Gretna Goodlife District

[Ryan Air]

Omaha forums being Omaha forums.

[Busguy2010]

I don't care about Hockey one bit, but I'd be pretty excited about Omaha finally breaking through to the "Big 5" sports realm. I would not argue about its location, other than we have TOO many stadiums/arenas in Downtown already. Only location I'd support would be the civic site as it would be a lateral move. But still, so many arenas/stadiums downtown.

So I think this location could work. I like that it's pretty much halfway between here and Lincoln and next to NEX. Despite it being amongst corn fields, there is a way it could be made into a new urban satellite community. Hopefully they'd utilize parking garages an dense residential with an entertainment district. I really like the idea. Go for it!

[djc311]

I'm happy to see some new feedback supporting the West O location... again, I'd go regardless - if I want to see NHL then I'll go the facility it's being played at. However, I think it makes A LOT of sense to place it near NEX given the space and resources available.

[Athomsfere]

I'm gonna say something perhaps a bit surprising; if the area getting an NHL team is dependent on a new arena, I don't want it anywhere in the urban core. I think downtown is already super saturated with event spaces, especially with the addition of the new Union Omaha stadium. Yeah it would be great if they could play at CHI, but that just doesn't appear to be an option based on what has been said elsewhere. Who knows, perhaps there won't be an NHL team but we end up with the Volleyball facility and they'll just use CHI for their games.

I think our energy could be better spent advocating for a good walkable district to develop in this area. Research has shown that the best way to get people out of their cars isn't transit access, it's a walkable neighborhood. 3,000 apartments/18,000 residents across this district, as per articles about the plan, would be huge, and could very easily make regional transit down to Lincoln more feasible in the future.

I am a bit surprised here. I don't require "in the core" personally. But in a city makes a lot more sense to me for what our goals are.

All greenfield? I don't buy it can be done well. And with a cancer like Pillen pulling for it? I expect even less.

I respect your take, of course. I just disagree.

[riceweb]

So, let’s agree that a new arena with at least 12-15k seats for hockey would be required. Then the issue boils down to a suitable location.

18,000 seats for the NHL is table stakes.

Mix of seats is more important than total capacity. Could be room for only 12,000 with a ton of suites and box seats and that might be preferable to a larger arena. New MLB stadium in Vegas is tiny by MLB standards. Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is contracting. Fewer seats = higher price per seat.

[omaha79]

This entire proposal is dangerous and isn't healthy for the metro area. I am vehemently opposed to this. Omaha is not getting the NHL and, in the off chance they did, it would likely be a disaster. 10 years in, Winnipeg, the great beacon many are pointing to as to how this could work in Omaha is in danger of losing their team. We need to focus on things that make sense for the metro vs. pie in the sky ideas that are not close to feasible.

[GenX]

Spoke with someone tonight that is involved with the Beef. They said USA Volleyball and NHL is a done deal. Can’t vouch for the accuracy, but this person seemed to know some solid info.

[nebugeater]

Spoke with someone tonight that is involved with the Beef. They said USA Volleyball and NHL is a done deal. Can’t vouch for the accuracy, but this person seemed to know some solid info.

I LIsted to my other voice in my head.

There is no chance at this point.

[djc311]

LEGO store, NHL hockey... expanding airport with direct international flights! What is happening???

Did Omaha just become the best city in the country in a matter of a few weeks' time?

[riceweb]

LEGO store, NHL hockey... expanding airport with direct international flights! What is happening???

Did Omaha just become the best city in the country in a matter of a few weeks' time?

Wrong thread for this, but no direct international flights have been announced, right?

[djc311]

LEGO store, NHL hockey... expanding airport with direct international flights! What is happening???

Did Omaha just become the best city in the country in a matter of a few weeks' time?

Wrong thread for this, but no direct international flights have been announced, right?

I read and heard on the news that direct Caribbean flights are planned for sure… however, I don’t know if a specific carrier was mentioned.

[Doctor Fate]

Anyone have access to the two articles on the World Herald site about Rod Yates and NEX?

[Dusty]

I'm guessing the homework given by the NHL was how to build a better entertainment district that supports the arena. The sprawling parking in the renderings does not sell that idea to them.

[Doctor Fate]

Nevermind, I read them. Nothing new except that Yates is working with Mammoth out of Kansas to develop $500 million in sports complex facilities.

Farrant’s master plan calls for a youth sports complex with six baseball fields, six softball fields, eight soccer fields and four multipurpose fields. He wants to build a sports academy with dorms and classrooms where young people could receive training and evaluation.

His master plan also calls for building the Mammoth Fieldhouse, a sports entertainment venue with pickleball, a driving range, mini golf, food and beverages. The plan includes building a championship 18-hole private golf course and an 18-hole public course, plus a nine-hole par-3 course playable at night.

I'm guessing the homework given by the NHL was how to build a better entertainment district that supports the arena. The sprawling parking in the renderings does not sell that idea to them.

I could see that. I was thinking that it was something related to JustData and how they would/could use that to boost NHL and team revenue. And I do think that this was their real play, as they said it would create a large number of jobs for NEX. If you took a shot everytime Yates and Johanna Boston said “fintech ecosystem” on their Grow Omaha interview, you would’ve been drunk less than 10 minutes in.

[Garrett]

That’s quite the rendering there. Not exactly sure what I’m looking at, especially the cluster of the buildings in the middle, but some interesting concepts. Good to see that the West Farm Grain silos have made an appearance at a new site

Also interesting to think Gretna may end up with the 3rd best skyline in the state.

[almighty_tuna]

Kind of analogous to downtown OP in a way. It'll be interesting to see this play out. I wonder what the contingency plan is if USAVB makes the move but the NHL team doesn't come to fruition.

[ita]

Kind of analogous to downtown OP in a way. It'll be interesting to see this play out. I wonder what the contingency plan is if USAVB makes the move but the NHL team doesn't come to fruition.

That's one of my concerns, particularly as it relates to the arena. Per the OWH article today,

Yates identified some partners in the project and shared renderings, among them a proposed billion-dollar dual-use arena he wants to build for both hockey and volleyball. He said the USA Volleyball deal would require the development to have an arena where teams from around the world would come for exhibition matches.

Yates continues to say he is close to inking a deal to move USA Volleyball’s Olympic training center from Anaheim, California. USA Volleyball and the U.S. Olympic Committee have not responded to requests by The World-Herald to confirm that.

If the highly unlikely prospect of courting an NHL team fails, than the metro will get another arena. USA Volleyball event schedule is pretty packed (see https://usavolleyball.org/events/), but if you parse it down to just the national men's and women's teams, from March to July, it's not a packed schedule. Maybe the vision is that more friendlies would be played at the Gretna location. I am working off little information, so take it with a grain of salt, but it's just with a fairly light schedule like that, just seems like it will be an arena that will sit empty moreso than the existing arenas. Seems like regional arenas between Omaha and Lincoln could absorb their schedule.

[ita]

That’s quite the rendering there. Not exactly sure what I’m looking at, especially the cluster of the buildings in the middle, but some interesting concepts. Good to see that the West Farm Grain silos have made an appearance at a new site

Also interesting to think Gretna may end up with the 3rd best skyline in the state.

I think it is a view looking North and bounded by the red line is NEX as it currently sits:

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Good to see that the West Farm Grain silos have made an appearance at a new site

My platform is working!

[Dusty]

This whole development is becoming a snoozefest for me. Hodgepodge ideas and underwhelming planning. If this is what we are getting, then I will never go out there.

If you look at the picture, most of the space is low density buildings that look like barracks. 2 residential towers that don't seem to belong. An Arena tucked in the back with parking lots all around. Random silos placed for no reason or tie in with design.

[omaha79]

To me, this is all smoke and mirrors, which is basically what he did with the Crossroads project before he bailed. If this follows what I seem to see as a Rod Yates playbook, he's going to promise the moon, mainly to drum up excitement and buzz to hopefully get someone, anyone, to give him as much money as possible for it. Whether that's State of Nebraska, Sarpy County, Gretna, etc. It doesn't really matter.

He will oversell and under deliver, and that's if this gets out from being just a field or hole in the ground before he bails on it and moves on to something else. He will promise arenas, NHL, USA VB, but we will be lucky to get a youth sports complex and strip mall.

I am firmly in "believe it when I see it" mode based on the developers history. Yes, NEX has developed. But, that was based on a want by those involved to redevelop the eyesore and embarrassment the 90's Nebraska Crossing became. This is way more ambitious than that, and way more ambitious than even Crossroads. I don't think half of what he's proposing stands a chance of coming to fruition.

[Garrett]

That’s quite the rendering there. Not exactly sure what I’m looking at, especially the cluster of the buildings in the middle, but some interesting concepts. Good to see that the West Farm Grain silos have made an appearance at a new site

Also interesting to think Gretna may end up with the 3rd best skyline in the state.

I think it is a view looking North and bounded by the red line is NEX as it currently sits:

Yeah I gathered that, I just don’t know what those buildings are. Residential? More retail? It looks like a car free interior a la the current NEX, so maybe just more retail space.

Also interesting that the arena appears to be a soccer stadium in this iteration. I wonder if they had wanted to try to get Union Omaha at one point.

[Garrett]

To me, this is all smoke and mirrors, which is basically what he did with the Crossroads project before he bailed. If this follows what I seem to see as a Rod Yates playbook, he's going to promise the moon, mainly to drum up excitement and buzz to hopefully get someone, anyone, to give him as much money as possible for it. Whether that's State of Nebraska, Sarpy County, Gretna, etc. It doesn't really matter.

He will oversell and under deliver, and that's if this gets out from being just a field or hole in the ground before he bails on it and moves on to something else. He will promise arenas, NHL, USA VB, but we will be lucky to get a youth sports complex and strip mall.

I am firmly in "believe it when I see it" mode based on the developers history. Yes, NEX has developed. But, that was based on a want by those involved to redevelop the eyesore and embarrassment the 90's Nebraska Crossing became. This is way more ambitious than that, and way more ambitious than even Crossroads. I don't think half of what he's proposing stands a chance of coming to fruition.

Yeah I'm starting to lean that way a bit too. The only thing keeping me a bit optimistic is that this is specifically a sales tax turnback, so if there isn't development, he can't just get the money he's asking for. But the state definitely needs to be sure there are firm conditions before allowing him to start collecting those revenues.

[ita]

That’s quite the rendering there. Not exactly sure what I’m looking at, especially the cluster of the buildings in the middle, but some interesting concepts. Good to see that the West Farm Grain silos have made an appearance at a new site

Also interesting to think Gretna may end up with the 3rd best skyline in the state.

I think it is a view looking North and bounded by the red line is NEX as it currently sits:

Yeah I gathered that, I just don’t know what those buildings are. Residential? More retail? It looks like a car free interior a la the current NEX, so maybe just more retail space.

Also interesting that the arena appears to be a soccer stadium in this iteration. I wonder if they had wanted to try to get Union Omaha at one point.

Ah gotcha. I agree, looks like more retail space in that collection of single level buildings.

I just caught that too. I was also thinking it might be youth sports related, but seems like overkill if that is the case.

I appreciate the inclusion of some high rise buildings, including what looks like a hotel and a couple residential towers. It would be crazy if they actually built some high rises out there. It's not totally unprecedented as suburbs in other big midwest cities like in Chicago and KC, sport high rises especially off a major highway. But for Omaha, pretty amazing if they pulled that off.

Also, I am not really familiar with Buffalo Creek, but the render makes it looks like the Elkhorn or Missouri.

[Louie]

Also, I am not really familiar with Buffalo Creek, but the render makes it looks like the Elkhorn or Missouri.

Lol, yeah you can jump across the Buffalo with a good running start

[omaha79]

good catch. the arena does look like a soccer stadium. Interesting. I bet they were going after Union as there had been some chatter about that. It's almost like Yates lost Union and was like, "hold my beer." and started making calls to the NHL, USA Volleyball, Supernovas, and whoever would pick up the phone.

[skinzfan23]

I just don't get why they are spending so much time on something that has almost no chance of it happening. Can't he just work to keep making NEX bigger and better without these crazy sketches of adding high rises and 18,000 seat arenas?

[Louie]

I just don't get why they are spending so much time on something that has almost no chance of it happening. Can't he just work to keep making NEX bigger and better without these crazy sketches of adding high rises and 18,000 seat arenas?

He seems like the sort of manchild that needs the spotlight on him. This is his way of doing that.

[riceweb]

I just don't get why they are spending so much time on something that has almost no chance of it happening. Can't he just work to keep making NEX bigger and better without these crazy sketches of adding high rises and 18,000 seat arenas?

The massive scope of all of this is a requirement to make any of it work IMO. There's not a great way to do this half-way/incrementally. It's all about creating enough buzz and pedestrian and commercial traffic that it justifies the entire endeavour.

But there's so much public and private money funneling into this, I think it has a surprisingly good chance of coming together. Heck, even Gretna announced their new "Community Complex" the other day for their city buildings. Even those types of initiatives I lump into this giant boondoggle. In aggregate, it's an enormous sum of money invested all throughout the western part of the county, and to some extent, that reduces the risk for each individual project.

[ita]

I just don't get why they are spending so much time on something that has almost no chance of it happening. Can't he just work to keep making NEX bigger and better without these crazy sketches of adding high rises and 18,000 seat arenas?

But there's so much public and private money funneling into this, I think it has a surprisingly good chance of coming together.

I don't think there is any money being funneled into this right now. Per the OWH article, regarding the state sales tax that could go to Yates and co.:

The Nebraska Department of Revenue in February said the state sales tax rate within approved Good Life Districts, including the Gretna one, will be cut in half April 1. That lower rate — 2.75% in state sales tax, instead of the regular 5.5% — will kick in with or without the passage of any rules governing how the tax incentive would work.

As a result, the state reduction in the tax rate initially will benefit consumers, as opposed to be used for the Yates development. That would change if lawmakers pass Legislative Bill 1374, which aims to detail how sales and occupation taxes levied within the district could be turned back into the development to pay for a broad list of public and private development costs.

Regarding private funds, and other public sources:

Yates said the state incentive would be a powerful tool to help finance the project, but it wouldn’t be the only source. He said he would tap both public and private sources

Just based on the reporting, this massive expansion does not have any funds going into it yet. Maybe there are commitments on paper or by mouth, but the way it's being reported, the developer is in the prefinancing stage right now.

[OmahaOmaha]

At one time, Drew Brees and a couple other NFL players had a proposal for the closed Six Flags in New Orleans that included learning centers and a farm that teaches about urban farming. Maybe those silos are for something like that.

[HughJ008]

New lawsuit just was filed by another Nebraska Crossing tenant against Rod Yates.
Tecovas bags filed suit on Feb 24th
Lanoha is suing him for non payment for $400k
Local just won $500k against him in a lawsuit.
Yeah but im sure these are a fluke keep building with this guy...

[BRoss]

Doesn't sound like there's a great chance of the NHL happening.

Jim Pillen, Gretna developer wanted Nebraska in 'conversation' for NHL team, despite long odds

Don’t count on crowding into a Gretna-area arena for a National Hockey League game anytime soon.

While Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates traveled to New York in February with Gov. Jim Pillen to make a pitch for a Nebraska team, Yates has acknowledged that the league isn’t actively pursuing expansion.

League Commissioner Gary Bettman, in recent public interviews, has tamped down speculation that the league is looking at new sites.

“The fact is, we’re not going into an expansion mode, that I can see, where we say, ‘OK, you want a team, file an application by this date,’” Bettman told ESPN.

But Yates said he wanted to get Nebraska in the conversation if the league’s position changes.

[Garrett]

I’ve seen rumbling online that the weird sudden expansion talks was the NHL trying to shift the conversation away from some scandal with a flashy nothing announcement

[nebport5]

Doesn't sound like there's a great chance of the NHL happening.

Jim Pillen, Gretna developer wanted Nebraska in 'conversation' for NHL team, despite long odds

Don’t count on crowding into a Gretna-area arena for a National Hockey League game anytime soon.

While Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates traveled to New York in February with Gov. Jim Pillen to make a pitch for a Nebraska team, Yates has acknowledged that the league isn’t actively pursuing expansion.

League Commissioner Gary Bettman, in recent public interviews, has tamped down speculation that the league is looking at new sites.

“The fact is, we’re not going into an expansion mode, that I can see, where we say, ‘OK, you want a team, file an application by this date,’” Bettman told ESPN.

But Yates said he wanted to get Nebraska in the conversation if the league’s position changes.

While that's not a surprise, the "recent public interviews" quote with Bettman sounds exactly like the quote from the interview where Omaha initially was mentioned. Sloppy reporting?

[Garrett]

New lawsuit just was filed by another Nebraska Crossing tenant against Rod Yates.
Tecovas bags filed suit on Feb 24th
Lanoha is suing him for non payment for $400k
Local just won $500k against him in a lawsuit.
Yeah but im sure these are a fluke keep building with this guy...

What was Lanoha’s involvement with him?

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Doesn't sound like there's a great chance of the NHL happening.

Jim Pillen, Gretna developer wanted Nebraska in 'conversation' for NHL team, despite long odds

Don’t count on crowding into a Gretna-area arena for a National Hockey League game anytime soon.

While Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates traveled to New York in February with Gov. Jim Pillen to make a pitch for a Nebraska team, Yates has acknowledged that the league isn’t actively pursuing expansion.

League Commissioner Gary Bettman, in recent public interviews, has tamped down speculation that the league is looking at new sites.

“The fact is, we’re not going into an expansion mode, that I can see, where we say, ‘OK, you want a team, file an application by this date,’” Bettman told ESPN.

But Yates said he wanted to get Nebraska in the conversation if the league’s position changes.

Why would an NHL league be created for Gretna
Of course Pilen is a massive idiot and wants to cater to his audience of out of touch idiots who live in far West Omaha. NHL would only move to downtown Omaha like every other NHL team does. No team would be created in what is now farmland just because there’s an outdoor mall next door. This whole plan is stupid, Omaha needs to work on building up downtown, not to create more suburban hellscape sprawl.

[Trips1]

Why would an NHL league be created for Gretna
Of course Pilen is a massive idiot and wants to cater to his audience of out of touch idiots who live in far West Omaha. NHL would only move to downtown Omaha like every other NHL team does. No team would be created in what is now farmland just because there’s an outdoor mall next door. This whole plan is stupid, Omaha needs to work on building up downtown, not to create more suburban hellscape sprawl.

That is exactly what the Phoenix Coyotes did in Glendale at Westgate. 20 years and multiple Super Bowls later, there is still farm land across the interstate.

Other than the Coyotes organization being a disaster and that area having way to much parking, it turned into a great live/play destination.

[Brad]

Where to begin with both of these posts....

Why would an NHL league be created for Gretna

League? LOL

Omaha needs to work on building up downtown, not to create more suburban hellscape sprawl.

Omaha is has no control over what Gretna does. Gretna is its own city in a completely different county.

That is exactly what the Phoenix Coyotes did in Glendale at Westgate. 20 years and multiple Super Bowls later, there is still farm land across the interstate.

Other than the Coyotes organization being a disaster and that area having way to much parking, it turned into a great live/play destination.

The Coyotes won multiple Super Bowls???? Funny, I thought hockey teams played for Stanley Cup...

That said the Coyotes have Zero Stanley Cups, and Zero conference Championships.

Also, the Coyotes are currently Homeless playing at Arizona State.

[djc311]

Where to begin with both of these posts....

Why would an NHL league be created for Gretna

League? LOL

Omaha needs to work on building up downtown, not to create more suburban hellscape sprawl.

Omaha is has no control over what Gretna does. Gretna is its own city in a completely different county.

That is exactly what the Phoenix Coyotes did in Glendale at Westgate. 20 years and multiple Super Bowls later, there is still farm land across the interstate.

Other than the Coyotes organization being a disaster and that area having way to much parking, it turned into a great live/play destination.

Also, the Coyotes are currently Homeless playing at Arizona State.

Oakview Mall may be available....