Not 1, not 2, but 3 arenas possible in Lincoln

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:03 am

A little insane I would say. Who knew Lincoln was such a hot spot!

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:36 am

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:10 pm

They should raise the cigarette tax to pay for a new arena...

.....BWAHAHAHAHAHA

The Lancaster Event Center expansion is a sham. The center can't even retain advertising for its sign along 84th street.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:39 pm

WOW, thats a lot of arenas for a town of what barely 250,000? I mean if all those 3 end up going through, that would make 6 Arenas in Lincoln if you include Persing, Devaney and maybe the Coliseum. But hey, if they want to have their events in 6 different places, more power to them I guess

*

scratches head

*

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:42 pm

Just build a dang coliseum with 100,000 seats and get it over with. Build it and they will come

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:23 am

If Omaha already has 3 arenas, the Qwest, Civic, and the MAC, Lincoln in all likelyhood won't be able to do it. The MAC is in trouble and the Civic hasn't really had anything come since the Qwest opened. The Civic and MAC are between 8,000-11,000 so I don't see a 10,000-12,000 arena in Lincoln doing well.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:29 am

KETV news just announced a new 150 room hotel in DT Lincoln due to the plans for a new arena.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:09 pm

OWH wrote:$16 million hotel is proposed for Lincoln

BY CHRIS CLAYTON

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Missouri hotel developer John Q. Hammons on Thursday proposed building a $16 million hotel in downtown Lincoln. His company also wants to partner with the city on a possible convention center and arena project.

Hammons is proposing a 150-room, four-story Residence Inn by Marriott at 17th and P Streets. Hammons also announced he would spend $3 million to upgrade the Embassy Suites Hotel that opened in downtown Lincoln four years ago.

Hammons' Residence Inn proposal will be considered by the Lincoln City Council as the city redevelops an area of downtown called Antelope Valley. The city wants to work with private investors to build new projects on the east end of downtown.

Last month, the City Council approved a plan for the area that includes $2.4 million in city sales proceeds and tax-increment financing.

"As a longtime downtown supporter, and one of Antelope Valley's earliest advocates, I am pleased to see private business making plans in one of Lincoln's oldest areas," said Lincoln Mayor Coleen Seng.

While other developers can submit competing proposals for the same site, Lincoln's City Urban Development Department will submit the Hammons project to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission.

Hammons also wants to explore working with the city in building a convention center in the area north of the Haymarket district downtown.

Consultants hired by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce proposed earlier this week that Lincoln build a convention center and arena with seating for as many as 12,000 people at a cost of around $45 million. Hammons said he possibly would build a third hotel in downtown to become part of the arena proposal.

"He dropped a pretty strong hint he wanted to be part of the arena project," said Jim Fram, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.