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Build new Haymarket arena

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 07:09:39 pm CST

All three candidates to be Lincoln’s next mayor agree on one thing: It would be great to be able to build a new arena to replace the 50-year-old Pershing Center.

But they don’t agree on whether the city can afford one.

The Democratic and Republican candidates seem committed to finding a way, but the Independent candidate says he wouldn’t support the project if tax dollars were used.

Story Photo
Roger Larson (left) takes notes during an October meeting to discuss the proposal of a new arena in Lincoln. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Related Media

Audio slideshow: 2015 Vision's plan for an arena and convention center

(Audio by Deena Winter / produced by Laura Meerkatz / JournalStar.com)...

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Special Report: A vision for Lincoln?
Sound Off: Should the city build a new arena?
Arena in the Haymarket

The city is looking at building a new 15,000-seat arena west of the Haymarket to replace Pershing Center. Similar to Omaha’s Qwest Center, it would host such events as basketball, hockey, concerts, rodeos, monster truck shows and circuses.

Price tag: An estimated $235.7 million, when you include parking and new roads.

Who benefits: Lincoln’s younger sect, because the arena likely would attract concerts and events they enjoy. Hotels, restaurants, stores and bars, because if more people come to events in the arena, more people spend money in Lincoln.

Barriers: Convincing Lincoln voters, or state lawmakers, or the governor, or the City Council, to approve some kind of tax increase to fund the thing. It likely would require a combination of various taxes.

Looks like: The Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Kemper Arena in Kansas City or Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. It would have large concourses and foyers that can be used for banquets, displays and exhibits and meeting rooms.

Probability factor: 50-50, depending upon the mood of Lincoln voters, state lawmakers and the City Council.

And one thing is clear: There won’t be an arena without tax dollars.

Democrat Chris Beutler says the city should “seriously explore” building an arena to compete with other venues in the region. But he also says the city needs at least one more financing tool from the Legislature to make it happen.

Republican Ken Svoboda says even though the city is on a tight budget, he believes Lincoln needs a new arena because the Pershing Center subsidy is only going to grow as the building deteriorates.

“I think we definitely have to make it work,” he said.

He’d like Lincoln residents to weigh in on the issue by voting on a general obligation bond issue.

“This is a major investment in our city’s future and I think it’s important to have the citizens’ involvement,” Svoboda said.

Independent Roger Yant says he’s against using any tax dollars to pay for it.

“The trouble is, taxpayers are paying for a lot of things now that we can’t afford,” he says, citing the city’s Antelope Valley project as an example.

“We’re on a beer budget right now with a champagne taste.”

Most arenas are subsidized by cities, so taxpayers would still be on the hook, he notes.

“They should put it to a vote,” he said of arena supporters.

 Who pays for it?

It’s clear that if Lincoln is to build an arena, tax dollars will have to be used, one way or another.

A mayoral task force came up with a long list of potential ways to pay for what they estimate would be a $235.7 million project. That price includes an arena, parking garage, surface parking and new roads.

They’re counting on a private developer to come up with another $95 million to build an accompanying hotel and convention center.

The task force identified 17 possible annual revenue sources — parking fees, club premiums and various types of taxes — that would roll in for years after the arena is built. That revenue would be used to make payments on a bond that would finance arena construction.

The committee also came up with a list of 17 possible one-time revenue sources, such as donations, federal highway funds and state road funds.

Some combination of the 17 annual revenue sources would be used to finance the arena. If, by some miracle, all 17 of the potential sources came to fruition, the city would have nearly $250 million at its disposal.

All of the annual revenue sources would be bonded, meaning the $1 million generated by an increased wheel tax, for example, could be used to make payments on a $12 million bond. It’s sort of like taking out a mortgage or loan — you get the money to buy the house up front and rely on your revenue streams to make the payments.

The biggest money-maker would be a local option sales tax, which would increase the city sales tax for a set number of years.

If the city charged another quarter of a penny in sales tax to every dollar spent in Lincoln, it would bring in enough money to finance most of the arena. That would generate about $10 million annually, which could be bonded to obtain about $135 million.

If such an increase were approved, the total state and local sales tax would increase from $7 to $7.25 on a $100 purchase.

Double that to a half-cent increase, and you’d have enough money to finance the whole project.

But two major hurdles stand in the way of that option:

* State lawmakers and Lincoln voters would have to approve an increase.

* Even if lawmakers could be persuaded, Gov. Dave Heineman would have to sign the legislation, and he isn’t crazy about the idea.

“You can fairly assume that he’s opposed to new tax revenues,” said his spokesman, Aaron Sanderford.

“The governor would keep an open mind, but in reality, he’s opposed in principle to new revenue streams that are an additional tax burden on Nebraskans.”

The mayor’s task force ranked the difficulty of securing each revenue source from easy — such as naming rights  — to “most difficult.”

They put sales tax under the “most difficult” category.

But the task force came up with plenty of other ways to come up with money. Among them:

*  A general obligation bond issue. A 1-cent increase would generate $1.5 million a year. Lincoln voters would have to approve the bond issue, which would require a property tax increase. Increasing the city’s property tax rate 1 cent would bring in about $1.5 million in revenue. The city could get about $15 million by bonding that revenue for 20 years.

* Capture new sales tax generated in a designated entertainment district. Lawmakers considered legislation allowing such districts last year, and two similar bills have been introduced this year. This revenue stream could yield an estimated $16 million if bonded.

* An occupancy tax on hotels — similar to the 4 percent hotel occupation tax in Omaha to help finance the Qwest Center. A 4 percent lodging tax in Lincoln would generate an estimated $1.8 million annually. The City Council would have to approve the tax.

* A 4 percent city occupancy tax on auto rentals — similar to Omaha’s — would generate an estimated $200,000 annually. City Council approval would be required.

* An occupation tax on restaurant sales. Some cities require restaurants to collect an additional sales tax, similar to a lodging tax. A 1 percent tax would generate about $3 million a year.

* The city’s economic development tool of choice, tax increment financing, could generate about $750,000 per year, which, if bonded, could yield about $10 million.

* Increase the city’s wheel tax and bond the proceeds to pay for street improvements near the arena. A $5 increase in the wheel tax would generate $1 million in annual revenue.

* Secure 1 percent of the county lodging tax to bring in about $450,000 per year. The county would have to sign off.

City Finance Director Don Herz helped come up with the list of potential financing tools.

“These are just options that would certainly need public input if this project goes forward,” he said. “It’s up to the community to decide how they would like to fund it.”

When the mayor’s arena task force wrapped up its work late last year, it recommended Mayor Coleen Seng appoint a new citizen group to take the torch.

Seng supports a new arena, and the emergence of the 2015 Vision group provided a perfect way to continue the conversation about an arena.

That group is now taking its gospel to the people, where they’ll be given a chance — after more than two years of listening to community leaders toss around ideas — to weigh in. And their opinion will be worth much more than two cents.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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Gr8ful Dude wrote on January 22, 2007 8:38 pm:
" Qubecor closes costing the city 550 jobs, Pfizer cuts 300 jobs in Lincoln, Goodyear 200, cushmane and Square D have already left and all these "visionaries" can come up with is a family fun center (financed by Other Peoples Money, of course). Heck why stop there? Here's my "vision" of the future: Lincoln, Ne. - Home of the 2018 Summer Olympics! As long as the taxpayers are footing the bill, the sky's the limit! "

 Katz wrote on January 22, 2007 9:34 pm:
" I sense one of the candidates will get my support, but even he needs a bit more meat one the bone. The project has merit but financil pillars are needed and the Unicameral is only a part of the base. "

 JJ wrote on January 22, 2007 10:20 pm:
" Better check and see if the Qwest center is in the black. The first couple of years it wasn't and that's in a progressive city 4x the size of Lincoln. What if they get this 15,000 seat area and a contriversial entertainer comes that would put butts in the seats, would Lincoln let it happen? It's about the money right? Lincoln can't ever fill Deavney on a regular basis. "

 Taxman wrote on January 22, 2007 10:25 pm:
" Yeah we need $5 more on the already insane wheel tax. Great ideas, raise all of our high taxes higher! BOOOOOO!!!! "

 Silversmith wrote on January 23, 2007 12:42 am:
" No matter what happens with this "2015" group, let's ALL make a few small commitments: 1) If it can't be paid for, without putting the majority of the burden on the middle and lower classes, Do NOT allow it to happen. 2) If the business interests want it so bad, they need to be willing to put their OWN $ where their mouths are - or if they are not willing to pay for it, they need to shut their pie-holes. 3) Whatever is decided, it will be a benefit to ALL - the supermajority of Lincoln and Lancaster county residents, not just those who enjoy sports, or don't want to drive to Omaha to see a concert. Keep these three things in mind, at all times, and this thing COULD work out (But don't count on it happening before 2015). "

 FS wrote on January 23, 2007 1:44 am:
" Hilarious. Build it and they will come? No discussion of conventions. No discussion of anything that's real. This thing will get built at the expense of all of us whether we want it or not because theelectorate is asleep at the wheel. All three candidates for mayor are essentially for it becausw they are not against it. Let's face it: This thing will be built because it will generate money for architects, lawyers and construction. At the expense of the citizens in bond issues, taxes and premiums on existing services. "

 sickofseng wrote on January 23, 2007 5:48 am:
" Another tax-creating committee by the same old people appointed by the same old mayor who's favorite hobby is chasing away businesses from Lincoln. If the arena were a private business offering Lincoln more jobs, it would take years of begging the city for zoning and permits. I wonder how long it takes to build another tax suction device (arena). A year? "

 mike4mayor wrote on January 23, 2007 7:02 am:
" To me it looks like a nickel here and a dime there, only these nickels and dimes are coming from all of us and they are not nickels and dimes they are twenties, fifties and hundreds. Get real people all politicians should be in the unemployment line! "

 Jeff wrote on January 23, 2007 8:09 am:
" Lincoln continues to under perform for a city its size. A larger city with a small attitude. Decide what you want to be? "

 Dawg wrote on January 23, 2007 8:50 am:
" We need a arena like we need a low radioactive waste dump. "

 Showme the$$$ wrote on January 23, 2007 8:59 am:
" I dont understand how all these other cities can build attractions expand roads and make their cities a more attractive and eventful place to be yet lincoln has nothing but a new road here or there crappy old venues and the taxes are higher then most other cities. I would like to see a yearly study of how many people are moving in and out of Lincoln before thinking about another lame idea that will attract nothing and increase taxes for the few unlucky souls that decide to continue to live in Lincoln or the ones that can't leave. "

 Terry wrote on January 23, 2007 9:02 am:
" Great idea. Increase taxes some more! Hopefully the arena will generate some tourism dollars, because there won't be any residents left to pay for it. "

 at first glance=ABSOLUTELY! wrote on January 23, 2007 9:50 am:
" It seems to me like you are all entirely too comfortable in a city where the vibrancy is dying, if there is any left at all. Why are you so scared of sticking your neck out and at least considering possibilities if they have the potential to make Lincoln a great place to be in 10-15 years. I know that I am tired of losing my friends to other such cities....what are lower taxes if the quality of life sucks?!? I think many of you are undereducated about what this grand vision means for Lincoln. If you start listening and get your facts straight and then learn that tax-payers are in fact going to suffer so terribly from this, then you can complain. In the meantime, you know what happens when you assume. I wish more of you were visionaries like those guys! Carry on Visioning group...many of us support you!!!! "

 JMK wrote on January 23, 2007 9:51 am:
" The state claims to have $250,000,000 in excess tax revenue, use that, or take the $250 million that we just gave to the school system. If they keep raising taxes, there will soon be no one to go see this waste of our money (arena). AND I thought wheel tax was to pay for street repairs. I see now that they use it for what ever comes up, no wonder our streets are in such disrepair. AND maybe, just maybe our leaders(?) should not be so jealous of omaha, we are what we are. you want to be be in a city like omaha...move to omaha. "

 billybob wrote on January 23, 2007 9:53 am:
" Maybe they should have to wait until they have the cash in hand to pay for it. The whole amount. No bond issues, no loans. "

 Lincoln Must Decide wrote on January 23, 2007 10:02 am:
" Lincoln residents (especially our youth) often complain that there are not enough entertainment options in Lincoln, and they show it by going to Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Kansas City. Then, when options are on the table to address the issue, no one wants to pay for it. Which is less expensive for the average Lincoln household: the gas for several trips to Omaha (where Lincoln residents give Omaha additional sales tax revenue) or paying additional sales or property taxes here? I don't know the answer. Lincoln Must Decide. "

 Jan wrote on January 23, 2007 10:21 am:
" I really think they need to do this. We need to grow up as a city and nice cities need an arena. All these people whining about taxes and who is going to fill it. Who knows, but if we dont have an arena no one will be there. The only way for your taxes to go down is for the city to grow revenue. Remember the adage you have to spend money to make money. Stop the whine and figure out how to do it. "

 Humm wrote on January 23, 2007 10:27 am:
" So we have this expensive athletic triangle area, who's going to come? Is this an effort to combat Omaha for State tournaments. I think you need more than that to make this fly. Folks we are NOT Omaha we do not have as many things to draw the outsiders. Then once we build it, the majority of the people will not be able to afford to go to it. Look at Haymarket Park it's not cheap anymore. What does a hot dog cost? "

 yoshiki wrote on January 23, 2007 10:58 am:
" The reason other cities can afford it is because they are tourist traps, and Lincoln isn't. It's only going to get worse if we don't do things to correct it... "

 sam wrote on January 23, 2007 11:23 am:
" i think that lincoln needs to find some company to come in with many jobs that is more than are leaving already this year and works with them so that after they are here and runing with lincoln employees we can look at spending money to build things like the convention center and arena. right now they are going to lose a new hy-vee by not being willing to work by putting in a street. this may be small but will have a 100 or more employees they need to spend all of this time and money on getting lincoln sold to companies who are looking at expanding to get them to come to lincoln after that then some time in the future they look at the expanding of the expenseive things for the taxpayer to give money to like arena convention center. "

 Build it wrote on January 23, 2007 11:44 am:
" Of course it makes sense to build some kind of new arena, the question is what kind? From the sound of things here, it should fit Lincoln's modest aspirations / positions. We are what we are and should not delude ourselves thinking we are going to win a head to head with Omaha for big events. It HAS to build off the UNL relationship, be a venue for the Huskers b-ball... It needs to do something that separates it from the pack so that it will pull in its fair share of regional conferences as well as statewide sporting events. It has to be in the Haymarket, to build off the only area in town that has some energy to it. Build it in an affordable way that is designed to expand if the market says that is a need. "

 15,000? wrote on January 23, 2007 2:09 pm:
" Assuming you can even afford it, a really nice, modern 7,000 seat arena would make more sense. Maybe you could get Husker volleyball to move there, and the Lincoln Stars or another minor-league hockey team. Sure you won't get U2 or Rolling Stones-type concerts, but how many of those would you attract anyway? Two or three per year? You need strong anchor tenants to support whatever size arena you build, and there simply are none of the magnitude that can fill a 15,000 seat arena with regularity. Omaha is finding that out with Creighton basketball and UNO hockey, despite some very aggressive marketing and a larger fan base. A smaller arena could still help attract state tournaments, if used in tandem with Devaney just as Pershing is now. Build small, and you'll get better results. "

 KRM wrote on January 23, 2007 2:34 pm:
" Why not put a new arena in Lincoln? What's wrong with trying to expand and create a better city? An arena would no-doubt add to the weakening atmosphere of downtown. Why should Lincoln Stars fans continue to cram themselves into the tiny Ice Box that looks more like a 4-H arena than a sports arena? Why can't Lincoln bring in the top concerts and entertainment shows that bigger cities are getting? Who wouldn't enjoy watching NCAA regional basketball or the Final Four of Volleyball played in LINCOLN??? I guess if you're content with quilt shows and no-name artists in concert, then of course you wouldn't want this. But for the rest, I think a quarter of a penny here and there is well worth the bright lights and excitement of big-city entertainment! "

 Why Didn't wrote on January 23, 2007 3:17 pm:
" We build a new arena/convention center over 10 years ago instead of remodeling the lower portion of the office building next to the Cornhusker Hotel into the Burnham Yates Convention center? People wanted to do away with Pershing then but our fearless mayor wouldn't allow that, he had better uses for our tax money. Mayor back then? Mike Johanns. Go figure. "

 Ashamed! wrote on January 23, 2007 4:47 pm:
" Once again, the cart before the horse. WHERE ARE THE JOBS FROM BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY????? This is like, I don't have a job but I'm goin out and buy a sport car and build a new big house and hope somebody pays for it and if they don't I'll just hold a gun to the head and they WILL PAY FOR IT. Sales tax are down and you want to raise the tax??!! Retired on fixed income barely hanging on and you want to increase the property tax 1 cent. The day they increase property tax 1 cent is when the world comes to an end!!! Apparently there are alot of younger people that really rake in the bucks, cause they are sure gung ho on spending and well they should, the older Lincolnites have sure taught them well - gimmie gimmie- gimmie, I want it now, I want it now! If they want it let them work for it and for petes sake give the retired people some tax relief!!! People won't come here now because everything is so expensive. People go to Omaha and KC to shop because you can't find anything here and its overpriced. Nebraskans do quit well gouging you for anything you buy or do. The state I left with property taxes four times less than NE., the legislature is working to L O W E R property tax , they keep industry coming in constantly. I'm ashamed of any leadership in this state, all they can think of is spend spend for fun fun and let everybody else pay for it!! "

 Jwing wrote on January 23, 2007 5:23 pm:
" Build it. The Devaney is old. Lincoln already has a radioactive waste dump. We call it the Pershing Auditorium. Lincoln needs this, but it will only work if UNL is brought to the table. I believe Steve Pederson is interested, but is waiting to see what the city comes up with. Obviously basketball does not generate money like football does, so they cannot commit to the kind of money it took to build the Memorial Stadium addition.

Lincoln needs a concert & sports venue to attract better entertainment. The Qwest Center in Omaha is making a small amount of money, with bigger events in the near future. If Lincoln builds it, it may take a few years to get in the black, but it will be a benefit to the area. There are over a million people in the Omaha-Lincoln metro areas. It can support two arenas of this size. "


 omnione wrote on January 23, 2007 5:30 pm:
" Omaha is pushing the limits of its Qwest Center capacity with Creighton basketball. Those home games are pushing 15,000 to 17,000 now. Omaha had to expand Qwest Center to be more attractive to performers and events. If Lincoln needed only a 7,000 seat arena, it would have been cheaper to raze Pershing and rebuild. However, the situation where Husker volleyball coach John Cook and the NCAA didn't find any of Lincoln's arena venues to be fit for the volleyball national championship and NCAA regional basketball action makes the lack of a decent Lincoln arena sad. The problem with attracting good concerts has more to do with Lincoln's vicinity to Omaha and Kansas City; it has a lot to do with performers' unwillingness to play in a venue with limited seating. Limited seating leads to less revenue, so these performers just stay away. A new Lincoln arena isn't supposed to beat the Qwest Center in terms of shows, the new arena needs to be the arena analogue to the Lied Center where the place is decent enough to draw an appropriate share of performers and events. That dump for an "arena" called Pershing will never do that even with a futile attempt to fancy it up. "

 Why Qwest expanded wrote on January 23, 2007 8:01 pm:
" The Qwest Center was expanded so that it could compete for NCAA basketball regionals and events like the hockey Frozen Four. It also put Omaha on a more even footing with Oklahoma City, Kansas City and others. How many nights could Lincoln even put 10,000 people in the seats for an event? If it's 40 or 50 nights a year, then build in the 15,000 to 18,000 range. But I really don't see that happening. And the main reason Lincoln stopped getting NCAA basketball regionals was lack of hotel facilities, not the arena. Wichita, Albuquerque and other cities have hosted NCAAs much more recently than Lincoln, in arenas that made Devaney look like a palace. Ever been to "The Pit" or the Kansas Coliseum/dog track? They are much worse than Devaney, but they still got NCAA events for other reasons. Not that Devaney isn't aging and somewhat obsolete, but it's not the main thing holding Lincoln back. "

 SAL wrote on January 23, 2007 8:35 pm:
" How about you raise everyones property tax 1000.00/year for 3 years and raise buisness taxes by 500%, than maybe we will be able to afford this. But by doing this, minimum wage will have to be $15.00/hour, not going to happen in lincoln. "

 Frank wrote on January 23, 2007 8:57 pm:
" Now do you see why the governor is wanting to reduce your state income tax? That makes him the nice guy while at the same time he's giving the city an "out" to raise your property taxes. There will never be any tax relief in Nebraska, it will ONLY get worse and worse, and drive people out and any attempt of large revenue business coming in is hopeless with the kind of leadership and spend only ideas in this city. If they think building an arena is going to bring all those Nebraskans who had to leave the state for jobs, are going to come back, when thousands for years back are living in states with opportunities, jobs and lower taxes, and able to retire comfortably, guess again. Past mayors and future mayors and leadership and the plight of this city leaves me more than depressed!! "

 PK wrote on January 23, 2007 11:35 pm:
" You have to remember Omaha has the Casinos across the river. That is one big thing that brings people to Omaha. You take those casinos away and I bet you'd see attendance drop like a rock. You keep talking about all the blight in Lincoln and take a look at Omaha if you really want to see blight. Blight isn't holding them back!! Theres too many blind people with excuses to keep raking property tax out of citizens for their own glory. What is called blight here is what I call no business wants to come in and pay the huge taxes. The "O" street redone mall is about as dead as a mall I've ever seen! Why? People can't afford to shop anywhere after paying taxes and they want to raise sales tax to 7.25%?????" "

 Kenneth H. Zike wrote on January 24, 2007 6:57 am:
" Standing operating procedure.. Make the tax payers think there getting something for nothing.Many people are going to bed each night cold and hungry. Young children get one good meal a day, a head start and that one is provided a way from home. Some elderly have to decide daily do I spend my meager dollars for food or do they spend it on prescription drugs they are suppose to take to maintain their health. The politicians will build the arena with tax dollars. The word is APATHY. People go to church every Sunday and profess to be good Christians. Look around you at the young and elderly who would benefit from the tax money that will be used to supplement the construction of the arena. It could be put to better use. "

 Tim wrote on January 24, 2007 7:42 am:
" if you build it they will cone if you build it they will come if it is a big enough area to do some big time shows and large ticket things like monstor trucks the ticket sales alown will pay for something that big if you build it they will come "

 Dave wrote on January 24, 2007 8:32 am:
" It's nice to see that there will be a hot topic for the mayor race. I am in the hospitality industry in Lincoln and I think this size of arena is a bad idea. I agree with many of the past comments that Lincoln is what it is and trying to claim it's crown as the primary city of Nebraska is not going to be accomplished by building this arena. Continuing to build up industry and increase the workforce so that Lincoln can become a city people move to for job opportunities must come first. It's great to have flashy lights and loud noises to attract people but once they get here a 15,000 seat arena isn't going to keep them here. This has truly affirmed my belief that Lincoln is a struggling city that is behind in the times and does not have many quality forward thinkers. They seem to be much more reactive than proactive. I am know waivering if this is where I want to raise a family. I also agree that an arena closer to the 7,000-8,000 size should be looked at much more. "

 Corporate sponsorship... wrote on January 24, 2007 8:39 am:
" OK, look at every major town with a sports team and arena. They are named after a company due to the funding that was provided by that company. Put bids out to corporations to see what they will penny up. Why in the world would you make taxpayers pick this up when companies that make billions in revenue could write a check and have their name on the outside. I'll throw out a few suggestions: The Lincoln Benefit Life Center The State Farm Center The Gallup Center Crete Carrier Arena Can our local politicians not come up with an idea like this? We need to clean house, they just don't have a clue!!! "

 Thats funny wrote on January 24, 2007 8:46 am:
" Build whatever you want Lincoln is just not an attraction high taxes, lame govt. officials. I just like visiting. Save the money upgrade what you have and be happy. Most people will continue to go other places or the same old places as always. Face the facts, Lincoln is and will be what it always has been,second rate! "

 Dm wrote on January 24, 2007 9:18 am:
" Sounds like the arena of dreams, build it and they will come. But don't worry about paying for it, the city can tax the people to pay for it. Oh and lets not worry that arenas lose money every year. Oh and lets build it in the most expensive place too. Why not allow some casinos in and as part of the agreement have them pay for most of the arena... "

 Corporate sponsorship... wrote on January 24, 2007 9:46 am:
" Come on, we are being far too logical about this thinking that corporations and casinos would be allowed to help pay for this (that's how normal people would think). Corporations pay for it, why our wonderful mayor is trying to drive all of them out of Lincoln, except for Douglas Theatres of course. I'm guessing she's politicing for a National holiday to honor them. Casinos. NO way, they are objects of the devil!!! The conservatives will never allow such a thing to happen.

There are much smarter ways to do this but our city government is just not intelligent enough to figure it out and unfortunately, most of the population is so busy riding their high horses that they won't allow any revenue from gambling to stay in-state.

Ameristar arena, The Harrah's Center. I kind of like it!!! "


 jaime wrote on January 24, 2007 10:44 am:
" Why don't they have a few test concerts at Memorial Stadium during the Summer and see if they can pack it? I don't think they've had one of those since Farm Aid if I remember correctly. I live outside the city, so I'm gonna just travel to Lincoln and ruin your roads by driving silly, then go home and watch your taxes keep rising. Before you know it, U2 and the Stones will be fighting over dates to book the new arena...forget Omaha and Kansas City, heck even throw in Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Denver. Lincoln is brilliant!! Maybe they will let that new Wal-mart into town with a stipulation they get their store if they build the arena on the back side next to the tire section. It'll be great. "

 Jim wrote on January 24, 2007 10:58 am:
" I vote for "Corporate sponsorship" for mayor. Thats the first sensible suggestion I've heard in the years I've been here. What about Indy, the Colts Dome now is the RCA dome and the new one will be The Luke Oil Dome. Indy Pacers beautiful place is the Conseco Arena, lots of places built by and sponsored by big company names. Course they don't tax people to death so people go there, not so in Lincoln you get to the city limits and they hold a gun to your head for your bank account!!!! Then once they get here, theres nothing here but hicks. I would also vote for "Dave" he's right on and has been the first to give me a little hope, Any person with competent reasoning would know, WORK COMES BEFORE PLAY!! If I was raising a family, it would not be here. I got out of here years ago and only came back to help over taxed family!!!! Until you've lived somewhere else with half the taxes and a growing, vibrant loving city you don't realize the situation Lincoln & Nebraska is in. "

 JJ wrote on January 24, 2007 5:15 pm:
" Ok, so they build a new arena that only costs us a few pennies here and there on our tax bill. Then we get entertainment in the arena. Now lets go buy a ticket, that will be $75 please. Saw a show at the Qwest, cost me and the wife $80, no kids. How many times a year are the 250k people in Lincoln going to be willing to do that? I can barely justify the Lied Center at $35 for the cheap seats. I think that is as big an issue as anything. Good luck on what ever happens, when I get done with school I'm out of Lincoln anyway. "

 Why anything? wrote on January 28, 2007 12:12 pm:
" All I ever read here in comments are, "We need to build more factories so the middle class can grow." Oh yeah, the trend in the United States is in more factories. Let us lure Ford, General Motors, or a Chrysler plant here! Oh wait, they are not doing as well as Toyota. Hmm. You could lure a Toyota plant maybe. The whole country is de-industrializing and no local visioning group can undo that - probably not even Warren Buffett's money. The taxes that are really high compared to other places here are property taxes. Sure, there are a few sunbelt states that have no income taxes. The climate draws people there. If Lincoln can get its richest people and companies to foot this bill, I have no argument with that. What makes Omaha better is that they have found a way for their rich people to give privately. If Omaha had this attitude, the Holland Performing Arts Center would not have been built. They would have said that Nebraska is too small to have two performing arts centers (Lincoln and Omaha). The one that said build smaller, say 7 or 8 thousand seat arena. Hey, the Devaney Center holds about 13,000 here! The Pershing is 7 or 8 thousand seat! Why would we need to tear it down to build a new arena? Lincoln is too small at a quarter million people? No one comes to Lincoln from outside of Lincoln? No one in Omaha would come to Lincoln for an event or concert? Oh please! The true facts is that we can't get that many concerts not because we are too small of a city, but because the big musicians only look if you have 15,000 seats or more. Omaha expanded Quest recently, because it was not big enough! Over 17,000 seats now. Why did Grand Island build an 8,000 seat arena! Is G.I. the same size as Lincoln? According to the comments here, we must be 45,000 people here! Yeah, the streets are too wide here. We only need a two lane gravel road up there on 'O' Street. I am being sarcastic because this attitude I read here is exactly that. "

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