am

Paul Younes has built a convention empire there with his money and expertise. With all of the amenities provided and aggressive marketing and pricing, Kearney has become the proverbial 800 pound gorilla in small to midsized convention bookings in the state. It's become a huge share of local sales tax revenue, which was particularly painful to the city a few years back when flooding put the lions share of those properties out of play for several months.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:16 pm

I met Paul Younes about a decade ago, when a group I was then president of was looking at future conference locations and hotels. He was most gracious, and clearly was a man with a vision. Kearney if fortunate to have him, as he has poured tens of millions of dollars into the local economy,
I’m friends with the general manger of one of his hotel properties, and she also speaks very highly of his company, saying he goes way beyond what is required in terms of updating his hotels and conference properties.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Sun Aug 14, 2022 5:21 pm

https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/denve ... 95b61.html

The airline that will take over service to Kearney Regional Airport in 11 weeks flies 50-passenger jets and will provide 12 nonstop round trip flights per week to Denver International Airport.

City Manager Michael Morgan announced Friday that Denver Air Connection has been selected to replace SkyWest as the new Essential Air Service provider for the Kearney airport.

Denver Air Connection will begin in Kearney on Nov. 1 and feature bookings, connections and baggage transfers that will access United Airlines’ and American Airlines’ global network.

The change in air carriers comes at a time when flying out of Kearney has never been more popular. City officials were anticipating a record-breaking 30,000 boardings this year when SkyWest announced in March it was dropping Kearney. The previous passenger record was 25,000.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:17 pm

New hotel with 150 rooms going up west of Crowne Plaza.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:30 pm

3 new restaurants in the works for the west side of the lake. One is a new brewery. The new chamber and visitors bureau is also supposed to go in this location. It’s going to be interesting to see how this part of town continues to blossom as a hospitality district.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Dec 27, 2022 7:49 am

Oxl wrote: Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:17 pm New hotel with 150 rooms going up west of Crowne Plaza.

Any idea as to the brand?

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Tue Dec 27, 2022 11:19 pm

It’s a combination of a Tru Hotel and a Home 2

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 4:43 pm

Was told that Top Golf is possibly looking at putting in a Kearney location by Younes Landing. They have been out to look at the site. Would be huge get if true.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 10:44 pm

Oxl wrote: Mon Jul 24, 2023 4:43 pm Was told that Top Golf is possibly looking at putting in a Kearney location by Younes Landing. They have been out to look at the site. Would be huge get if true.

That seems…improbable.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 11:12 pm

That’s what I thought too but check out their Chattanooga facility. Might be possible. I was just told that Top Golf executives came out to look at the land last week by someone with some inside knowledge.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 11:16 pm

That’s what I thought too but check out their Chattanooga facility. Might be possible. I was just told that Top Golf executives came out to look at the land last week by someone with some inside knowledge.

Not saying it would happen. Thought Facebook was going to put in data center in Kearney and then they changed to Ankney Iowa instead.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:05 am

Oxl wrote: Mon Jul 24, 2023 11:12 pm That’s what I thought too but check out their Chattanooga facility. Might be possible. I was just told that Top Golf executives came out to look at the land last week by someone with some inside knowledge.

Yeah it would not surprise me to see Top Golf and their competitors make their way to smaller markets. They would do well in Lincoln too.

Greg

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:57 am

Not saying it is impossible but the smaller concept in Chattanooga appears to be because Chattanooga is one of the smaller US markets they are located in, and they still as a metro have over 500K. Would just seem strange that they would expand to a city of 33K or so in central Nebraska, before many other locations nationally.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Jul 25, 2023 3:39 pm

A family member of mine runs top golf in KC, so after seeing this I shot him a text to find out if he knew anything. He said he's unaware of any plans to open one there. He did say there are a lot of one-offs like top golf that are not affiliated with top golf, so if anything that's likely the scenario here.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Jul 25, 2023 5:51 pm

thenewguy wrote: Tue Jul 25, 2023 3:39 pm A family member of mine runs top golf in KC, so after seeing this I shot him a text to find out if he knew anything. He said he's unaware of any plans to open one there. He did say there are a lot of one-offs like top golf that are not affiliated with top golf, so if anything that's likely the scenario here.

That’s true Sioux Falls has a very nice knock off Top Golf place.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:44 am

Yeah sometimes it is just rumors that get puffed up. I know there is a lot of dirt moving and a lot of construction happening down there and there are big plans. It will be interesting to see what they announce in the next couple of months.

That I 80 corridor gets a lot of traffic it’s always a good thing to see any development along it in Nebraska that adds more tourist dollars. I’d love to see tourism grow to a point large enough for some property tax relief. We need more people thinking out of the box to make unique destinations.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:37 pm

Breaking ground today!

'The biggest project in Kearney’s 150-year history': Kearney breaks ground on $30M SportsPlex

https://t.co/2VnWBw7Ydc

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:41 pm

This definitely feels like a (deserved) jab at Grand Island. Dreams of their own sports plex have fizzled out. Unfortunately, this seems to happen often with Grand Island, but hey, they have a casino.

At 209,000 square feet, the $30 million
structure at the south edge of Kearney is a family-oriented departure from the casino-building trend that has Nebraska's larger communities scrambling to profit from legalized gambling.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Aug 02, 2023 5:17 pm

Not really a rumor any longer, is it?

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Wed Aug 02, 2023 5:23 pm

gisbuxfan wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:37 pm Breaking ground today!

'The biggest project in Kearney’s 150-year history': Kearney breaks ground on $30M SportsPlex

https://t.co/2VnWBw7Ydc

Talk about punching above your weight.

Ryan j · Post by **Ryan j** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:44 am

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/unm ... -nebraska/

Not sure if this has been posted yet, 85 Million investment from UNMC.

Oxl · Post by **Oxl** » Fri May 24, 2024 8:41 pm

Well I was not given correct information but it appears Younes is putting in golf facility that has a driving range with a bar/restaurant. Not sure if it will track hits like Top Golf, but looks nice. I think it has six pickle ball courts and will be right along I 80 just south of the lake.

He is also putting in 2 more hotels. Kinkader is putting in a brewery/restaurant. Owners of Angus Burgers are putting in a new pizza joint.

Rumors of a Costco but might be just that.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri May 24, 2024 9:15 pm

Oxl wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 8:41 pm Rumors of a Costco but might be just that.

That would be surprising for them to get one before Grand Island.

Ryan j · Post by **Ryan j** » Fri May 31, 2024 2:16 pm

Top Golf Like Facility included in the story below

https://central.newschannelnebraska.com ... nes-campus

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jun 03, 2024 1:25 pm

Two-story, year-round golf venue planned for Kearney’s Younes Campus

KEARNEY, Neb. (News Channel Nebraska) - The latest proposed addition to the Younes Campus in Kearney includes year-round golf. The Kearney City Council voted 4-0 on Tuesday to approve tax increment financing for a two-story golf venue near Interstate 80. The renderings of the venue show a concept similar to national chain Top Golf.

The facility will be at 101 11th Ave., which is on the south side of the lake at the Younes Campus and butts up to the north side of the interstate. The proposal says the golf building would be 19,000 square feet and be located on seven acres. The council granted Younes Development 90% of the annual increment in real estate taxes over a period of 15 years. Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates spoke to the council on behalf of the developer. He said the golf business would be designed as a driving range that’s open all four seasons. The facility would also include putting greens, pickleball courts, a dedicated cornhole area and a restaurant. Bennett didn’t mention a timeline for construction.

JohnFN · Post by **JohnFN** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 12:53 pm

While reading about the Gretna Good Life election, I saw something that I had missed before, that Kearney and Papillion are competing for the last Good Life district. After looking up details about the Kearney good life district, I see that they expect it to create 6,500 jobs: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/08 ... districts/

If this source is to be believed, there are only ~19k employed people in Kearney right now in general (https://datausa.io/profile/geo/kearney-ne/, and ~34k in the county as a whole (https://www.growbuffalocounty.com/valua ... force-data). What kind of development could possibly generate that many jobs? Wouldn't Kearney/Buffalo County need ~10k more people (on the lower end, maybe 15k or 20k) to support that large of a development? Kearney is in a pretty rough spot for Regional Draw/Tourism as well...

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:08 pm

6500 for Kearney is insane. There's no way that's realistic without a massive company setting up a factory or something.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:12 pm

And for just an investment of $225 million? Papillion's competing bid for 2,906 jobs comes with a $1.6 billion investment.

But if Metro Omaha ends up with 4 out of 5 possible Good Life Districts, that's just flat out is even more of a failure of a program than I expected.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:29 pm

Garrett wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:12 pm

But if Metro Omaha ends up with 4 out of 5 possible Good Life Districts, that's just flat out is even more of a failure of a program than I expected.

In all fairness, the Omaha metro is at least 1/2 of the population of the state. I didn't exactly expect the rest of the state to come up with much.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:39 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:29 pm
Garrett wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:12 pm

But if Metro Omaha ends up with 4 out of 5 possible Good Life Districts, that's just flat out is even more of a failure of a program than I expected.
In all fairness, the Omaha metro is at least 1/2 of the population of the state. I didn't exactly expect the rest of the state to come up with much.

Just a bit surprising to see nothing from Lincoln, or any of the other cities in the 20k-50k pop tier try

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:46 pm

Garrett wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:39 pm
skinzfan23 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:29 pm
Garrett wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:12 pm

But if Metro Omaha ends up with 4 out of 5 possible Good Life Districts, that's just flat out is even more of a failure of a program than I expected.
In all fairness, the Omaha metro is at least 1/2 of the population of the state. I didn't exactly expect the rest of the state to come up with much.
Just a bit surprising to see nothing from Lincoln, or any of the other cities in the 20k-50k pop tier try

These districts should not have been able to be claimed so quickly. It makes no sense that the state’s second largest city won’t have a district because a developer wasn’t ready to pounce right away. It would have also been nice to see a place like South Sioux City come up with something as they are close to a larger population center.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 4:25 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:46 pm It would have also been nice to see a place like South Sioux City come up with something as they are close to a larger population center.

I agree, it would be nice to take advantage of cities that are near other state borders, but I really think something this grand should probably be reserved for the Omaha and Lincoln markets because they have the capability to pool resources together and come up with. It would probably be very difficult for some of the 2nd and 3rd tier cities to meet the thresholds, however, I still doubt that even some of the proposals even for Omaha will come to fruition.

Gobears27 · Post by **Gobears27** » Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:43 pm

Kearney was chosen to host the fifth and final good life district.

swinquest · Post by **swinquest** » Tue Jul 15, 2025 9:03 am

Gobears27 wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:43 pm Kearney was chosen to host the fifth and final good life district.

I'm glad to see it in Kearney (born and raised from there). I was hoping that the final district would be outside of the Omaha/Lincoln corridor.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Sun Oct 26, 2025 7:38 pm

OK, so what is the final word on this? Is that a Top Golf or an off-brand going up right off the interstate?

Post by **Brad** » Sun Oct 26, 2025 7:46 pm

gisbuxfan wrote: Sun Oct 26, 2025 7:38 pm OK, so what is the final word on this? Is that a Top Golf or an off-brand going up right off the interstate?

I was wondering the same thing. I drove by a couple weeks ago and saw it for the first time. Nothing I can find has a brand name with it. Just generic stuff like "Golf Venue". There was an article that said it also had pickleball and cornhole.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:09 pm