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Public invited to meeting on Pershing's future

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Oct 24, 2008 - 03:15:43 pm CDT

Mayor Chris Beutler on Friday encouraged Lincolnites to attend a Wednesday meeting on the future of Pershing Center.  The open house is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Pershing Center and includes presentations on the history of event facilities in Lincoln at 5:15, 5:45, 6:15 and 6:45 p.m.

“As the community looks into building a new arena in the West Haymarket, we also need to address the future of this historic building which has been successfully holding events for more than 50 years,” Beutler said in a prepared statement.  “The meeting is a great opportunity to tour Pershing, to have your questions answered and to offer your own ideas.”

Beutler and NU Athletic Director Tom Osborne will attend the event to hear from residents. Members of the Pershing Advisory Board also will be available to meet with those attending.

Story Photo
In this 2003 file photo, state basketball fans fill Pershing Center. (LJS File)

The meeting is part of the Pershing Adaptive Reuse and Site Study, which began earlier this year. The study is being managed through the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department in cooperation with the Pershing Advisory Board and Pershing Center staff.  Helping with the study is a design team of local architects and facility experts lead by the firm of Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects.

The study includes a design contest among UNL architecture students. The student entries will be on display at the meeting.  Other displays will include information on Pershing’s current condition and the redevelopment concepts for the West Haymarket.

More information on the study is available on the city Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: pars).


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Alan wrote on October 24, 2008 3:32 pm:
" How much would it cost to renovate Pershing? Once the people vote down the arena it would be nice to give the ole girl a face lift. "

 Comm UnSense wrote on October 24, 2008 3:37 pm:
" Here is comes. Look for Pershing to be uncleaned and all faults highlighted to prove to everyone that a new arena is needed. I hope the mayor and AD realize that the economy will dictate how we vote on the arena, not the condition of Pershing. "

 Smarty wrote on October 24, 2008 3:52 pm:
" I have an idea... TEAR IT DOWN!

Please don't trick yourselves into believeing that it has some sort of significant historical value. The place is a dump, and the land could be used for something much better. "

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on October 24, 2008 3:57 pm:
" New main library. Open the roof in the center of the building and create a courtyard. Cover it with a big skylight so it can used year round. "

 Scott wrote on October 24, 2008 4:02 pm:
" it's a hole. Bury that building in a dirt and let some private investors come in and build a highrise. "

 Boomer wrote on October 24, 2008 4:11 pm:
" We do not need a new arena...Devaney is better than 90% of the arenas in the country.... Pershing is fine.... Other than the parking --there is nothing wrong with Pershing....

UNL needs to change its tickets policies... You have to pay a premium on top of the ticket prices for good basketball seats....The market is speaking UNL...Take the premium off the good seats and more fans would buy tickets....

Fans will not flock to a new arena for basketball if the current ticket policies are still in-place....

There is no need for a new arena ---Devaney and Pershing are fine.. "

 preservationist wrote on October 24, 2008 5:38 pm:
" as long as the Pershing building will still stand. There must some good uses for it and I'm sure something can be made of it that's economically feasible. Lincoln needs to stop tearing down its historical structures. Personally, I think the main branch of the city library should move in there. It could be re-designed on the interior, and look at all the parking space it has on the exterior! "

 William of Orange wrote on October 24, 2008 5:56 pm:
" Have you ever heard of lipstick and pigs? Because that would pretty much be what any work on Pershing would amount to. "

 Kristi wrote on October 24, 2008 7:10 pm:
" We definately do not need an arena. Look at how the market is today. Jobs are being taken away, stores are closing. You cannot tell me that there are going to be exciting acts here all the time to be able to afford this so called expensive arena. People are hurting for money now and it isn't going to get better for a while. "

 Cipriano wrote on October 24, 2008 7:49 pm:
" The library idea is a good one...the UNL Coliseum used to be an incredible dump, look at what was done to it. Pershing may be kind of a dump, but it still has character and is worth saving "

 Huh wrote on October 24, 2008 7:56 pm:
" Your wasting your breath. They're building the arena and YOUR gonna
pay for it. The day they honestly ask a question or a vote is the day
you'll never see! Not only that they could care less what these comments
have to say, they don't read them. These are just for LJS to have something to print!! "

 Bryce wrote on October 24, 2008 9:12 pm:
" Must be a low priority, they didn't open it up to national or global competition. Getting rid of the bathwater before the baby is born isn't politically correct. Maybe IMG World has a use for the relic or it could be converted into a mosque? "

 Harry the antenna guy wrote on October 24, 2008 10:38 pm:
" Hold it. Let's vote on the new arena before we start talking about Pershing. The two events are linked together. I don't want to make any decisions on Pershing until I know the fate of a new arena. I am not for a new arena and I don't want to be stuck with the cost for one by saying that we don't need Pershing. This is a dirty tactic. We should vote on the new one first, if we have a new arena then we vote on the fate of Pershing. "

 Agatha wrote on October 24, 2008 10:59 pm:
" How typical of people! Put the library there! That SITE might be good for the main library location, but the building would take too much renovation.

The city of Lincoln needs a main "branch" library that is worthy of Lincoln's history of a focus on people, learning / education, and technology. Telling the library staff that they have to settle for a building that is being discarded by other groups reflects how people truly feel about libraries. If you can renovate the building to be a library, you can renovate it for other purposes -- entertainment, sports, etc. IF you want to start over with another building at that location, that is another discussion. "

 Les wrote on October 25, 2008 3:44 am:
" What is wrong with people?! Lincoln is in desperate need of a decent arena. Pershing is a dump, and Devaney is definitely NOT better than "90%" of arenas out there. It is dated and depressing. Why are people against anything that will improve the community? If it was up to you stingy people nothing nice and new would ever be built. "

 roger wrote on October 25, 2008 1:26 pm:
" People who say we don't need a new arena have no idea what they are talking about. Stay focused on your retirement homes, will you? Tear it down, it's not "historic", it's just old! "

 Yup wrote on October 25, 2008 3:26 pm:
" I'd like to answer the question "what is wrong with people" by saying "I'm broke and can't afford to build an arena". Isn't it nice that some people have money left, however, since the first of October, some of us baby boomers have lost half of our retirement funds and are now being told by the news media sorry baby boomers but you'll just have to keep on working and not retire. How about those that can still afford an arena, build it themselves, and leave the rest of us alone. You insult us every chance you get telling us to stay focused on our retirement homes. Quite kicking us, we're already down. "

 Honest question wrote on October 25, 2008 7:16 pm:
" Shouldn't retirement funds be allocated to some safe investment not based on the stock market? I have a ton of money in an account making 3.75 percent and I'm far from retirement age. My big investments are in the stock market, but I'll recover that in 20 years. But, I certainly hope my investments at retirement age don't have the ups and down worries of the last 8 years.

Oh, and I'm all for the arena. It's what Lincoln desperately needs. "

 Democrat wrote on October 25, 2008 7:46 pm:
" How about a vote first. "

 Tom wrote on October 27, 2008 10:53 am:
" The reason for the Pershing Adaptive Reuse Open house is to truly get the public's input on what MIGHT happen to Pershing IF the West Haymarket Arena project is realized. One of the biggest questions asked about the new arena project is, "What will happen to Pershing?". There are no final answers nor are there any forgone conclusions. This is a great opportunity for the public to voice their opinion on the 51-year-old city municiple arena and it's future. And no, the building won't be "uncleaned". Please come and join in the process, ask questions and provide positive input. "

 JB wrote on October 29, 2008 1:18 pm:
" Pershing needed to be replaced many yesterdays ago. How many years did it take to get Pershing built? Must we wait another fifty years? Some people want, but don't think it should cost. The "real cost" is not having a new auditium built. Must Lincoln contunue to stand by as other smaller cities past it up. Lincoln is always doing a study, but never doing. Omaha is a "do" city, Lincoln is "we'll think about it and do a study" city. Some people act like the total cost of something comes al out of their own pocket. "

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