Downtown Soccer Stadium (11th & Millwork Ave)

[omaha79]

I agree with the overall sentiment of developing the area for the Union Omaha stadium. I recognize soccer is growing in popularity and that this development would be huge for Omaha.

That being said, I have watched a lot more UFL games than I have soccer games. Omaha is a football town and Nebraska is a football state. From a return on investment strategy, it would likely make sense to have a dual purpose stadium that can accommodate both soccer and football.

The smallest UFL stadium is 11k, which would be turn back financing prohibitive.

I was not aware of this. Are there seating capacity limitations or requirements for turn back financing to be viable?

I am not as informed as others on this thread and am genuinely asking. I would think it would be feasible for the Union Omaha stadium to be close to 15K in seating, allowing the stadium to be used for UFL games. The dual purpose might also generate some more interest in naming rights from a corporate sponsor to offset some impacts to the current financing model.

Sure. You "could" make the Union Omaha Stadium 15k to find a way to shoehorn in a UFL franchise. But, where are you going to find the extra millions in the couch cushions to double the size and scope of the stadium to do this? Union has spent years scratching and clawing to get a 6,500 seat soccer specific venue off the ground, only to be met with red tape and road blocks every step of the way.

Now, here comes joe six pack Omaha sports fan, "hey, I think soccer is dumb and if we can get American football in there, I'd be way more interested. That UFL I done see on muh tv looks pretty fun, let's just double the size of the stadium so we can have that too. her derpty derp derp."

So, let's say Omaha finds the money in the couch cushions, gets a new shiny UFL franchise, and everything goes great for a couple of years. Omaha, being this bastion of American Football that we are being told, pulls great Nighthawks style crowds of 15k a game, but then the entire league folds....just like every one of these spring leagues has in the past.

Now, we are left with a stadium that's probably entirely too large for Union Omaha or the women's team. We have no American Football left, and within 5-7 years, we are talking about downsizing the stadium because of a failed investment in UFL Football.

Doesn't seem like a winning idea to me. If all these UFL fans are so excited about it, they should start a fundraiser and look in their own couch cushions. Put their money where their mouths are and contribute to this idea that is so great that it cannot fail.

[adm0707]

"derpty derp derp"

I'm sure you are a blast to be around and not condescending at all.

Also I do not think there will ever be a successful "tier b" professional "American" football league ever, unless directly tied into the NFL teams (not going to happen). So for what it's worth so I generally agree with what you are saying (I am for this move and a small stadium), just not how you chose to say it.

[omaha79]

"derpty derp derp"

I'm sure you are a blast to be around and not condescending at all.

Also I do not think there will ever be a successful "tier b" professional "American" football league ever, unless directly tied into the NFL teams (not going to happen). So for what it's worth so I generally agree with what you are saying (I am for this move and a small stadium), just not how you chose to say it.

I've been told I'm fun to be around with a great sense of humor and razor sharp wit. But, thank you for your interest in my points and viewpoints. I'm glad you took the time to read them.

The sports fans in this market tire me so much with how predictable, uninformed, and basic they are. They are are just an easy target for my ire.

But, it's also dangerous to be as uniformed as the average Joe sports guy in this market is because they are easy prey for hucksters like Rod Yates and whoever else selling pie in the sky snake oil like NHL, MLS, US Volleyball Olympic Training Centers, UFL, and everything else that simply muddies the waters vs. what this market actually is vs. what it can be and where the ceiling lies.

[jomaha9]

"derpty derp derp"

I'm sure you are a blast to be around and not condescending at all.

Also I do not think there will ever be a successful "tier b" professional "American" football league ever, unless directly tied into the NFL teams (not going to happen). So for what it's worth so I generally agree with what you are saying (I am for this move and a small stadium), just not how you chose to say it.

I've been told I'm fun to be around with a great sense of humor and razor sharp wit. But, thank you for your interest in my points and viewpoints. I'm glad you took the time to read them.

The sports fans in this market tire me so much with how predictable, uninformed, and basic they are. They are are just an easy target for my ire.

But, it's also dangerous to be as uniformed as the average Joe sports guy in this market is because they are easy prey for hucksters like Rod Yates and whoever else selling pie in the sky snake oil like NHL, MLS, US Volleyball Olympic Training Centers, UFL, and everything else that simply muddies the waters vs. what this market actually is vs. what it can be and where the ceiling lies.

Your point is well taken. I would argue to a certain extent that a future stadium should be built with capacity to support a growing audience for soccer or any other support.

I'm happy for Union Omaha that they have the support for a new stadium. However, if the team is only expecting to pull 6,500 fans a game or less, I question whether a new stadium is necessary.

If they are going to move forward with a new stadium, it would be good for it to accommodate a growing fan base and possibly multiple uses.

[NEDodger]

"derpty derp derp"

I'm sure you are a blast to be around and not condescending at all.

Also I do not think there will ever be a successful "tier b" professional "American" football league ever, unless directly tied into the NFL teams (not going to happen). So for what it's worth so I generally agree with what you are saying (I am for this move and a small stadium), just not how you chose to say it.

I've been told I'm fun to be around with a great sense of humor and razor sharp wit. But, thank you for your interest in my points and viewpoints. I'm glad you took the time to read them.

The sports fans in this market tire me so much with how predictable, uninformed, and basic they are. They are are just an easy target for my ire.

But, it's also dangerous to be as uniformed as the average Joe sports guy in this market is because they are easy prey for hucksters like Rod Yates and whoever else selling pie in the sky snake oil like NHL, MLS, US Volleyball Olympic Training Centers, UFL, and everything else that simply muddies the waters vs. what this market actually is vs. what it can be and where the ceiling lies.

Your point is well taken. I would argue to a certain extent that a future stadium should be built with capacity to support a growing audience for soccer or any other support.

I'm happy for Union Omaha that they have the support for a new stadium. However, if the team is only expecting to pull 6,500 fans a game or less, I question whether a new stadium is necessary.

If they are going to move forward with a new stadium, it would be good for it to accommodate a growing fan base and possibly multiple uses.

They only pull 3,000 now.

It’s funny how soccer fans are the biggest snowflakes ever.

People bash baseball? Baseball fans shrug.
People bash football? Football fans shrug.
People bash basketball? Basketball fans shrug.

But my god…..call soccer boring and it’s “ZOMG how DARE you say that?!?!?”

Look at the hooligan fans, the deadly stampedes….

This isn’t exactly the “thinking man’s” game.

So much undeserved snobbishness from some snowflake fans.

I hope it’s successful….but its fan base often doesn’t exactly sell the idea to those on the fence about it.

[Garrett]

They only pull 3,000 now.

It’s funny how soccer fans are the biggest snowflakes ever.

People bash baseball? Baseball fans shrug.
People bash football? Football fans shrug.
People bash basketball? Basketball fans shrug.

But my god…..call soccer boring and it’s “ZOMG how DARE you say that?!?!?”

Look at the hooligan fans, the deadly stampedes….

This isn’t exactly the “thinking man’s” game.

So much undeserved snobbishness from some snowflake fans.

I hope it’s successful….but its fan base often doesn’t exactly sell the idea to those on the fence about it.

It’s Not Just Eagles Fans. Why Do People Riot After Super Bowl Wins?

[omaha79]

"derpty derp derp"

I'm sure you are a blast to be around and not condescending at all.

Also I do not think there will ever be a successful "tier b" professional "American" football league ever, unless directly tied into the NFL teams (not going to happen). So for what it's worth so I generally agree with what you are saying (I am for this move and a small stadium), just not how you chose to say it.

I've been told I'm fun to be around with a great sense of humor and razor sharp wit. But, thank you for your interest in my points and viewpoints. I'm glad you took the time to read them.

The sports fans in this market tire me so much with how predictable, uninformed, and basic they are. They are are just an easy target for my ire.

But, it's also dangerous to be as uniformed as the average Joe sports guy in this market is because they are easy prey for hucksters like Rod Yates and whoever else selling pie in the sky snake oil like NHL, MLS, US Volleyball Olympic Training Centers, UFL, and everything else that simply muddies the waters vs. what this market actually is vs. what it can be and where the ceiling lies.

Your point is well taken. I would argue to a certain extent that a future stadium should be built with capacity to support a growing audience for soccer or any other support.

I'm happy for Union Omaha that they have the support for a new stadium. However, if the team is only expecting to pull 6,500 fans a game or less, I question whether a new stadium is necessary.

If they are going to move forward with a new stadium, it would be good for it to accommodate a growing fan base and possibly multiple uses.

They only pull 3,000 now.

It’s funny how soccer fans are the biggest snowflakes ever.

People bash baseball? Baseball fans shrug.
People bash football? Football fans shrug.
People bash basketball? Basketball fans shrug.

But my god…..call soccer boring and it’s “ZOMG how DARE you say that?!?!?”

Look at the hooligan fans, the deadly stampedes….

This isn’t exactly the “thinking man’s” game.

So much undeserved snobbishness from some snowflake fans.

I hope it’s successful….but its fan base often doesn’t exactly sell the idea to those on the fence about it.

nah. my ire had nothing to do with soccer, actually, but more the overarching stupidity of general sports fans who think things like UFL teams, NHL stadiums in Gretna, and MLS teams in Omaha make sense. It's the people around here that have a dangerously over inflated sense of what Omaha is that I direct my anger towards. It actually has little to do with defending soccer, in and of itself, because if you've seen my prior posts, I blast the dumb dumbs who say "why they done not building this soccer place big enough for a daggum MLS team to come into Omaha."

It's less about specific sports, but over inflated uninformed mindsets that are the problem here.

Thinking we we ever be a NHL city is a problem.

Thinking Rod Yates stands any chance of getting any major sporting venue built in Gretna is a problem.

Thinking we need to double the size and cost of a facility meant to spur development in a blighted area of town to accomodate a UFL team, a league that likely won't exist in 5-10 years, is a massive problem.

omaha fans barely supporting the teams and sports we do have because we constantly delude ourselves into thinking "we're better than minor league" is a fundamental problem to this city.

It all just a churn of stupidity.

[omaha79]

"derpty derp derp"

I'm sure you are a blast to be around and not condescending at all.

Also I do not think there will ever be a successful "tier b" professional "American" football league ever, unless directly tied into the NFL teams (not going to happen). So for what it's worth so I generally agree with what you are saying (I am for this move and a small stadium), just not how you chose to say it.

I've been told I'm fun to be around with a great sense of humor and razor sharp wit. But, thank you for your interest in my points and viewpoints. I'm glad you took the time to read them.

The sports fans in this market tire me so much with how predictable, uninformed, and basic they are. They are are just an easy target for my ire.

But, it's also dangerous to be as uniformed as the average Joe sports guy in this market is because they are easy prey for hucksters like Rod Yates and whoever else selling pie in the sky snake oil like NHL, MLS, US Volleyball Olympic Training Centers, UFL, and everything else that simply muddies the waters vs. what this market actually is vs. what it can be and where the ceiling lies.

Your point is well taken. I would argue to a certain extent that a future stadium should be built with capacity to support a growing audience for soccer or any other support.

I'm happy for Union Omaha that they have the support for a new stadium. However, if the team is only expecting to pull 6,500 fans a game or less, I question whether a new stadium is necessary.

If they are going to move forward with a new stadium, it would be good for it to accommodate a growing fan base and possibly multiple uses.

What do you think attendance of USL soccer actually looks like? If Union Omaha could generally fill the new stadium at around 6,500 to 7k seats, that would put them in the top 5 of USL Championship, let alone League One. But, we know we will generally lag behind other cities in that regard due to less optimal weather in the early season and late season matches.

So, again, is the higher capacity to truly serve the main tenant that you see as a "growing fanbase" or to shoe horn in some UFL idea? And, if they truly started making tickets scarce and hitting the full capacity every match, it's pretty clear that it's an open design that would allow for some additional stands to be put on the end for additional spectators.

Here are the average attendance numbers of both USL Championship and League One. Let's just have a clear idea of what attendance in these leagues actually represent and where Omaha is likely to fall in that pecking order.

And, Union, with the early season colder weather games that the fans haven't been used to at Werner, along with the move, are averaging 1600 a game, not 3k at this point. Again, factors I'm happy to discuss if anyone actually wants to discuss my feelings on what I'm seeing as the market realities going on right now.


https://www.transfermarkt.us/uslchampio ... bewerb/USL

https://www.transfermarkt.us/usl-league ... ewerb/USC3

[UpTheUnion95]

Guess Pillen had a hearing about turn back tax

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/04/21 ... elopments/

[NEDodger]

I will be curious if his view does in fact “thaw”. Pillen strikes me as someone wanting to give Omaha the middle finger every chance the fool gets.

[nebport5]

From the Examiner article.. Pillen hears incentive pleas for Omaha soccer developments

Part of Pillen’s willingness to listen also could stem from a legislative reality check, a change in state law this session that stripped him of his singular ability to keep such projects from accessing a state sales tax incentive for sports projects.

Nine applications for the incentive have been pending for months. Pillen had balked at approving them. But now a majority of the five-member SAFFAA board could approve the projects without him. The group has 60 days to act on projects that had a hearing.

The SAFFAA board indicated it would meet in May to vote on projects.

[almighty_tuna]

From the Examiner article.. Pillen hears incentive pleas for Omaha soccer developments

Part of Pillen’s willingness to listen also could stem from a legislative reality check, a change in state law this session that stripped him of his singular ability to keep such projects from accessing a state sales tax incentive for sports projects.

Nine applications for the incentive have been pending for months. Pillen had balked at approving them. But now a majority of the five-member SAFFAA board could approve the projects without him. The group has 60 days to act on projects that had a hearing.

The SAFFAA board indicated it would meet in May to vote on projects.

Now he has to show up if he wants a say. This isn't Pillen thawing, this is him being forced to do the bare minimum.

[nebport5]

From the Examiner article.. Pillen hears incentive pleas for Omaha soccer developments

Part of Pillen’s willingness to listen also could stem from a legislative reality check, a change in state law this session that stripped him of his singular ability to keep such projects from accessing a state sales tax incentive for sports projects.

Nine applications for the incentive have been pending for months. Pillen had balked at approving them. But now a majority of the five-member SAFFAA board could approve the projects without him. The group has 60 days to act on projects that had a hearing.

The SAFFAA board indicated it would meet in May to vote on projects.

Now he has to show up if he wants a say. This isn't Pillen thawing, this is him being forced to do the bare minimum.

Stripped of his obtusity.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

nah. my ire had nothing to do with soccer, actually, but more the overarching stupidity of general sports fans who think things like UFL teams, NHL stadiums in Gretna, and MLS teams in Omaha make sense. It's the people around here that have a dangerously over inflated sense of what Omaha is that I direct my anger towards. It actually has little to do with defending soccer, in and of itself, because if you've seen my prior posts, I blast the dumb dumbs who say "why they done not building this soccer place big enough for a daggum MLS team to come into Omaha."

It's less about specific sports, but over inflated uninformed mindsets that are the problem here.

Thinking we we ever be a NHL city is a problem.

Thinking Rod Yates stands any chance of getting any major sporting venue built in Gretna is a problem.

Thinking we need to double the size and cost of a facility meant to spur development in a blighted area of town to accomodate a UFL team, a league that likely won't exist in 5-10 years, is a massive problem.

omaha fans barely supporting the teams and sports we do have because we constantly delude ourselves into thinking "we're better than minor league" is a fundamental problem to this city.

It all just a churn of stupidity.

I hear your point and used to write to the Public Pulse in the OWH when people would complain that places like Anaheim, Miami, and St. Louis had pro teams, but Omaha didn't, correcting them on the difference between city population and the broader market. That said, if we got an NHL team today, we would not be the smallest NHL market. That's Winnipeg, although they are struggling with attendance.

The NFL and MLB are out of the question for sure, but I think this optimism and aspirational nature of Omaha is better than the opposite. A city full of people who feel dejected or jaded about progress is, I would argue, a much worse place to be.

[omaha79]

nah. my ire had nothing to do with soccer, actually, but more the overarching stupidity of general sports fans who think things like UFL teams, NHL stadiums in Gretna, and MLS teams in Omaha make sense. It's the people around here that have a dangerously over inflated sense of what Omaha is that I direct my anger towards. It actually has little to do with defending soccer, in and of itself, because if you've seen my prior posts, I blast the dumb dumbs who say "why they done not building this soccer place big enough for a daggum MLS team to come into Omaha."

It's less about specific sports, but over inflated uninformed mindsets that are the problem here.

Thinking we we ever be a NHL city is a problem.

Thinking Rod Yates stands any chance of getting any major sporting venue built in Gretna is a problem.

Thinking we need to double the size and cost of a facility meant to spur development in a blighted area of town to accomodate a UFL team, a league that likely won't exist in 5-10 years, is a massive problem.

omaha fans barely supporting the teams and sports we do have because we constantly delude ourselves into thinking "we're better than minor league" is a fundamental problem to this city.

It all just a churn of stupidity.

I hear your point and used to write to the Public Pulse in the OWH when people would complain that places like Anaheim, Miami, and St. Louis had pro teams, but Omaha didn't, correcting them on the difference between city population and the broader market. That said, if we got an NHL team today, we would not be the smallest NHL market. That's Winnipeg, although they are struggling with attendance.

The NFL and MLB are out of the question for sure, but I think this optimism and aspirational nature of Omaha is better than the opposite. A city full of people who feel dejected or jaded about progress is, I would argue, a much worse place to be.

I've seen people point to Winnipeg as the shining beacon as to how the NHL could "work" in Omaha with their small market and much lower than NHL average corporate season ticket holder makeup. Honestly, I don't think anyone should be pointing to Winnipeg. You have to have total buy in and Winnipeg will always be a more hockey centric city than something like Omaha that's more NCAA obsessed. It's a constant struggle, year in and year out, for Winnipeg to maintain the bare minimum amount of season tickets necessary to keep that team. They are also somewhat helped by being in Canada and the NHL not overly wanting to strip away another franchise from a Canadian market if they can help it. The Canadian government would also probably step in at this point in a way that they wouldn't protect Omaha. I just see it as apples/oranges mainly, with Omaha's only real advantage being the US dollar vs. Canadian dollar, but even that advantage is feeling like it's starting to seem iffy.

yes. Omaha has always been aspirational, but sometimes to our own determinant by not supporting what we do have and going too deep into these pie in the sky ideas of major league sports.

I am old enough to remember the early 90's when the idea of a Husker Dome went way, way further than it ever should have. the idea was all over the media, papers, radio, etc. But, the basic premise was that Omaha would build a replacement for Memorial Stadium halfway between Omaha and Lincoln to house Husker football with the possibility of pushing for a NFL team. It sounded like it would have been in the style of places like the Silverdome, Metrodome, or RCA Dome, which were en vogue at the time. Could you imagine the white elephant that would have been? It would probably still be rotting on the plains as the unicameral and governor tried to find money in the couch cushions to demolish it in the 2010's as it sat empty never having housed an NFL team, but probably a few preseason games, a few concerts. Nebraska Football would have bailed on it after 20 years as the program eroded and they realized they needed to, you know, actually be in Lincoln. The Big Ten would have never happened and we'd have been in a quagmire of stupidity. Now, that floated idea never stood much chance of happening, but it certainly sucked the air out of the conversation for a few years.

[Greg S]

nah. my ire had nothing to do with soccer, actually, but more the overarching stupidity of general sports fans who think things like UFL teams, NHL stadiums in Gretna, and MLS teams in Omaha make sense. It's the people around here that have a dangerously over inflated sense of what Omaha is that I direct my anger towards. It actually has little to do with defending soccer, in and of itself, because if you've seen my prior posts, I blast the dumb dumbs who say "why they done not building this soccer place big enough for a daggum MLS team to come into Omaha."

It's less about specific sports, but over inflated uninformed mindsets that are the problem here.

Thinking we we ever be a NHL city is a problem.

Thinking Rod Yates stands any chance of getting any major sporting venue built in Gretna is a problem.

Thinking we need to double the size and cost of a facility meant to spur development in a blighted area of town to accomodate a UFL team, a league that likely won't exist in 5-10 years, is a massive problem.

omaha fans barely supporting the teams and sports we do have because we constantly delude ourselves into thinking "we're better than minor league" is a fundamental problem to this city.

It all just a churn of stupidity.

I hear your point and used to write to the Public Pulse in the OWH when people would complain that places like Anaheim, Miami, and St. Louis had pro teams, but Omaha didn't, correcting them on the difference between city population and the broader market. That said, if we got an NHL team today, we would not be the smallest NHL market. That's Winnipeg, although they are struggling with attendance.

The NFL and MLB are out of the question for sure, but I think this optimism and aspirational nature of Omaha is better than the opposite. A city full of people who feel dejected or jaded about progress is, I would argue, a much worse place to be.

I've seen people point to Winnipeg as the shining beacon as to how the NHL could "work" in Omaha with their small market and much lower than NHL average corporate season ticket holder makeup. Honestly, I don't think anyone should be pointing to Winnipeg. You have to have total buy in and Winnipeg will always be a more hockey centric city than something like Omaha that's more NCAA obsessed. It's a constant struggle, year in and year out, for Winnipeg to maintain the bare minimum amount of season tickets necessary to keep that team. They are also somewhat helped by being in Canada and the NHL not overly wanting to strip away another franchise from a Canadian market if they can help it. The Canadian government would also probably step in at this point in a way that they wouldn't protect Omaha. I just see it as apples/oranges mainly, with Omaha's only real advantage being the US dollar vs. Canadian dollar, but even that advantage is feeling like it's starting to seem iffy.

yes. Omaha has always been aspirational, but sometimes to our own determinant by not supporting what we do have and going too deep into these pie in the sky ideas of major league sports.

I am old enough to remember the early 90's when the idea of a Husker Dome went way, way further than it ever should have. the idea was all over the media, papers, radio, etc. But, the basic premise was that Omaha would build a replacement for Memorial Stadium halfway between Omaha and Lincoln to house Husker football with the possibility of pushing for a NFL team. It sounded like it would have been in the style of places like the Silverdome, Metrodome, or RCA Dome, which were en vogue at the time. Could you imagine the white elephant that would have been? It would probably still be rotting on the plains as the unicameral and governor tried to find money in the couch cushions to demolish it in the 2010's as it sat empty never having housed an NFL team, but probably a few preseason games, a few concerts. Nebraska Football would have bailed on it after 20 years as the program eroded and they realized they needed to, you know, actually be in Lincoln. The Big Ten would have never happened and we'd have been in a quagmire of stupidity. Now, that floated idea never stood much chance of happening, but it certainly sucked the air out of the conversation for a few years.

The Husker Dome had zero traction. Not sure if you were so young that you didn't realize this? The bigger talk back then was the OmaDome, reported on by Tom Shatel and the World Herald. Minor delay occurred when they shifted to remodeling the Civic. It was the same time they started talking about a possible marina down by the riverfront on the UP site. That did morph into the CHI Center and the riverfront park.

[CBJason]

Oh man, nice.

For a while I thought I was the only person who doesn't care about soccer. Herp derp. This thread gets in the way of the pecker jokes in the MofO thread.

Nope, you’re not! That said, I’m all for the further development downtown and the stadium should be multi-purpose for the UFL or whatever possibility comes up.

[thenewguy]

Feels like a lot of this would be better suited for a 'future omaha sports teams discussion,' but I will only say that (as I thumb back through this thread) it doesn't seem like many people on here are strong advocates for a mixed-use stadium.

The stadium only needs to serve the singular purpose of hosting soccer. If we could score a womens team as well, that'd be great. KC Current seem to have good support, so if had anything like that, then between the two, there'd be a lot of traffic throughout the year.

[Greg S]

Feels like a lot of this would be better suited for a 'future omaha sports teams discussion,' but I will only say that (as I thumb back through this thread) it doesn't seem like many people on here are strong advocates for a mixed-use stadium.

The stadium only needs to serve the singular purpose of hosting soccer. If we could score a womens team as well, that'd be great. KC Current seem to have good support, so if had anything like that, then between the two, there'd be a lot of traffic throughout the year.

I don't have any issues with it being used for other sports that fit. Obviously if so many MLS teams are doing it, I can't see why we'd say no to it either.

[BuildTaller]

Obviously if so many MLS teams are doing it, I can't see why we'd say no to it either.

I must have missed this discussion. Are there MLS stadiums that also host other sports/events?

[Greg S]

Obviously if so many MLS teams are doing it, I can't see why we'd say no to it either.

I must have missed this discussion. Are there MLS stadiums that also host other sports/events?

Yes. You can see some of the talk in the UFL OKC thread in Elsewhere forum. Sporting KC has hosted several KU football games while their stadium was being renovated. They've had other football games too including NW Missouri State and Pittsburgh State.

Here's some others:

For the 2026 season, the UFL is utilizing several MLS soccer-specific stadiums to host teams, including Audi Field (DC Defenders), Shell Energy Stadium (Houston Gamblers), Toyota Stadium (Dallas Renegades), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando Storm), and Historic Crew Stadium (Columbus Aviators). Additionally, Lynn Family Stadium (Louisville Kings) hosts a UFL team

And OKC's new soccer stadium will host a UFL team when it opens as well.

[nebport5]

I can appreciate where people are coming from with the preference for a dual purpose stadium. No one wants to see a stadium that sits empty as often as The Chuck even though MECA has kept it profitable. Though it feels like a lot of missed opportunity I believe part of the underutilization is to keep The NCAA happy. So The Chuck is a bit of an outlier for what is ideal.

In a perfect world(and field issues aside)a dual purpose stadium sounds great. In reality, when we're considering something like a potential UFL team it becomes problematic due to Turnback Financing constraints. As discussed earlier in this thread, the smallest UFL stadium is 11k. The Turnback has application limits for stadiums "permanent seating capacity of at least 2,500, but no more than 7,500, with a total capacity not to exceed 10,000".

So at this point, combining Union Omaha Soccer with UFL isn't feasible. There's a big difference with UFL pairing with MLS stadiums, which by the way, the smallest stadium is around 18k.

[BuildTaller]

I can appreciate where people are coming from with the preference for a dual purpose stadium. No one wants to see a stadium that sits empty as often as The Chuck even though MECA has kept it profitable. Though it feels like a lot of missed opportunity I believe part of the underutilization is to keep The NCAA happy. So The Chuck is a bit of an outlier for what is ideal.

In a perfect world(and field issues aside)a dual purpose stadium sounds great. In reality, when we're considering something like a potential UFL team it becomes problematic due to Turnback Financing constraints. As discussed earlier in this thread, the smallest UFL stadium is 11k. The Turnback has application limits for stadiums "permanent seating capacity of at least 2,500, but no more than 7,500, with a total capacity not to exceed 10,000".

So at this point, combining Union Omaha Soccer with UFL isn't feasible. There's a big difference with UFL pairing with MLS stadiums, which by the way, the smallest stadium is around 18k.

What are the cons of a 7500 seat stadium?

[omaha79]

I can appreciate where people are coming from with the preference for a dual purpose stadium. No one wants to see a stadium that sits empty as often as The Chuck even though MECA has kept it profitable. Though it feels like a lot of missed opportunity I believe part of the underutilization is to keep The NCAA happy. So The Chuck is a bit of an outlier for what is ideal.

In a perfect world(and field issues aside)a dual purpose stadium sounds great. In reality, when we're considering something like a potential UFL team it becomes problematic due to Turnback Financing constraints. As discussed earlier in this thread, the smallest UFL stadium is 11k. The Turnback has application limits for stadiums "permanent seating capacity of at least 2,500, but no more than 7,500, with a total capacity not to exceed 10,000".

So at this point, combining Union Omaha Soccer with UFL isn't feasible. There's a big difference with UFL pairing with MLS stadiums, which by the way, the smallest stadium is around 18k.

Exactly. and, this is what I've been talking about. This is a square peg/round hole discussion. If they think they can put a UFL team into a 6,500 seat stadium and not have dual lines on the field when soccer is played, fine. But, that's not the reality. I'm sure we can find plenty of uses for it that are not UFL, but UFL feels like it has to happen for some because it's something they can identify with not because it makes sense for the size/scope of the project.

The response above from Greg saying "if all these other cities are combining soccer and UFL, I don't see why we can't," simply mises the point entirely from a logistical/scope perspective.

[omaha79]

Obviously if so many MLS teams are doing it, I can't see why we'd say no to it either.

I must have missed this discussion. Are there MLS stadiums that also host other sports/events?

Yes. You can see some of the talk in the UFL OKC thread in Elsewhere forum. Sporting KC has hosted several KU football games while their stadium was being renovated. They've had other football games too including NW Missouri State and Pittsburgh State.

Here's some others:

For the 2026 season, the UFL is utilizing several MLS soccer-specific stadiums to host teams, including Audi Field (DC Defenders), Shell Energy Stadium (Houston Gamblers), Toyota Stadium (Dallas Renegades), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando Storm), and Historic Crew Stadium (Columbus Aviators). Additionally, Lynn Family Stadium (Louisville Kings) hosts a UFL team

And OKC's new soccer stadium will host a UFL team when it opens as well.

All much larger facilities than what is being proposed for Omaha. Even OKC is a 10k seat venue, which Omaha is not.

I don't get why this concept is so difficult for some to wrap their head around. Again, people aren't understanding the specifics. A city can have a MLS stadium, and use it for UFL because it's usually around 15-20k. Omaha will be 7,500. Not the same discussion. It would be the smallest by 2,500, minimum.

If they can make the economics of that work, then go for it. I have severe doubts you can field a team selling 7,500 tickets or even 10k.

[omaha79]

nah. my ire had nothing to do with soccer, actually, but more the overarching stupidity of general sports fans who think things like UFL teams, NHL stadiums in Gretna, and MLS teams in Omaha make sense. It's the people around here that have a dangerously over inflated sense of what Omaha is that I direct my anger towards. It actually has little to do with defending soccer, in and of itself, because if you've seen my prior posts, I blast the dumb dumbs who say "why they done not building this soccer place big enough for a daggum MLS team to come into Omaha."

It's less about specific sports, but over inflated uninformed mindsets that are the problem here.

Thinking we we ever be a NHL city is a problem.

Thinking Rod Yates stands any chance of getting any major sporting venue built in Gretna is a problem.

Thinking we need to double the size and cost of a facility meant to spur development in a blighted area of town to accomodate a UFL team, a league that likely won't exist in 5-10 years, is a massive problem.

omaha fans barely supporting the teams and sports we do have because we constantly delude ourselves into thinking "we're better than minor league" is a fundamental problem to this city.

It all just a churn of stupidity.

I hear your point and used to write to the Public Pulse in the OWH when people would complain that places like Anaheim, Miami, and St. Louis had pro teams, but Omaha didn't, correcting them on the difference between city population and the broader market. That said, if we got an NHL team today, we would not be the smallest NHL market. That's Winnipeg, although they are struggling with attendance.

The NFL and MLB are out of the question for sure, but I think this optimism and aspirational nature of Omaha is better than the opposite. A city full of people who feel dejected or jaded about progress is, I would argue, a much worse place to be.

I've seen people point to Winnipeg as the shining beacon as to how the NHL could "work" in Omaha with their small market and much lower than NHL average corporate season ticket holder makeup. Honestly, I don't think anyone should be pointing to Winnipeg. You have to have total buy in and Winnipeg will always be a more hockey centric city than something like Omaha that's more NCAA obsessed. It's a constant struggle, year in and year out, for Winnipeg to maintain the bare minimum amount of season tickets necessary to keep that team. They are also somewhat helped by being in Canada and the NHL not overly wanting to strip away another franchise from a Canadian market if they can help it. The Canadian government would also probably step in at this point in a way that they wouldn't protect Omaha. I just see it as apples/oranges mainly, with Omaha's only real advantage being the US dollar vs. Canadian dollar, but even that advantage is feeling like it's starting to seem iffy.

yes. Omaha has always been aspirational, but sometimes to our own determinant by not supporting what we do have and going too deep into these pie in the sky ideas of major league sports.

I am old enough to remember the early 90's when the idea of a Husker Dome went way, way further than it ever should have. the idea was all over the media, papers, radio, etc. But, the basic premise was that Omaha would build a replacement for Memorial Stadium halfway between Omaha and Lincoln to house Husker football with the possibility of pushing for a NFL team. It sounded like it would have been in the style of places like the Silverdome, Metrodome, or RCA Dome, which were en vogue at the time. Could you imagine the white elephant that would have been? It would probably still be rotting on the plains as the unicameral and governor tried to find money in the couch cushions to demolish it in the 2010's as it sat empty never having housed an NFL team, but probably a few preseason games, a few concerts. Nebraska Football would have bailed on it after 20 years as the program eroded and they realized they needed to, you know, actually be in Lincoln. The Big Ten would have never happened and we'd have been in a quagmire of stupidity. Now, that floated idea never stood much chance of happening, but it certainly sucked the air out of the conversation for a few years.

The Husker Dome had zero traction. Not sure if you were so young that you didn't realize this? The bigger talk back then was the OmaDome, reported on by Tom Shatel and the World Herald. Minor delay occurred when they shifted to remodeling the Civic. It was the same time they started talking about a possible marina down by the riverfront on the UP site. That did morph into the CHI Center and the riverfront park.

It had about as much traction as any Rod Yates proposal. Just enough to rile up the yokels and make them think major league sports was possible, but no real substance....and that's the point here. Muddying the waters with proposals with no traction is just chum in the water for the uninformed and detracts from what we can actually eventually do.

I'd rather under promise and over deliver vs. over promising and delivering nothing.

[Greg S]

nah. my ire had nothing to do with soccer, actually, but more the overarching stupidity of general sports fans who think things like UFL teams, NHL stadiums in Gretna, and MLS teams in Omaha make sense. It's the people around here that have a dangerously over inflated sense of what Omaha is that I direct my anger towards. It actually has little to do with defending soccer, in and of itself, because if you've seen my prior posts, I blast the dumb dumbs who say "why they done not building this soccer place big enough for a daggum MLS team to come into Omaha."

It's less about specific sports, but over inflated uninformed mindsets that are the problem here.

Thinking we we ever be a NHL city is a problem.

Thinking Rod Yates stands any chance of getting any major sporting venue built in Gretna is a problem.

Thinking we need to double the size and cost of a facility meant to spur development in a blighted area of town to accomodate a UFL team, a league that likely won't exist in 5-10 years, is a massive problem.

omaha fans barely supporting the teams and sports we do have because we constantly delude ourselves into thinking "we're better than minor league" is a fundamental problem to this city.

It all just a churn of stupidity.

I hear your point and used to write to the Public Pulse in the OWH when people would complain that places like Anaheim, Miami, and St. Louis had pro teams, but Omaha didn't, correcting them on the difference between city population and the broader market. That said, if we got an NHL team today, we would not be the smallest NHL market. That's Winnipeg, although they are struggling with attendance.

The NFL and MLB are out of the question for sure, but I think this optimism and aspirational nature of Omaha is better than the opposite. A city full of people who feel dejected or jaded about progress is, I would argue, a much worse place to be.

I've seen people point to Winnipeg as the shining beacon as to how the NHL could "work" in Omaha with their small market and much lower than NHL average corporate season ticket holder makeup. Honestly, I don't think anyone should be pointing to Winnipeg. You have to have total buy in and Winnipeg will always be a more hockey centric city than something like Omaha that's more NCAA obsessed. It's a constant struggle, year in and year out, for Winnipeg to maintain the bare minimum amount of season tickets necessary to keep that team. They are also somewhat helped by being in Canada and the NHL not overly wanting to strip away another franchise from a Canadian market if they can help it. The Canadian government would also probably step in at this point in a way that they wouldn't protect Omaha. I just see it as apples/oranges mainly, with Omaha's only real advantage being the US dollar vs. Canadian dollar, but even that advantage is feeling like it's starting to seem iffy.

yes. Omaha has always been aspirational, but sometimes to our own determinant by not supporting what we do have and going too deep into these pie in the sky ideas of major league sports.

I am old enough to remember the early 90's when the idea of a Husker Dome went way, way further than it ever should have. the idea was all over the media, papers, radio, etc. But, the basic premise was that Omaha would build a replacement for Memorial Stadium halfway between Omaha and Lincoln to house Husker football with the possibility of pushing for a NFL team. It sounded like it would have been in the style of places like the Silverdome, Metrodome, or RCA Dome, which were en vogue at the time. Could you imagine the white elephant that would have been? It would probably still be rotting on the plains as the unicameral and governor tried to find money in the couch cushions to demolish it in the 2010's as it sat empty never having housed an NFL team, but probably a few preseason games, a few concerts. Nebraska Football would have bailed on it after 20 years as the program eroded and they realized they needed to, you know, actually be in Lincoln. The Big Ten would have never happened and we'd have been in a quagmire of stupidity. Now, that floated idea never stood much chance of happening, but it certainly sucked the air out of the conversation for a few years.

The Husker Dome had zero traction. Not sure if you were so young that you didn't realize this? The bigger talk back then was the OmaDome, reported on by Tom Shatel and the World Herald. Minor delay occurred when they shifted to remodeling the Civic. It was the same time they started talking about a possible marina down by the riverfront on the UP site. That did morph into the CHI Center and the riverfront park.

It had about as much traction as any Rod Yates proposal. Just enough to rile up the yokels and make them think major league sports was possible, but no real substance....and that's the point here. Muddying the waters with proposals with no traction is just chum in the water for the uninformed and detracts from what we can actually eventually do.

I'd rather under promise and over deliver vs. over promising and delivering nothing.

Well first, there was little if any traction on the Yates proposal. And no, the Husker Dome didn't even have that much. There was talk but there was no one with any money or any even proposed legislation behind it.

[BuildTaller]

Obviously if so many MLS teams are doing it, I can't see why we'd say no to it either.

I must have missed this discussion. Are there MLS stadiums that also host other sports/events?

Yes. You can see some of the talk in the UFL OKC thread in Elsewhere forum. Sporting KC has hosted several KU football games while their stadium was being renovated. They've had other football games too including NW Missouri State and Pittsburgh State.

Here's some others:

For the 2026 season, the UFL is utilizing several MLS soccer-specific stadiums to host teams, including Audi Field (DC Defenders), Shell Energy Stadium (Houston Gamblers), Toyota Stadium (Dallas Renegades), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando Storm), and Historic Crew Stadium (Columbus Aviators). Additionally, Lynn Family Stadium (Louisville Kings) hosts a UFL team

And OKC's new soccer stadium will host a UFL team when it opens as well.

All much larger facilities than what is being proposed for Omaha. Even OKC is a 10k seat venue, which Omaha is not.

I don't get why this concept is so difficult for some to wrap their head around. Again, people aren't understanding the specifics. A city can have a MLS stadium, and use it for UFL because it's usually around 15-20k. Omaha will be 7,500. Not the same discussion. It would be the smallest by 2,500, minimum.

If they can make the economics of that work, then go for it. I have severe doubts you can field a team selling 7,500 tickets or even 10k.

It needs to be Union first at any rate.
I think it should be Union only, but if other cities are doing a combination, and we can make the economics work, then I guess I'm on-board with that idea, since most people in this thread seem to believe UFL will only last a couple of years.

[ita]

From the Examiner article.. Pillen hears incentive pleas for Omaha soccer developments

Part of Pillen’s willingness to listen also could stem from a legislative reality check, a change in state law this session that stripped him of his singular ability to keep such projects from accessing a state sales tax incentive for sports projects.

Nine applications for the incentive have been pending for months. Pillen had balked at approving them. But now a majority of the five-member SAFFAA board could approve the projects without him. The group has 60 days to act on projects that had a hearing.

The SAFFAA board indicated it would meet in May to vote on projects.

Now he has to show up if he wants a say. This isn't Pillen thawing, this is him being forced to do the bare minimum.

I am heartened by some of what Cindy reported:

Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple said the governor has never taken state incentives for economic development projects off the table “that make sense for the taxpayer.” She said he is evaluating each of the projects individually in several ways.

She said he prefers projects with a public ownership stake for public incentives. He prefers projects that generate new sales tax revenue. He prefers projects that won’t compete with other state-backed projects. And he likes local buy-in.

“The law states that the board must consider whether state assistance to these projects is in the best interest of the state, and it may not be in the best interest of the state to siphon off existing state sales tax dollars,” Strimple said.
...
Pillen seemed more open and interested in both projects once he heard about millions of dollars in planned private investment from the family that owns Mulhall’s Garden Center near Tranquility Park and from Union Omaha’s ownership group and the City of Omaha.

I think the Union Omaha stadium hits all of these checkmarks, so he should be fully on board, but then he reportedly asked about these issues, as if they had not already been addressed over and over again:

On the Union Omaha application, Pillen asked about the viability of the professional soccer franchise and the impact to the city of adding more mixed-use development in that part of downtown, north of Creighton University and Charles Schwab Field.

Maybe he is just making sure he is making it look like he is doing his due diligence when the public is there to see him in action, but I truly hope behind closed doors, he takes a reasonable approach and sees the benefit to the State if this incentive application is approved.

[Garrett]

Pillen’s opinion doesn’t really matter as much anymore since he doesn’t have unilateral veto power, so maybe now he’s trying to appear actually interested since it could just happen without him anyway, so why not score the political points?

[JDirte]

Its pretty simple, build a stadium that's 6500-7500 with the ability to expand in the future. Whether they get a UFL team or not, I don't really care. Its subpar football. If we could get a team, great, thats another few uses for the stadium if not, who cares. Not gonna sweat a league that will probably fold anyways.

Hopefully, Union Omaha can move up to the USL. When that happen we can worry/talk about MLS, though I doubt thats every happening. I'm pro stadium to develop that area more than anything. I'm sure they will play higher school football games there, state soccer, maybe youth tournaments, etc. Overall, I just want it to develop that area.

[nebport5]

I can appreciate where people are coming from with the preference for a dual purpose stadium. No one wants to see a stadium that sits empty as often as The Chuck even though MECA has kept it profitable. Though it feels like a lot of missed opportunity I believe part of the underutilization is to keep The NCAA happy. So The Chuck is a bit of an outlier for what is ideal.

In a perfect world(and field issues aside)a dual purpose stadium sounds great. In reality, when we're considering something like a potential UFL team it becomes problematic due to Turnback Financing constraints. As discussed earlier in this thread, the smallest UFL stadium is 11k. The Turnback has application limits for stadiums "permanent seating capacity of at least 2,500, but no more than 7,500, with a total capacity not to exceed 10,000".

So at this point, combining Union Omaha Soccer with UFL isn't feasible. There's a big difference with UFL pairing with MLS stadiums, which by the way, the smallest stadium is around 18k.

What are the cons of a 7500 seat stadium?

Basically it comes down to smart growth and not biting off more than they can chew.

1. Union Omaha attendance has been averaging 3-4k playing in a baseball stadium. They think they can grow that number playing in their own dedicated stadium but filling 7500 seats is a big jump. And similar to The Storm Chasers not wanting to play downtown in a disproportionately bigger stadium relative to attendance, Union O will have room to grow without looking like the stadium is half empty.

2.Added costs of a thousand extra seats that wouldn't move the needle in potentially moving up a league. USLC is pushing future teams that would join the league to play in stadiums with a minimum of 15k.

[SkyWarrior55]

Omaha mentioned for UFL.

[thenewguy]

Nice mention, but i don't see it happening. SLC, yeah, Ft. Lauderdale, yeah. I don't think we'd be in the next go 'round

[omaha79]

Nice mention, but i don't see it happening. SLC, yeah, Ft. Lauderdale, yeah. I don't think we'd be in the next go 'round

Rod Yates probably gave him a call. Proposed a 20,000 seat football specific football stadium, UFL League Headquarters, and UFL theme park with rides near Gretna. It will be next to the NHL arena that's breaking ground mid 20 Never.

[omaha79]

in all seriousness though, if people were truly all in on making UFL work, it would only happen if you could get the NCAA to bend to allow football in the spring at Schwab field. We have been splitting hairs on 7k vs. 10k seats at a union Omaha stadium, and that's not really going to get anyone what they want. I have no doubts Omaha could probably sell 12-15k seats pretty easily for american football and the union stadium will always be too small for the needs of that sport, let alone things like locker room facilities, etc. If there is anyone out there really hoping for this, they should probably be looking at Schwab.

[nebugeater]

in all seriousness though, if people were truly all in on making UFL work, it would only happen if you could get the NCAA to bend to allow football in the spring at Schwab field. We have been splitting hairs on 7k vs. 10k seats at a union Omaha stadium, and that's not really going to get anyone what they want. I have no doubts Omaha could probably sell 12-15k seats pretty easily for american football and the union stadium will always be too small for the needs of that sport, let alone things like locker room facilities, etc. If there is anyone out there really hoping for this, they should probably be looking at Schwab.

Well, we are less than 10 years away from the current 25-year CWS contract ending.

[Greg S]

Nice mention, but i don't see it happening. SLC, yeah, Ft. Lauderdale, yeah. I don't think we'd be in the next go 'round

Kind of depends. These type of leagues can be a tough sell in the bigger markets. SLC is more interested in MLB right now. Not sure after just landing the NHL that there's be a lot of excitement for the UFL.

[Greg S]

Looks like we are a go:

[UpTheUnion95]

Article from the Nebraska Examiner

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/07 ... nine-more/