NHL in Omaha

[iamjacobm]

Not thinking this is going to amount to anything, but this is from a NHL reporter with The Athletic.

[almighty_tuna]

After the Aksarben Knights fiasco I'd be surprised if the NHL specifically would go for an Omaha expansion team. But hey, doesn't cost anything to window shop, right?

[ita]

That would be pretty sweet. We have a pretty strong hockey culture. Stadium would fit nicely on Lot D.

[Doctor Fate]

How many expansion teams is the NHL planning? I know Salt Lake City is pursuing thr NHL and MLB pretty hard. Seems like it would be hard for Omaha to compete with markets like Houston and Atlanta.

[Doctor Fate]

NHL commissioner mentioned Omaha.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bettman ... ion-cities

[Padre]

It makes you wonder who would be the one making those inquiries? There’s several possible suspects.

[ita]

If the City is vying for this, who is the ownership group? Who can foot the $700 million expansion fee.

[CBJason]

That would be pretty sweet. We have a pretty strong hockey culture. Stadium would fit nicely on Lot D.

Lol. The arena is already built!

[Brad]

Couldn't go any worse than the now homeless Phoenix Coyotes... Currently playing in Mullett Arena with a seating capacity of 5000...

[NEDodger]

As amazing as this would be, I don’t see how Kansas City wouldn’t beat us. Twice the population, better TV market…. I mean, even KC would be a win for us - 2.5 hours for a NHL game? Heck yeah.

[SkyWarrior55]

What name would the Omaha team be?

[Doctor Fate]

It makes you wonder who would be the one making those inquiries? There’s several possible suspects.

Maybe the Ricketts?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

KC seems like the more obvious choice, but each of a an area’s professional teams can only have so much market share in a given market. KC, which is a relatively small market, may be at their limit with the 3 teams they have.

[Louie]

KC seems like the more obvious choice, but there is only so much market share in one market spread across all of its professional teams. KC, which is a relatively small market, may be at their limit with the 3 teams they have.

I'd be curious to hear how having multiple pro sports can cannibalize a fan base. I've never thought about it before.

[jag42]

I think it's a long shot, but fun to think about. It'd be interesting to know who the party is that is interested in bringing the NHL to Omaha.



https://omaha.com/sports/professional/n ... 13750.html

[damonhynes]

STL has had exhibition games at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence for the past three years. I'm going to guess 8K attendance and sold out every time. I went in 2022, fun atmosphere. But can the KC market sell 13K 41 times a season? Omaha certainly can't.

[iamjacobm]

KC seems like the more obvious choice, but there is only so much market share in one market spread across all of its professional teams. KC, which is a relatively small market, may be at their limit with the 3 teams they have.

I'd be curious to hear how having multiple pro sports can cannibalize a fan base. I've never thought about it before.

I can't find it now, but I remember some outlet did a breakdown of markets based on how many pro sports teams they could support. Took into account things like corporate presence, population, income levels, growth, tv market, etc. The thought process was essentially there are only so many advertising dollars, corporations willing to shell out for suites, people with incomes to afford season tickets in each market. If I remember right it suggested KC is pretty much topped out, but that additional teams in like Chicago and NYC made more sense than anything in Omaha.

Probably not a perfect science, but was interesting. Wish I could remember what site did it.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I’ve always thought, of the big 4 major league sports, the NHL at least would have a punchers chance to land in Omaha..

I’m not holding my breath this will happen, but it is cool to see Omaha in the mix for consideration at least..

This city would go ape sh!t if we landed an NHL team. I think the support would be off the chain…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[CBJason]

I’ve always thought, of the big 4 major league sports, the NHL at least would have a punchers chance to land in Omaha..

I’m not holding my breath this will happen, but it is cool to see Omaha in the mix for consideration at least..

This city would go ape sh!t if we landed an NHL team. I think the support would be off the chain…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I have to agree. It’s the city’s one chance for a true professional sports team, no disrespect to volleyball, and it’s a sport that the area truly cares about. Population is growing and will in the core as all the amenities continue to come online. I feel like there’s enough of a corporate presence to get baseline sales a respectable amount.

[jomaha9]

I have been following this chain and I am bullish on NHL succeeding in Omaha. There are a lot of reasons for an NHL Team to not succeed, but I think it makes sense for Omaha. In a few threads I have read, people point to the Knights' failure as a reason why the NHL won't work in Omaha. The Knights failed for several reasons:

1. The marketing was so bad that the average Omaha sports fan did not know their talent level and league were better than the Lancers or UNO. By contrast, the Supernovas, Nighthawks, Mammoths, Storm Chasers, and Union Omaha have had fairly well run marketing teams that have developed good promotions to get people to the games. They have also developed some level of corporate engagement to sell season tickets and have fairly good attendance numbers, regardless of the league they were in.

2. The Knights set up shop in a really dated Civic Auditorium. We have to remember in the early 2000s, this was the place for circuses and flea markets and the areas was perceived as not very safe. The average Omaha sports fan was not going to drive to the Civic and see a 2nd tier hockey team play in dumpy old arena. The venue matters and people are more likely to go to an event at CHI or Baxter Arena than they would have at the Civic.

3. There is a ceiling of interest in a 2nd tier league, no matter the sport. As good as the Storm Chasers have been in the late 2010s, they were not going to sell out Werner Park because interest in minor league baseball is only so strong in any place. The Knights were in a similar league in a sport that has less of a casual fanbase like baseball and more of a niche following.
A true pro league reflects the highest talent level in its sport and that along will draw more fans than a 2nd or 3rd tier league.

I am optimistic that Omaha can lock down one of the Big 4 sports and that we might have an NHL team to cheer for.

[nebport5]

If you listen to the interview with the commissioner it's sounds like SLC is a shoe-in for the next expansion. He particularly mentions the would be owners having an assist of the governor. Regardless of how unlikely of Omaha getting a franchise here I can't help but think of the potential 3.2 billion expansion of NEX. I have no problem with NEX expanding but rather than the state subsidizing an already successful shopping center to become a would be regional entertainment hub(featuring a 1 billion dollar youth sports academy), maybe state and city leaders should take a cue from Utah. If they're serious about creating entertainment and drawing from across borders, state money spent toward a potential NHL team vs another youth sports academy and more shopping?...hmm I wonder which one of those would be a better regional draw?

[Doctor Fate]

If you listen to the interview with the commissioner it's sounds like SLC is a shoe-in for the next expansion. He particularly mentions the would be owners having an assist of the governor. Regardless of how unlikely of Omaha getting a franchise here I can't help but think of the potential 3.2 billion expansion of NEX. I have no problem with NEX expanding but rather than the state subsidizing an already successful shopping center to become a would be regional entertainment hub(featuring a 1 billion dollar youth sports academy), maybe state and city leaders should take a cue from Utah. If they're serious about creating entertainment and drawing from across borders, state money spent toward a potential NHL team vs another youth sports academy and more shopping?...hmm I wonder which one of those would be a better regional draw?

The Utah group consists of Ryan Smith, the current owner of the Jazz and the Delta Center, and the Smith Entertainement group, the Jazz and Real Salt Lake parent company. They are getting an assist from the state legislature (a current bill would allow the creation of entertainment districts with TIF in existing diatricts), who claim SLC will be the next major sports and entertainment market.

[nebport5]

If you listen to the interview with the commissioner it's sounds like SLC is a shoe-in for the next expansion. He particularly mentions the would be owners having an assist of the governor. Regardless of how unlikely of Omaha getting a franchise here I can't help but think of the potential 3.2 billion expansion of NEX. I have no problem with NEX expanding but rather than the state subsidizing an already successful shopping center to become a would be regional entertainment hub(featuring a 1 billion dollar youth sports academy), maybe state and city leaders should take a cue from Utah. If they're serious about creating entertainment and drawing from across borders, state money spent toward a potential NHL team vs another youth sports academy and more shopping?...hmm I wonder which one of those would be a better regional draw?

The Utah group consists of Ryan Smith, the current owner of the Jazz and the Delta Center, and the Smith Entertainement group, the Jazz and Real Salt Lake parent company. They are getting an assist from the state legislature (a current bill would allow the creation of entertainment districts with TIF in existing diatricts), who claim SLC will be the next major sports and entertainment market.

Yes, having an existing pro sports owner in the market pursuing another sport is obviously a huge advantage.

[Doctor Fate]

If you listen to the interview with the commissioner it's sounds like SLC is a shoe-in for the next expansion. He particularly mentions the would be owners having an assist of the governor. Regardless of how unlikely of Omaha getting a franchise here I can't help but think of the potential 3.2 billion expansion of NEX. I have no problem with NEX expanding but rather than the state subsidizing an already successful shopping center to become a would be regional entertainment hub(featuring a 1 billion dollar youth sports academy), maybe state and city leaders should take a cue from Utah. If they're serious about creating entertainment and drawing from across borders, state money spent toward a potential NHL team vs another youth sports academy and more shopping?...hmm I wonder which one of those would be a better regional draw?

The Utah group consists of Ryan Smith, the current owner of the Jazz and the Delta Center, and the Smith Entertainement group, the Jazz and Real Salt Lake parent company. They are getting an assist from the state legislature (a current bill would allow the creation of entertainment districts with TIF in existing diatricts), who claim SLC will be the next major sports and entertainment market.

Yes, having an existing pro sports owner in the market pursuing another sport is obviously a huge advantage.

Yes, you said SLC was a shoe-in. I was just saying who was behind it. Though outside Omaha, most of the other cities mentioned have more pro sports teams than SLC. And most of the cities, including Omaha, also have more billionaires than SLC.

[NEDodger]

If you listen to the interview with the commissioner it's sounds like SLC is a shoe-in for the next expansion. He particularly mentions the would be owners having an assist of the governor. Regardless of how unlikely of Omaha getting a franchise here I can't help but think of the potential 3.2 billion expansion of NEX. I have no problem with NEX expanding but rather than the state subsidizing an already successful shopping center to become a would be regional entertainment hub(featuring a 1 billion dollar youth sports academy), maybe state and city leaders should take a cue from Utah. If they're serious about creating entertainment and drawing from across borders, state money spent toward a potential NHL team vs another youth sports academy and more shopping?...hmm I wonder which one of those would be a better regional draw?

This. A mini-Legends plus yet another youth sports complex inspires no one.

[Cermak]

Omaha might make more sense than KC. The new Omaha NHL team would essentially own the Omaha market. And not have to share it, like it would in KC with the Chiefs, Royals and Sporting.

It could have some negative impacts on current sports teams in Omaha, especially UNO hockey. I think an NHL team is the most likely of the Big 4 for Omaha to get. No way baseball, or NFL and NBA also unlikely.

[Bob from Omaha]

I tend to agree about hockey making more sense than the others. It worked for Columbus with the Blue Jackets and they have a killer downtown.

[omaha79]

That would be pretty sweet. We have a pretty strong hockey culture. Stadium would fit nicely on Lot D.

Lol. The arena is already built!

Is it though?

I don't see CHI as a viable long term solution for an NHL team. After the 2006 expansion, CHI holds roughly 16k for hockey. That puts it roughly 2nd smallest in the league. Only Winnipeg would be smaller. They'd be in line with NJ, I guess, but likely just under.

If you do a little digging, the league has been urging the Jets to build a new arena with the desire to get their ability to host fans over 17,000 a game. That's what the league wants, not arena's in the 16k range. Articles I've read on the Jets talk about how they almost have to sell out every game to turn a profit as they can't count on larger attendance numbers for the bigger teams, like some of the teams with 20k rinks can handle. And, as a smaller market, they have a higher percentage of average Joe's as season ticket holders vs. corporations, which drives the prices down. Omaha and Winnipeg are not dissimilar in terms of market size.

After an initial interest surge, Winnipegs average attendance has dwindled. There has even been some talk of relocation. I think there is roughly a solid 6k in Omaha that are die hard hockey fans. I think you might about double that with the NHL product, but I absolutely see, long term, Omaha being in the same situation as Winnipeg.

We are a small market. I can't see us selling out, or really doing much more than the 11k Winnipeg is doing for 41 home games a year including weeknight games, especially after a few years, and let's say Omaha isn't a factor in the playoffs. Let's say they are a last place team.

I see this as pure fantasy at this point. I guess it's a fun conversation, but the idea that this can really happen in Omaha is fiction at best, and dangerous at worst. For anyone interested in what might happen if Omaha somehow took this plunge, here is some light reading on Winnipeg. We are about the same market size and would have about the same size arena.

In reality, what I could see happening is KC getting a team and maybe we get their AHL affiliate. With better marketing, it could work. There is no reason Bettman and the NHL picks Omaha and the CHI Center over KC and the Sprint Center. Even KC has always been a bridesmaid, never the bride and has been flat out been played by the NHL multiple times. I think that's what's happening here. Omaha is getting thrown in the mix just to round out a list, but hey, like KC, we might get a couple preseason games out of it...


https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg- ... relocation

[CBJason]

That would be pretty sweet. We have a pretty strong hockey culture. Stadium would fit nicely on Lot D.

Lol. The arena is already built!

Is it though?

I don't see CHI as a viable long term solution for an NHL team. After the 2006 expansion, CHI holds roughly 16k for hockey. That puts it roughly 2nd smallest in the league. Only Winnipeg would be smaller. They'd be in line with NJ, I guess, but likely just under.

If you do a little digging, the league has been urging the Jets to build a new arena with the desire to get their ability to host fans over 17,000 a game. That's what the league wants, not arena's in the 16k range. Articles I've read on the Jets talk about how they almost have to sell out every game to turn a profit as they can't count on larger attendance numbers for the bigger teams, like some of the teams with 20k rinks can handle. And, as a smaller market, they have a higher percentage of average Joe's as season ticket holders vs. corporations, which drives the prices down. Omaha and Winnipeg are not dissimilar in terms of market size.

After an initial interest surge, Winnipegs average attendance has dwindled. There has even been some talk of relocation. I think there is roughly a solid 6k in Omaha that are die hard hockey fans. I think you might about double that with the NHL product, but I absolutely see, long term, Omaha being in the same situation as Winnipeg.

We are a small market. I can't see us selling out, or really doing much more than the 11k Winnipeg is doing for 41 home games a year including weeknight games, especially after a few years, and let's say Omaha isn't a factor in the playoffs. Let's say they are a last place team.

I see this as pure fantasy at this point. I guess it's a fun conversation, but the idea that this can really happen in Omaha is fiction at best, and dangerous at worst. For anyone interested in what might happen if Omaha somehow took this plunge, here is some light reading on Winnipeg. We are about the same market size and would have about the same size arena.

In reality, what I could see happening is KC getting a team and maybe we get their AHL affiliate. With better marketing, it could work. There is no reason Bettman and the NHL picks Omaha and the CHI Center over KC and the Sprint Center. Even KC has always been a bridesmaid, never the bride and has been flat out been played by the NHL multiple times. I think that's what's happening here. Omaha is getting thrown in the mix just to round out a list, but hey, like KC, we might get a couple preseason games out of it...


https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg- ... relocation

If that's the case then, Yes, this will never happen. Omaha can't afford to build another stadium.

[Brad]

Gary and Nick both agreed that if NHL came to Omaha the would want their own arena. Same reasons as the Omaha Mavericks and the Omaha Storm Chasers, they would want to control all the revenue streams.

Here is the segment: (Starts about the 6 Min mark)
https://p.ftur.io/koznam/22125

[Louie]

Gary and Nick both agreed that if NHL came to Omaha the would want their own arena. Same reasons as the Omaha Mavericks and the Omaha Storm Chasers, they would want to control all the revenue streams.

Here is the segment: (Starts about the 6 Min mark)
https://p.ftur.io/koznam/22125

That alone actually makes me not really want them. We already have 3 arenas, how many more can a city of our size need?

[omaha79]

Gary and Nick both agreed that if NHL came to Omaha the would want their own arena. Same reasons as the Omaha Mavericks and the Omaha Storm Chasers, they would want to control all the revenue streams.

Here is the segment: (Starts about the 6 Min mark)
https://p.ftur.io/koznam/22125

ding. ding. ding.

CHI is now just over 20 years old. They'd want something new, and to start fresh. They'd also need an ownership group willing to come in and pay $600 million just to enter the league.

So, we'd be talking in the range of at least 1.5 billion between entrance fees and building a new arena.

Not happening.

[almighty_tuna]

Gary and Nick both agreed that if NHL came to Omaha the would want their own arena. Same reasons as the Omaha Mavericks and the Omaha Storm Chasers, they would want to control all the revenue streams.

Here is the segment: (Starts about the 6 Min mark)
https://p.ftur.io/koznam/22125

ding. ding. ding.

CHI is now just over 20 years old. They'd want something new, and to start fresh. They'd also need an ownership group willing to come in and pay $600 million just to enter the league.

So, we'd be talking in the range of at least 1.5 billion between entrance fees and building a new arena.

Not happening.

Eh, I'd point directly to the STL Blues' arrangement with the Enterprise Center, which itself is 30yrs old. The Blues are naturally the primary tenant, but the arena is clearly the preeminent indoor facility in STL hosting Arch Madness, concerts, and other sporting events besides hockey. If someone, or an ownership group, wanted to make it work at CHI bad enough it would work. I don't see a new arena happening downtown anytime soon - the CHI center won't even be paid off until 2027.

HOWEVER!!!!

I'm sure whoever reached out to the NHL has already done the basic math and potential tenant scenarios. If we really wanted to dream large, I submit for your consideration and amusement:

Omaha is awarded an NHL expansion team. Creighton, NHL Omaha, MECA (and the State, no doubt) combine forces for a brand new arena on Lot B with a 19,500 seat capacity for hockey, 21k for basketball. The current CHI Center is torn down and the existing convention center is expanded/renovated in its place, including a 500+ room signature hotel. Lot D becomes mixed use reminiscent of the original Lot B redevelopment plan with a large parking garage in the center of the block and mixed use ringed around the perimeter, The streetcar line is extended north from 10th & Capitol and connects to the existing rail along the east side of the Mattress Factory, continuing north to Millwork Commons and terminating around U-Pull It.

[omaha79]

Gary and Nick both agreed that if NHL came to Omaha the would want their own arena. Same reasons as the Omaha Mavericks and the Omaha Storm Chasers, they would want to control all the revenue streams.

Here is the segment: (Starts about the 6 Min mark)
https://p.ftur.io/koznam/22125

ding. ding. ding.

CHI is now just over 20 years old. They'd want something new, and to start fresh. They'd also need an ownership group willing to come in and pay $600 million just to enter the league.

So, we'd be talking in the range of at least 1.5 billion between entrance fees and building a new arena.

Not happening.

Eh, I'd point directly to the STL Blues' arrangement with the Enterprise Center, which itself is 30yrs old. The Blues are naturally the primary tenant, but the arena is clearly the preeminent indoor facility in STL hosting Arch Madness, concerts, and other sporting events besides hockey. If someone, or an ownership group, wanted to make it work at CHI bad enough it would work. I don't see a new arena happening downtown anytime soon - the CHI center won't even be paid off until 2027.

HOWEVER!!!!

I'm sure whoever reached out to the NHL has already done the basic math and potential tenant scenarios. If we really wanted to dream large, I submit for your consideration and amusement:

Omaha is awarded an NHL expansion team. Creighton, NHL Omaha, MECA (and the State, no doubt) combine forces for a brand new arena on Lot B with a 19,500 seat capacity for hockey, 21k for basketball. The current CHI Center is torn down and the existing convention center is expanded/renovated in its place, including a 500+ room signature hotel. Lot D becomes mixed use reminiscent of the original Lot B redevelopment plan with a large parking garage in the center of the block and mixed use ringed around the perimeter, The streetcar line is extended north from 10th & Capitol and connects to the existing rail along the east side of the Mattress Factory, continuing north to Millwork Commons and terminating around U-Pull It.

I think the "make it work" scenario would require a lot more flexibility on the part of MECA than they've shown at any point in the past. 1620 made this point. No NHL ownership group would be willing to pay that kind of entrance fee, and commit to the kind of salaries they'd have to pay in the NHL and not have total control of the revenue streams in the arena.

Currently, MECA has very favorable to MECA agreements on advertising in the arena. I'm not sure how it works now with Creighton, but years ago, there was a split between MECA and CU and MECA had total control of certain ad boards like the ribbon panels while Creighton had control of things like the courtside boards. I'd think any NHL team would want all of that revenue along with concessions, and parking, which have generally been MECA's domain.

Would MECA be willing to take a step back and let the NHL run their own show? Just take a contract deal where they get paid to do changeovers, etc. but give all of the revenue on concessions, advertising, and parking to the NHL? I don't see it. If now, yes, the NHL would probably ask for a new arena for their own purposes within 5 years. Omaha would never agree to that, not when the CHI has a good 30 years of usable life left on it.

So, I honestly don't see Omaha being a factor in any NBA or NHL discussion for that time frame: 20-30 years. If there ends up being a time where CHI is considered functionally obsolete, then Omaha will have to decide what it wants to do next. Do they want to rebuild for mid market like Creighton and maybe an AHL team? Or, do they want to go "all in" and try to get a big 4 pro sports team? By that time, perhaps Omaha will have the population to be in that discussion as well and can more reasonably draw a consistent 16-18k a game as well.

[almighty_tuna]

I think the "make it work" scenario would require a lot more flexibility on the part of MECA than they've shown at any point in the past.

Oh, absolutely. MECA may be open to other ideas once the arena is paid off, but still, I don't think anyone has starry eyes that an Omaha NHL expansion team is anything other than leverage for other cities' bids or a dip-of-the-toe for 10 or 20 years down the road.

[riceweb]

Any plan for the NHL in Omaha involves state money, MECA, and a new arena. Will basically only happen if taxpayers subsidize the deal and if enough local leaders are able to come out ahead with hotel/restaurant/apartment type of construction in the immediate area.

I don't know if it's good for Omaha or not. It would probably help put Omaha on the national map in a way that we haven't before, but it's a lot of local money tied up in pro sports.

[Doctor Fate]

So, I honestly don't see Omaha being a factor in any NBA or NHL discussion for that time frame: 20-30 years.

There is no way the NBA is coming to Omaha anytime in the next 50 years, and probably ever. They have only added one team in the last 20 years (the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans) and the next two expansion teams are a lock to be Las Vegas and (a return to) Seattle. The next expansion phase is likely to be Vancouver, Montreal, and/or Mexico City. NBA officials have also hinted that the estimated $2.5 billion fee to join the Association is low. That's way higher than the NHL. Revenue per match, as well as revenue per team and annual revenue are also a lot higher for NBA teams than NHL teams, despite having less games. NBA net profit was about $3 billion in 2022 and the average operating income per team was 1.5x the amount than NHL teams. Add on top of that how fast the NBA viewership is growing. All things that contribute to the astounding entry fee and the fact that the NBA is not coming to Omaha.

[omaha79]

So, I honestly don't see Omaha being a factor in any NBA or NHL discussion for that time frame: 20-30 years.

There is no way the NBA is coming to Omaha anytime in the next 50 years, and probably ever. They have only added one team in the last 20 years (the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans) and the next two expansion teams are a lock to be Las Vegas and (a return to) Seattle. The next expansion phase is likely to be Vancouver, Montreal, and/or Mexico City. NBA officials have also hinted that the estimated $2.5 billion fee to join the Association is low. That's way higher than the NHL. Revenue per match, as well as revenue per team and annual revenue are also a lot higher for NBA teams than NHL teams, despite having less games. NBA net profit was about $3 billion in 2022 and the average operating income per team was 1.5x the amount than NHL teams. Add on top of that how fast the NBA viewership is growing. All things that contribute to the astounding entry fee and the fact that the NBA is not coming to Omaha.

Oh, trust me, I agree. I am pessimistic on Omaha ever being a "Big 5" professional sports town at any point in my lifetime; however, there is a pretty sizable "let's get a team in some sport, Omaha can do it!" crowd out there who says these things without any thought to arena realities, media market size, Fortune 500 corporate makeup, and local demographics.

So, I just throw the 30 year idea out there as a waypoint to at least talk about it hoping it will go away. This obsession with some on getting NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, or MLS hampers other things we can more realistically accomplish with our sports portfolio and facility makeup like USL Soccer, AHL, or, heck, even the Supernovas.

[omaha79]

Any plan for the NHL in Omaha involves state money, MECA, and a new arena. Will basically only happen if taxpayers subsidize the deal and if enough local leaders are able to come out ahead with hotel/restaurant/apartment type of construction in the immediate area.

I don't know if it's good for Omaha or not. It would probably help put Omaha on the national map in a way that we haven't before, but it's a lot of local money tied up in pro sports.

Even if all that fell into place, we'd still need a billionaire (or two) to form the basis for an ownership group that has the desire to dip their toes into owning pro sports teams and the portfolio makeup to take losses for a few years as well as be able to weather a lean decade on the court/ice.

[Doctor Fate]

Oh, trust me, I agree. I am pessimistic on Omaha ever being a "Big 5" professional sports town at any point in my lifetime; however, there is a pretty sizable "let's get a team in some sport, Omaha can do it!" crowd out there who says these things without any thought to arena realities, media market size, Fortune 500 corporate makeup, and local demographics.

So, I just throw the 30 year idea out there as a waypoint to at least talk about it hoping it will go away. This obsession with some on getting NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, or MLS hampers other things we can more realistically accomplish with our sports portfolio and facility makeup like USL Soccer, AHL, or, heck, even the Supernovas.

Good point about the Fortune 500 corporate makeup. Omaha has several Fortune 1000 companies, but I have wondered how many of them have the client type where they would lease a suite....