Liberty First Credit Union Arena (Ralston Arena)

[GetUrban]

Darn, I was looking forward to calling it the Runzarena. Oh well.

[S.O.Boy]

Darn, I was looking forward to calling it the Runzarena. Oh well.

I was hoping for Goowill Arena.

[Louie]

Darn, I was looking forward to calling it the Runzarena. Oh well.

I was hoping for Goowill Arena.

I'm sure this was a Goodwill typo, but Goowill Arena has a nice ring to it.

[ita]

https://omaha.com/news/local/omaha-area ... 59d50.html

Jessica Wade
A youth hockey tournament planned for this fall will bring players from around the world to an Omaha-area arena.

OneHockey World, an international host of premier youth hockey tournaments, announced Wednesday that the Omaha International Invitationals will be held at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena (formerly Ralston Arena) in October and January.

Teams could come from Russia, the Czech Republic, Canada and other locations around the world, said Sebastien Fortier, founder and CEO of OneHockey World.

Organizers claim it will bring up to 900 players.

[Omaha Cowboy]

https://omaha.com/news/local/omaha-area ... 59d50.html

Jessica Wade
A youth hockey tournament planned for this fall will bring players from around the world to an Omaha-area arena.

OneHockey World, an international host of premier youth hockey tournaments, announced Wednesday that the Omaha International Invitationals will be held at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena (formerly Ralston Arena) in October and January.

Teams could come from Russia, the Czech Republic, Canada and other locations around the world, said Sebastien Fortier, founder and CEO of OneHockey World.

Organizers claim it will bring up to 900 players.

Let’s hope the pandemic doesn’t put the kibosh on this event…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Brad]

Ralston appears to be getting replacement exterior video boards. Not sure about inside.

Between PBA, CHI, Baxter, Schwab and Ralston, Daktronics has pulled a truckload of money out of Nebraska this summer…

[skinzfan23]

Is this the big board on 72nd as well? I remember living in the apts right behind the arena when it opened and seeing that put in.

[Brad]

Is this the big board on 72nd as well? I remember living in the apts right behind the arena when it opened and seeing that put in.

Yes, that's the one I am talking about, the double sided board on 72 street.

[Brad]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

[nebugeater]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

I have been reading that some youth sports venues are now charging a fee for parents to take their own photos, under a "license" requirement. Full camera or phone, didn't matter. See or heard of that yet?

[Louie]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

I have been reading that some youth sports venues are now charging a fee for parents to take their own photos, under a "license" requirement. Full camera or phone, didn't matter. See or heard of that yet?

That would be insane if true.

[Brad]

I haven't seen that yet. I feel like most of the hockey rinks we have played in have been city, county, or school district run as where a lot of those basketball/volleyball facilities seem to be privately run. I know out at UBT, parents need to pay admission to get in to watch their own kids play.

[nebugeater]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

I have been reading that some youth sports venues are now charging a fee for parents to take their own photos, under a "license" requirement. Full camera or phone, didn't matter. See or heard of that yet?

That would be insane if true.

I did a deep enough dive, I am convinced it is true. The base is that it is tournaments that are run by a couple of national organisations for select teams. I found that most were Volleball but some were basketball

[Linkin5]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

I have been reading that some youth sports venues are now charging a fee for parents to take their own photos, under a "license" requirement. Full camera or phone, didn't matter. See or heard of that yet?

That would be insane if true.

I did a deep enough dive, I am convinced it is true. The base is that it is tournaments that are run by a couple of national organisations for select teams. I found that most were Volleball but some were basketball

Youth sports are being bought up by private equity companies. It happened with my daughter’s high school club team and it is absolutely insane. Prices have skyrocketed with few other options if you want to go against the best area competition.

[djc311]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

I have been reading that some youth sports venues are now charging a fee for parents to take their own photos, under a "license" requirement. Full camera or phone, didn't matter. See or heard of that yet?

That would be insane if true.

I did a deep enough dive, I am convinced it is true. The base is that it is tournaments that are run by a couple of national organisations for select teams. I found that most were Volleball but some were basketball

Youth sports are being bought up by private equity companies. It happened with my daughter’s high school club team and it is absolutely insane. Prices have skyrocketed with few other options if you want to go against the best area competition.

Sounds exactly like what I read on USA Today about hockey: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 104753007/

It's outright ludicrous and straight up obnoxious that these groups act like this. I don't care how much they're worth - they're taking the fun out of the sport and also the feasibility away from several families that can't afford the insane costs.

Just dumb.

[Greg S]

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

They've been doing that since they opened too. I was coaching in a an all day Mite Jamboree right about when they opened. Was walking in with coffee at about 5:45AM. They stopped me cold and said I couldn't bring it in and had to buy from their stand. I said OK, when's it open? They said hopefully 8. I said well, I will have already been on the ice for an hour and won't be able to come up until 10. They didn't back down. Now I carry it in under my jacket. Fortunately coaching high school, no more 7AM games or tournaments.

Also was coaching in a tournament there over 10 years ago or so. Was there essentially all day. Nebraska had a 2:30 game against Penn State (we won with Pelini). They didn't open their bar. This is when they were very public about the money their were losing on the arena and were going back to the state for additional help. Parents were leaving to watch the game, many went across the parking lot to keno to watch the game between their kids games. Would have made a lot of money.

We have the high school state championship there and all star game. We ask for one regular concession stand to be open and they rarely do. When my team beat Prep their for the state title in 2023 we had about 2k there (bigger than many Lancers games). They didn't even have the little stand open in the lobby....

[Brad]

Just dumb.

Horrible!

My son has now played in 16 different arenas/ice complexes in 4 different states and Ralston is the only one of the 16 that doesn't let parent bring in coffee and other morning type drinks to a 7am kids game. Its also the only one that doesn't let the parents bring in food for the kids when they have quick turnaround between games. They want everyone to use their concessions stands, which out of the 16 rinks that do have concessions stands, Ralston has the worst selection and highest prices.

That said, Ralston does keep up with the others when it comes to locker rooms, stands, and lobby space. We have played at two new rinks this month and Ralston keeps up with both of them in these areas.

They've been doing that since they opened too. I was coaching in a an all day Mite Jamboree right about when they opened. Was walking in with coffee at about 5:45AM. They stopped me cold and said I couldn't bring it in and had to buy from their stand. I said OK, when's it open? They said hopefully 8. I said well, I will have already been on the ice for an hour and won't be able to come up until 10. They didn't back down. Now I carry it in under my jacket. Fortunately coaching high school, no more 7AM games or tournaments.

Also was coaching in a tournament there over 10 years ago or so. Was there essentially all day. Nebraska had a 2:30 game against Penn State (we won with Pelini). They didn't open their bar. This is when they were very public about the money their were losing on the arena and were going back to the state for additional help. Parents were leaving to watch the game, many went across the parking lot to keno to watch the game between their kids games. Would have made a lot of money.

We have the high school state championship there and all star game. We ask for one regular concession stand to be open and they rarely do. When my team beat Prep their for the state title in 2023 we had about 2k there (bigger than many Lancers games). They didn't even have the little stand open in the lobby....

Wow, just so ridiculous. With the shortage of ice around here, they know they can get away with it too. A lot of parents were having their kids eat out in the car between games at one tournament this year.

[nativeomahan]

Sounds like the arena needs new management.

[BIGO88]

I saw on the newest renderings that another 7brew Coffee and a Chipotle will be going in the empty lots in front of the arena.