Downtown Soccer Stadium (11th & Millwork Ave)

[Linkin5]

If you think TIF has anything to do with your property taxes you have absolutely no |expletive| clue how TIF works

A lien was placed on my house to pay for the Mutual tower!!!

[omaha79]

The more time that goes by, and the more I hear about all of the needed financing mechanisms to make this work, this feels like sports facility vapor ware.

What I'm getting tired of is developers around here announcing mega projects with no hope of them being built, but trying to throw a 75 yard hail mary just hoping that they create enough buzz to get the thing off the ground. This is happening over and over and, at some point, there needs to be much more scrutiny and people need to be held liable for their words. But, these developers and business types have learned we no longer have a functioning media who will probe or ask questions. So, they can just kind of say or do whatever they want. And, when it doesn't work out, just shrug their shoulders and walk away.

I file the original crossroads plans, Rod Yates Magic Kingdom, anything Bellevue announces, and the Union Omaha soccer stadium in the same folder at this point.

[nebport5]

The more time that goes by, and the more I hear about all of the needed financing mechanisms to make this work, this feels like sports facility vapor ware.

What I'm getting tired of is developers around here announcing mega projects with no hope of them being built, but trying to throw a 75 yard hail mary just hoping that they create enough buzz to get the thing off the ground. This is happening over and over and, at some point, there needs to be much more scrutiny and people need to be held liable for their words. But, these developers and business types have learned we no longer have a functioning media who will probe or ask questions. So, they can just kind of say or do whatever they want. And, when it doesn't work out, just shrug their shoulders and walk away.

I file the original crossroads plans, Rod Yates Magic Kingdom, anything Bellevue announces, and the Union Omaha soccer stadium in the same folder at this point.

I don't think lumping this proposal that's a fraction of the cost of Crossroads, NeX, etc is a fair comparison. Union wanting their own stadium isn't quite the same as a sketchy developer initiated project. Also there's a lot more faith in Hines as a developer than say Yates and his Mall of Megalomania. I'd imagine the relative isolation of this location is a hurdle with getting the associated entertainment development solidified vs just the cost of the stadium.

I say cancel Gretna's Good Life District and create one downtown either here or as part of a larger reimagined Civic site development.

[jjjjhskr]

This is not an Omaha phenomenon. Consider cities that give $1 billion or more in tax $ for sports stadiums. Omaha needs/wants big thinkers to continue to advance and make the city a better place to live. It’s understood that soms plans will not end up happening.

[Greg S]

This is not an Omaha phenomenon. Consider cities that give $1 billion or more in tax $ for sports stadiums. Omaha needs/wants big thinkers to continue to advance and make the city a better place to live. It’s understood that soms plans will not end up happening.

Great points. These type of developments take time and rarely go smoothly, quick or according to plan. I follow stadium developments and renovations all over the country constantly and have for years. Nothing that's happening here has surprised or alarmed me.

Greg

[jjjjhskr]

This is not an Omaha phenomenon. Consider cities that give $1 billion or more in tax $ for sports stadiums. Omaha needs/wants big thinkers to continue to advance and make the city a better place to live. It’s understood that soms plans will not end up happening.

Great points. These type of developments take time and rarely go smoothly, quick or according to plan. I follow stadium developments and renovations all over the country constantly and have for years. Nothing that's happening here has surprised or alarmed me.

Greg

As a Royals fans you definitely know what it’s like in KC

[thenewguy]

So is the consensus that this is a no-go?

When we were in KC this summer, there were a ton of KC Current fans riding from downtown to their stadium. It's a nice stadium and they fed off each other. I hope it pans out

[Garrett]

I think the consensus is that this is a ????

I'm not sure how much financing they need to go forward, but being partnered with Hines you'd at least hope they have some pretty good support.

[Brad]

I think they are still working to make it happen.

[MadJack]

Keep your eye on the UPRR land on the east side of Millwork Commons. That's a possible landing spot for the soccer stadium now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

[almighty_tuna]

...now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

Where are you getting that information?

[omaha79]

...now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

Where are you getting that information?

yeahhh. that would be a new development. Where is that info coming from.

And, had been told the Millwork Commons site was out nearly a year and a half ago. Millwork Commons was the original site, but it fell through.

[nebport5]

...now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

Where are you getting that information?

yeahhh. that would be a new development. Where is that info coming from.

And, had been told the Millwork Commons site was out nearly a year and a half ago. Millwork Commons was the original site, but it fell through.

Was it? I thought it was the Makerhood area west of Millwork? East of Millwork would be ideal.

[Garrett]

I don't think we ever really knew exactly where in Millwork it would have been, but speculated it would be on the eastern edge.

[arch_RP_planner]

Personally, I still believe that Lot D would be the best option for both accessibility, and to combine all of the sports and entertainment venues into one area. Plus, I believe that would make higher-density development in the area and on those lots way more viable. Hoping this project can pull through, wherever it may end up.

Still trying to figure out a good solution to the parking issue that would present itself in such case.

[nebport5]

I don't think we ever really knew exactly where in Millwork it would have been, but speculated it would be on the eastern edge.

From the grant application for LB 1024:

"The planned development would occur South of Seward Street, North of Cuming Street, and East of 16th Street. The Stadium is proposed to go into the NE corner of the development."

[thenewguy]

Wasn't part of the proposal a parking garage?

[Doctor Fate]

Could the proposed stadium fit at the Civic site? The mayor said they’d heard from another developer with a plan for this site. You’d have a city owned garage on either side, the school district surface lot, and space to build a mixed use building that has some of the components from their Gallup land proposal on the northwest corner of the lot (hotel and residential with ground floor retail). Plus that is on the ORBT line and the potential 19th St. streetcar extension.

[nebport5]

Could the proposed stadium fit at the Civic site? The mayor said they’d heard from another developer with a plan for this site. You’d have a city owned garage on either side, the school district surface lot, and space to build a mixed use building that has some of the components from their Gallup land proposal on the northwest corner of the lot (hotel and residential with ground floor retail). Plus that is on the ORBT line and the potential 19th St. streetcar extension.

It would certainly take up a sizable portion of the Civic site but I think the short answer is yes and the more complicated answer is dependent on what else would go with it...hotel, housing, etc.

One detail that could help I haven't heard mentioned in the Civic thread is that land just to the west is owned by more than one established housing developers.

[NEDodger]

Could the proposed stadium fit at the Civic site? The mayor said they’d heard from another developer with a plan for this site. You’d have a city owned garage on either side, the school district surface lot, and space to build a mixed use building that has some of the components from their Gallup land proposal on the northwest corner of the lot (hotel and residential with ground floor retail). Plus that is on the ORBT line and the potential 19th St. streetcar extension.

Comparing it with Morrison Stadium via Google Maps, it looks like it would fit. I think the only problem is this would put the kibosh on a grocery store at the Civic Site. But maybe that’s something that’s a better fit on the ground floor of the old UP plot anyways.

[nebport5]

From the grant application:

[Garrett]

Oh damn. That would have been quite something.

[Brad]

Oh damn. That would have been quite something.

OR still could be quite something...

[Garrett]

Oh damn. That would have been quite something.

OR still could be quite something...

Is this part of the reason there was no uncut segment when the mayor was on GrowOmaha a couple weeks ago?

[omahahawk]

All kidding aside, it would be nice if the local media would be a little more proactive on this story. It could be really that they really are not able to get additional information at this time but obviously the project timeline is not being met so it would be nice to know a little more.

[omaha79]

...now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

Where are you getting that information?

yeahhh. that would be a new development. Where is that info coming from.

And, had been told the Millwork Commons site was out nearly a year and a half ago. Millwork Commons was the original site, but it fell through.

Was it? I thought it was the Makerhood area west of Millwork? East of Millwork would be ideal.

I'd heard from some people that originally the plan was Millwork Commons. Almost to the point where they were ready to have the same premature announcement of the location like they did last year for Gallup. However, last minute, I'd been told that another proposal came in for that Millwork Commons land for longer term redevelopment that made more sense to the stakeholders up there. I'd heard there were feelings that sports/soccer would be at odds with what they are trying to do up there by making it a livable/walkable arts and dining area when you'd inject all that traffic on gamedays into the area. I could see that being an issue.

[Brad]

Is this part of the reason there was no uncut segment when the mayor was on GrowOmaha a couple weeks ago?

LOL, no. I wasn't there that day and I haven't heard anything about that. Most of my north downtown rumors come from a couple different businesses in that area.

[nebport5]

...now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

Where are you getting that information?

yeahhh. that would be a new development. Where is that info coming from.

And, had been told the Millwork Commons site was out nearly a year and a half ago. Millwork Commons was the original site, but it fell through.

Was it? I thought it was the Makerhood area west of Millwork? East of Millwork would be ideal.

I'd heard from some people that originally the plan was Millwork Commons. Almost to the point where they were ready to have the same premature announcement of the location like they did last year for Gallup. However, last minute, I'd been told that another proposal came in for that Millwork Commons land for longer term redevelopment that made more sense to the stakeholders up there. I'd heard there were feelings that sports/soccer would be at odds with what they are trying to do up there by making it a livable/walkable arts and dining area when you'd inject all that traffic on gamedays into the area. I could see that being an issue.

Interesting. It's hard to think that bringing thousands of people into the area for a game wouldn't be beneficial to most stake holders; hotels, residents, Kros Strain, Dolomiti, and adjacent businesses. I understand the traffic concerns which certainly advocates more for that additional access street via 10th to 11th St. And I'm all for walkability too which is severely lacking mostly because of ongoing construction and lack of pedestrian infrastructure.

I took a little jog through the area this fall and it was surprising dicey getting out of there with the drivers going too fast and blowing through stop signs(of course this a larger problem around the city). It's also no picnic getting across Cuming.

EDIT: It might take until they extend 11th St south or the area becomes more developed but there really needs to be another way to cross Cuming St. I know some think they're a waist but I'd be all for a pedestrian bridge in this area.

[omaha79]

...now that the Gallup campus is not going to work.

Where are you getting that information?

yeahhh. that would be a new development. Where is that info coming from.

And, had been told the Millwork Commons site was out nearly a year and a half ago. Millwork Commons was the original site, but it fell through.

Was it? I thought it was the Makerhood area west of Millwork? East of Millwork would be ideal.

I'd heard from some people that originally the plan was Millwork Commons. Almost to the point where they were ready to have the same premature announcement of the location like they did last year for Gallup. However, last minute, I'd been told that another proposal came in for that Millwork Commons land for longer term redevelopment that made more sense to the stakeholders up there. I'd heard there were feelings that sports/soccer would be at odds with what they are trying to do up there by making it a livable/walkable arts and dining area when you'd inject all that traffic on gamedays into the area. I could see that being an issue.

Interesting. It's hard to think that bringing thousands of people into the area for a game wouldn't be beneficial to most stake holders; hotels, residents, Kros Strain, Dolomiti, and adjacent businesses. I understand the traffic concerns which certainly advocates more for that additional access street via 10th to 11th St. And I'm all for walkability too which is severely lacking mostly because of ongoing construction and lack of pedestrian infrastructure. I took a little jog through the area this fall and it was surprising dicey getting out of there with the drivers going too fast and blowing through stop signs(of course this a larger problem around the city). It's also no picnic getting across Cuming. It might take until they extend 11th St south but there really needs to be another cross walk between 10th and 12th St.

I heard parking cited. If an area starts to be seen as a sports destination, it loses that neighborhood charm. The people that go there now are more artsy and many have little interest in sports. They developers seem to see it progressing more that way. And, don't want to scare off the regular customers who might be perturbed to show up one day and suddenly have 10k people there and absolutely no place to park on the street because rowdy soccer fans took it all up. In that case, they are probably leaving and maybe not coming back as much as they aren't in tune to the soccer schedule and don't know when the next game will be and have no care to try to align their schedules to sports. That's how more hipster areas work. If one area gets taken over by the normies, the artsy people just find a new spot.

Often, larger scale sports crowds and arts crowds don't mesh and the sports crowds are seasonal and sporadic. Once a week, 3 times a month and not at all over the winter. The area could become a wasteland during the other months and could jeopardize things like Hot Shops, etc. when weekend games going on.

[Linkin5]

Could the proposed stadium fit at the Civic site? The mayor said they’d heard from another developer with a plan for this site. You’d have a city owned garage on either side, the school district surface lot, and space to build a mixed use building that has some of the components from their Gallup land proposal on the northwest corner of the lot (hotel and residential with ground floor retail). Plus that is on the ORBT line and the potential 19th St. streetcar extension.

Comparing it with Morrison Stadium via Google Maps, it looks like it would fit. I think the only problem is this would put the kibosh on a grocery store at the Civic Site. But maybe that’s something that’s a better fit on the ground floor of the old UP plot anyways.

This seems like it would be such a great spot for a stadium. I doubt we see it land here but it would be situated great and have awesome views.

[almighty_tuna]

it would be situated great and have awesome views.

I think the Gallup site has better views. At the civic site you couldn't see the forest for the trees.

[GrowUpFrances]

From the grant application:

So if this came to fruition, all of the railroad tracks on the east side would be moved or removed?

[Brad]

From the grant application:

So if this came to fruition, all of the railroad tracks on the east side would be moved or removed?

From that plan, it looks like some would, but not all.

[Fort Calhoun]

According to the latest Grow Omaha Market Report at the latest MECA meeting Jay Noodle reported the soccer stadium will not be built on the lawn in front of the Gallup headquarters but may be built elsewhere downtown

[omaha79]

link for those that are interested...

https://growomaha.com/weekly-market-rep ... y-16-2026/

[Garrett]

I'm fine with the change. It wasn't an ideal location imo, and I hope the Millwork proposal can indeed come back around and work out

[skinzfan23]

Thanks for posting...I must have missed that and didn't know it was official that the soccer stadium wasn't going there and I was just going to ask based on the comments above.

[Athomsfere]

I'm fine with the change. It wasn't an ideal location imo, and I hope the Millwork proposal can indeed come back around and work out

My only gripe would be that the 13 I believe which serves the route from ORBT to Millworks is on 30 minute headways.

That would be a good route to bump up the frequency now anyway though, IMO.

[Garrett]

I'm fine with the change. It wasn't an ideal location imo, and I hope the Millwork proposal can indeed come back around and work out

My only gripe would be that the 13 I believe which serves the route from ORBT to Millworks is on 30 minute headways.

That would be a good route to bump up the frequency now anyway though, IMO.

I'd adjust a few things in the street/bus network to improve connectivity up there. The idea shown in the image above to connect 11th/Izard to 10th/Cuming/Abbott is great. I'd also pedestrianize the bit of 12th street between Cuming and Izard, as I don't think 4 signalized intersections in a row on Cuming are too useful to traffic flow. I think the 13 could also be rerouted slightly to cut across Farnam/Douglas and run up 10th street into Millwork, improving direct connectivity to the MECA campus.

[almighty_tuna]

Same as skinz - thanks for posting that! Definitely news to me, too. Let the renewed speculation begin!