Reimagining Omaha

[Busguy2010]

We do also have a ton of developable land out southwest, plus the terrain is rougher. Sooner than later would be the time to get it built and have the open land for dozens of thousands of people tailgating and camping. Its the whole weekend, and other series races could be held there. Ill bet a NASCAR weekend, plus an Indy Car race, as well as renting it out for "experience racing" covers all the rest of the time, meaning it can be active all season. It would compete with the CB racetrack and most definitely bring that money over to our side of the river. For a better example than Newton, look at legends in Kansas. The racetrack played no small part in all that momentum they built over there. For our example, we already have NEX there. A race track in Gretna would complement the success of the outlet mall, and could be a lot like legends. Make it a road course because theres already a whole bunch of Ovals within a days drive. And wouldnt it be wonderful to finally buck that stinkin impression that Omaha, and all of Nebraska are flat?

[zippy]

Can you help me understand these two statements?

This weekend's race is in Newton Iowa, equal to our Fremont by distance.

Newton is almost 3 hours away from Omaha.

It would compete with the CB racetrack and most definitely bring that money over to our side of the river.

The only racetrack I know of in CB is some motocross thing at WestFair.

I didn't sleep well last night, so I may be misreading things this morning...

[Busguy2010]

Can you help me understand these two statements?

This weekend's race is in Newton Iowa, equal to our Fremont by distance.

Newton is almost 3 hours away from Omaha.

It would compete with the CB racetrack and most definitely bring that money over to our side of the river.

The only racetrack I know of in CB is some motocross thing at WestFair.

I didn't sleep well last night, so I may be misreading things this morning...

Newton is about same distance from Des Moines as Fremont is from Omaha, 30-40 minutes.

More like Glenwood IA. In other words, once our track were to be built somewhere around Gretna, it'd be a straight shot between them on Platteview Rd.

[Busguy2010]

Perhaps it would be an even better gotcha to have it on the south side of Bellevue, near Bellevue bay. Heck, from where I live, that in itself is essentially a half hour away, even more like 40 minutes from far Northwest Omaha. Google tells me to use the North Freeway from 144th and State and anywhere on east.

[Brad]

Nah. NASCAR is dead - it’s been declining for over a decade.

It’s not dead, but certainly had many challenges over the last twenty years. There has been a lot of changes over the past two years that have
Helped turn the corner and I think they are on the way back up. The France Family (NASCAR) became tone deaf and didn’t listen to the fans/drivers/teams. It became all about the almighty dollar and fans showed their displeasure by no attending races anymore. They tried to make it just another main stream sport with cookie cutter stadiums, generic cars, and generic souvenir stands. Things also started changing with New TV partners who listened to the fans and started making their own changes too. The big lawsuit last off season was one of the final straws for the old leadership team and NASCAR announced Steve O’Donnel as president this spring who is really uniting the sport.

I dunno, all the tracks I've ever been to draw a a full crowd, except when the race got rain delayed for 4 hours. I think we'd be able to fill a smaller grandstand like Iowa easy.

The tracks still look full but most of them have removed a ton of seats. Either physically removing whole grandstands, coving areas with banners, or just converting sections to standing room areas with tables and barstools, with a lot less density. It still looks good and mostly full, but the actual attendance numbers are less than they were back in the day. Also, live every sport, fans are struggling with ticket prices and with the quality of TV’s these days, people are just watching at home.

[Busguy2010]

I can hear it now.
Mike Joy : "Welcome to Nascar Cup series racing on this beautiful late October afternoon, live from Gretna, Nebraska, a town smack dab between Nebraska's two largest citiesAnd, Clint, I heard you were next door to the track last night enjoying turkey legs and maybe a few too many apple ciders from Vala's Pumpkin Patch.

Clint Bowyer: Oh yeah baby, Kevin and I checked the place out last night, and its a place that really brings the kid out of you, well except the cider har har har.

Kevin Harvick: Now let me tell you before Clint opens his loud mouth, we chucked pumpkins, and raced the go karts and I beat him in both.

Clint: Give me a break, Kev, you spent all night trying to hit the bell thats made for 8 year olds.

Kevin : See, I told you he'd lie har har har. All jokes aside that place really brings the kid out of you, Clint had a blast!

Mike : Shots fired. Well, at any rate, were about to go racing in Nebraska for the first time ever in a Cup Series Playoff round of 16. You'll have to put your big boy pants on, because SVG is on the pole yet again, his 6, 7th? pole at a road course this season, i lose track. Kevin, how on earth does anybody top SVG?

Kevin: its almost as hard as it is to peel Clint from his bar stool.

Clint: Hey now, maybe thats why I hit the bell, and you didn't, Kevin!

Mike: We can see tensions are high in the booth, but theyre even higher out on the track. Let's go trackside with Jamie Little, Jamie?

[Busguy2010]

I dunno, all the tracks I've ever been to draw a a full crowd, except when the race got rain delayed for 4 hours. I think we'd be able to fill a smaller grandstand like Iowa easy.

The tracks still look full but most of them have removed a ton of seats. Either physically removing whole grandstands, coving areas with banners, or just converting sections to standing room areas with tables and barstools, with a lot less density. It still looks good and mostly full, but the actual attendance numbers are less than they were back in the day. Also, live every sport, fans are struggling with ticket prices and with the quality of TV’s these days, people are just watching at home.

True, I was wanting to go this weekend, but Iowa is always sold out, given their smaller grandstand. Nosebleeds are $200 bucks a pop for Sunday. Thought about going to the O'Reilly series race, so i asked my dad if he'd go, and he said "tell ya what, you can come home and watch it, and I'll even get us Jim's Rib Haven"... Deal!

[Garrett]

For our example, we already have NEX there. A race track in Gretna would complement the success of the outlet mall, and could be a lot like legends. Make it a road course because theres already a whole bunch of Ovals within a days drive. And wouldnt it be wonderful to finally buck that stinkin impression that Omaha, and all of Nebraska are flat?

Don't let Yates hear you, next thing you know he'll be announcing that NEX is rebranding as a NASCAR hub (NASCAR will not be reachable for comment)

[Busguy2010]

For our example, we already have NEX there. A race track in Gretna would complement the success of the outlet mall, and could be a lot like legends. Make it a road course because theres already a whole bunch of Ovals within a days drive. And wouldnt it be wonderful to finally buck that stinkin impression that Omaha, and all of Nebraska are flat?

Don't let Yates hear you, next thing you know he'll be announcing that NEX is rebranding as a NASCAR hub (NASCAR will not be reachable for comment)

He does have some pretty out there ideas. The outlet mall is successful, but the rest of it, is that still on or just crickets? Id rather have a NASCAR race track than an NHL team, which sounds a little more doable. Have to wait for the NHL to expand for even a chance. NASCAR, just have to make it to spec and file bids. Build it and they will come. Theyre more apt to ditch some of the tracks that already have twice a year races, so probably a much better chance to ditch a Kansas race in favor of a new track nearby.

Seems totally doable to me. If I win the lottery, I'll do it Ill also, instead of the observation tower like COTA, Ill build a giant observstion ferris wheel right next door, overlooking the track. Ill make it 750 feet tall, so the next skyscraper we get will be encouraged to claim back the tallest structure between Chicago and Denver. And dammit, I will build out a frackin real amusement park. itll be the biggest guaranteed national exposure second to CWS, and what I love about it, is its not inside a building, so all the shots we'd get in during the race will be throughout coverage, rather than just commercial transitions.

[mrsticka]

What sounds better? Omaha Motor Speedway, Omaha 500 or Lincoln Motor Speedway, Lincoln 500?

[Busguy2010]

For the first couple years probably wouldnt have a sponsor, and im talking about a road course, so it could be something simple like Nebraska, The Good Life 250. An ad for the city and state. Sounds a good way to get people to check the state out and consider moving here because we have such cool things as a NASCAR circuit race.

[CrankyOldDude]

Here's one. It's from the early 80s before Internorth became Enron. Toss this in the What Might Have Been pile.

[nebugeater]

Can you help me understand these two statements?

This weekend's race is in Newton Iowa, equal to our Fremont by distance.

Newton is almost 3 hours away from Omaha.

It would compete with the CB racetrack and most definitely bring that money over to our side of the river.

The only racetrack I know of in CB is some motocross thing at WestFair.

I didn't sleep well last night, so I may be misreading things this morning...

Probably referring to Mid America Motorplex near Pacific Junction

[HighWinds]

Very random, but a thought aligning with the original topic of this threat.

I wish the Loess Hills surrounding the metro were taller, and a bit more scenic. Nothing Ozark-level, but maybe more similar to the river bluffs between Cincinnati and Louisville along the Ohio, for reference.

[Busguy2010]

Maybe a thousand feet taller? I know you dont have the time to wait, but won't the MO scour deeper over a couple million years, or will erosion cut them down and were at square one? At least we have time to consider it

[Louie]

I love that idea. Just something interesting and natural in our area would be such a benefit.

[Busguy2010]

If only loess were as interesting as red rocks.

[mcarch]

Thanks. I wish it had been done. Unfortunately, opposition got in the way.

I just want to say that I don't like demolishing or destroying houses to build a road. But sometimes, it has to be done. A city can't function without roads including freeways. And that does include Omaha like it or not.

But here's a thought: Instead of completely destroying the houses, why not just move them somewhere else? Like in an empty lot somewhere? There certainly are an abundance of them in North Omaha.

Completing the North Freeway all the way up to I-680 would've taken all that truck traffic off of 30th Street. If it were to be removed, then it would force all that truck traffic back onto 30th, which recently underwent a road diet. It would inevitably lead to more traffic and necessitate more lanes which would defeat the whole purpose of the road diet in the first place.

Not to mention most of the trucks I've seen are cattle trucks and garbage trucks. So we know their destinations, and North 30th Sorensen to Mckinley is the one gap.

Your idea is really cool. I think theres still a good chance they alternatively build that bridge on 16th over the river, at least. But I dont think itll be a freeway.

The one other route that could be is JJ Pershing

If you feel like making that Pershing Dr route look detailed and realistic, I'd love to see that.

I thought exits could be at Storz, Read, Craig, and then I wouldnt know what to do once it gets to Mckinley. Maybe they'd be parallel freeways. And 36 would continue as a freeway Id be interested how youd navigate that challenging spot.

The Blue Line is exactly where it should go. There is empty/vacant land just to the east of 16th. If you could just squish it in there, there wouldn't need anything to be distroyed.