Qwest Center Omaha (building)

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:33 pm

I may be wrong... but as I've said over at the Des Moines site... I highly doubt these facility administrators are thinking about how big they are in comparison to another facility... as much as how big they need to be in order to land events. Likewise, I don't think event planners are looking at which venue has a few hundred more seats... as much as what amenities each locale provides along with meeting it's basic venue size/specification needs.

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 7:08 pm

Do you think Omaha's expansion is going to affect the size of arena KC is going to build?

How so? I think our size is pretty well set, just waiting for AEG to sign off on the budget and design.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:06 pm

Hotel rooms (for media, fans) in proximity are a huge requirement, as well. Also, every team competing in the tournament has to have their own hotel within X miles. (Not sure what X is, though.)

-Big E

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:40 pm

I noticed 3 new large art pieces out side of the qwest. One is near the south entrance the other two are near the north entrance to the convention center. They look sharp, much better then I thought they would. I think 2 or 3 more piece should be in place before the end of the month

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:45 pm

Finally

. Omaha is looking good with all the public art going up everywhere. What does it look like. Better yet, can someone take pictures of it if some gets a chance to?

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:37 pm

Cool, I'm gonna have to go check it out.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:18 am

Wags, please take some pics when you check it out.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:08 pm

I was downtown yesterday taking photos, aka my "Downtown Updtates" thread, and as I said there, I found the two visible art pieces on the north side of the center to be so unremarkable that I didn't even take pictures.

Additionally, judging by the two that I saw, the scale seems to be off. They both seem too small and are dwarfed next to the Qwest Center. I'd like to see the art be done on an even grander scale.

Calibraskan · Post by **Calibraskan** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:18 pm

I'll have to check out all these new DT sculptures when I'm back in The Territory over Labor Day......

Per my 2 cents on the "Sprint Center Rendering" thread in the 'Regional' index....
The Qwest should add some similar (but even beefier) fountains/pools. Some major water action reflecting off all that glass at night would be orgasmic!!

And on that note....DT Omaha could use an installation of those interactive fountains that shoot up out of the pavement. Wherever those are put in...people go nuts over them, especially kids!....In the re-work of the Leahy Mall?
(Maybe some have been put in that I'm not aware of?)

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:04 pm

Yeah, that would be nice!

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:19 pm

Well...hopefully. Its been in the works for quite awhile.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 3:01 am

This kind of has a sports slant..But I believe is worthy to be in the news and events section..

From the Friday 08/26/05 Honolulu Advertiser:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/artic ... 60350.html

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:20 am

Wow, that's a great piece of press. Good find!

cvoge · Post by **cvoge** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:27 pm

Awesome find. I hope the Qwest Center continues to bring in the big talent and big events.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:27 am

Thanks guys..Thought we'd all be interested in a perspective from a peer metro some 3000 miles away

..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

skybird · Post by **skybird** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:34 pm

Just saw this @ qwestcenter.com: Press Release.

The Qwest Center Omaha Seating Expansion Project (03-Oct-2005)

Contact:
Dana Dyksterhuis, Public Relations Manager
402-599-6916 (direct)
402-598-1517 (cell)
[email protected]

Omaha, NE -- In March 2005, the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) completed a feasibility study that researched the possibility of increasing the seating capacity in the Qwest Center Omaha Arena. The prospect of additional seats in the facility would give Qwest Center Omaha a stronger advantage when bidding on Big 12 Championships, be more attractive for NCAA events, as well as remain competitive with other facilities. The study evaluated potential locations for the additional seating as well as the impact the addition would have on the aesthetics, the building's structural and mechanical systems, its circulation and emergency exiting capacity, concession stand capacity and restroom facilities.

It was determined that 1,472 seats could be added to the upper bowl on the north end of the Arena. This additional seating would increase the Arena capacity from 17,000 to 18,300 for concerts, from 15,500 to 17,560 for basketball and from 14,700 to 16,680 for hockey.

The overall project is estimated to cost approximately $6 million. It includes architectural and engineering fees, construction costs, contractor fees, sales taxes, payment and performance bonds and a 5% contingency (an amount to cover unexpected costs associated with the design and construction of the project). The project will be fully funded by MECA.

The above scope of work shall be completed in phases with the substantial completion of construction to be completed no later than September 8, 2006. The timeline is outlined below:
· Design & Development Phase by mid-October 2005
· Construction Documents Phase by mid-November 2005
· Bid/Award Phase by mid-January 2006
· Contractor Procurement Phase by the end of April 2006
· Construction Phase to begin May 2006 with a completion date of September 8, 2006

Omaha based DLR Group will provide architectural and engineering professional services.

Good thing it won't take very long on this plan

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:15 pm

Thanks for posting this skybird... I guess it's time this thread come out of the rumor section (although I think we have another one floating around somewhere).

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:49 am

FYI-

I posted the same stats from the 'Improved Qwest Center website' thread..So indeed we do have a similar info threads floating around

:

http://www.eomaha.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2690

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:35 pm

Man, it would be SO cool if the Qwest expands. Especially if we could end up scoring one these setups on top of that. Outdoor gigs are the best and it'd make for a great scene with a brand new ped bridge and RFP behind it.

http://www.charteronepavilion.com/main.html

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:06 pm

Why not make it permenant? I mean I'd love to see something like this in Omaha, what would be a better than downtown in a parking lot! And, the decrease in parking would cause MECA to build a Garage surrounded by bars/retail in the spot that lot b is currently!

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:53 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote: a Garage surrounded by bars/retail in the spot that lot b is currently!

Now that's just crazy talk!

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 10:00 pm

Crazy, yes....Smart, yes.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:44 am

Well if I remember correctly that was an element in the North Downtown Study. I really hope that happens - it will be the smartest land-use block around!

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:54 am

Speaking of that study. I can’t believe all that money and effort was put into it and it seams no it is almost forgotten other than the desire to build in Norhttown. There are too many parking lots, buildings without sidewalk retail etc etc…

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:50 am

Contractor; Hawkins
Expansion; 1,476 seats
Beginning; “next several weeks”
Completed; September 8
Cost; 3.37 million

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:31 am

"Preliminary work will start in the next several weeks with major construction starting May 8."

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:33 am

The article itself was 3 sentences long so it was kind of hard to quote without pissing the Omaha paper off.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:34 am

major construction starting May 8.

Interesting that it says is major construction starting in May. I work part time up there and I thought they said after 2 events that were all ready scheduled for June the big construction would start.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:44 pm

Why didn't they just expand 2,000 more seats?!?!?! That would put the basketball capacity to 18,000.

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:57 pm

Maybe because they didn't have enough room for 2,000 additional seats?

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:01 pm

This expansion will fill in the area above the Budweizer area -- so more or less completes the upper bowl --- i did hear that they will make a walking connection between the two sections of the upper bowl through this new area, so you won't have to go down to the lower concourse and back up to get from one side to the other.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:06 pm

Uffda wrote:This expansion will fill in the area above the Budweizer area -- so more or less completes the upper bowl --- i did hear that they will make a walking connection between the two sections of the upper bowl through this new area, so you won't have to go down to the lower concourse and back up to get from one side to the other.

This is great, that way you won't have to use those stairs that take away from the view of the game from the concourse. Its good to see they are attempting to maintain the environment of the Bud bar area.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:33 pm

Linkin5 wrote:Why didn't they just expand 2,000 more seats?!?!?! That would put the basketball capacity to 18,000.

That’s the million dollar question.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:34 pm

loyalomahan wrote:Maybe because they didn't have enough room for 2,000 additional seats?

I'm pretty sure they did because there was an option to expand it 2,000 seats but they picked the 1400 seat option. Isn't that right?

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:00 pm

The news dude just said that the QCO hopes to attract bigger sporting events and concerts. Ok I can see bigger sporting events but how much bigger do concerts come than what we had in the past few months?

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:07 pm

The Beatles - Queen - Doors - Zeppelin - Hendrix Reunion Tour...

...with ORIGINAL members!

-Big E

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:08 pm

Pact OK'd to bolster seating at arena
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2097496

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:14 pm

Found this story on the Qwest Center here is a link to it.
Good move for the city of Omaha and hopefully leading to further economic impact. There is also a video link with a story about Qwest Center's expansion.

http://www.ksn.com/news/stories/10707061.html

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:54 pm

pkiphd wrote:The news dude just said that the QCO hopes to attract bigger sporting events and concerts. Ok I can see bigger sporting events but how much bigger do concerts come than what we had in the past few months?

I heard a concert that MECA is trying really hard to get is Mozart with special guest Jesus on guitar.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:04 pm

I would just settle for another free/or not 311 concert. (this time not pg13)