- Omaha Civic Auditorium
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Omaha Civic Auditorium 
Location 1804 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68102 Coordinates 41°15′42″N 95°56′24″W / 41.26167°N 95.94°WCoordinates: 41°15′42″N 95°56′24″W / 41.26167°N 95.94°W Opened 1954 Owner City of Omaha Operator Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) Surface multi-surface Capacity Concerts: 10,960
Basketball: 9,300Tenants Omaha Beef (IFL) (2000–present)
Omaha Lancers (USHL) (2009–present)
Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball (MVC) (1961–2003)
Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) (1972–1975)
UNO Mavericks (CCHA) (1997–2003)
Creighton Bluejays (Women's Basketball, Volleyball) (MVC) (2003–2009)
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (AHL) (2005–2007)
Omaha Vipers (MISL) (2010-present)
UNO Mavericks (Summit League) (2011)The Omaha Civic Auditorium is a multi-purpose convention center in Omaha, Nebraska. Opened in 1954, it surpassed the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum as the largest convention/entertainment complex in the city, until the completion of CenturyLink Center Omaha in 2003.
Contents
Facilities
Arena
The Civic Auditorium arena currently seats up to 9,300 people for sporting events and up to 10,960 for concerts.
In the past, the arena was home to the Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team, the Creighton women's basketball and volleyball teams, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team.
Today, it is home to the Omaha Beef indoor football team. It is also used for trade shows, concerts, smaller conventions, and local graduations. On 5 February 2009, the Junior-A United States Hockey League announced on its website that the Omaha Lancers franchise would be moving to the Civic Auditorium from the Mid-America Center across the river in Council Bluffs.
It was announced on August 18, 2010 that the MISL is expanding into Omaha starting with the 2010-11 season. The team, tentatively called Omaha Vipers, will play at the Civic Auditorium.
The arena was the site of the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament title game in 1978 and 1981. It was also the site of the seventh WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1996. Billy Graham's Nebraska Crusade took place at the arena in 1964. The University of Omaha-Nebraska Mavericks will be coming home to the Auditorium in 2011, as the university's men's basketball team will be moving into the arena as they enter NCAA Division I.
One of Elvis Presley's Final Concerts
One of Elvis Presley's final concerts was held at the Civic Auditorium on June 19, 1977. The concert was filmed for a CBS TV special: Elvis in Concert. Elvis wore the Mexican Sundial suit in concert.[1]
"You're no Jack Kennedy"
Main article: Senator, you're no Jack KennedyA memorable event at the Civic Auditorium was the 1988 U.S. vice-presidential debate between Democrat Lloyd Bentsen and Republican Dan Quayle. The debate produced one of the most famous quotes in American political history.
Quayle, then a U.S. Senator from Indiana, had been a relative political unknown and reporters covering the campaign wondered if he would make a suitable president if something were to have happened to George H.W. Bush, who selected him as his running mate. In response to a question, Quayle pointed out that he had as much experience in the Senate as John F. Kennedy had prior to being elected President of the United States in 1960. To which, Bentsen, a Senate veteran from Texas, responded: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
The Civic Auditorium along Capital Avenue.
Music Hall
The Civic Auditorium Music Hall, located on the east side of Omaha Civic Auditorium is used for concerts, Broadway shows, and other events. It currently seats 2,453 and is well known for its intimate yet casual atmosphere.
Exhibit Hall
The Civic Auditorium exhibit hall features 43,400 square feet (4,000 m²) of space for conventions and trade shows.
Mancuso Hall
Mancuso Hall is a large-events venue used for parties, trade shows, concerts, banquets, and conventions, among other events. 25,000 square feet (2300 m²) of space, Mancuso Hall seats 2,500 for concerts and 1,500 for banquets.
See also
- CenturyLink Center Omaha
- Mid-America Center
- Rosenblatt Stadium
- Ak-Sar-Ben (arena) - (defunct)
- TD Ameritrade Park
- Morrison Stadium
References
http://www.elvisconcerts.com/tours/tour1977.htm
External links
Events and tenants Preceded by
NoneHome of the
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
2005 – 07Succeeded by
i wireless CenterPreceded by
Cincinnati GardensHome of the
Kansas City-Omaha Kings (with Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City)
1972 – 75Succeeded by
Kemper ArenaPreceded by
Vinardi Center/"Old Gym"Home of
Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball
1961–2003, 2010Succeeded by
Qwest Center OmahaCity of Omaha History • (Timeline • Founders • Companies) • Government • (Mayors • City Council • Police • Parks • Public schools) • Neighborhoods • Landmarks • Buildings • Culture (Cuisine • Theatre • Music • Sports) • Media • Education (Public schools • Catholic schools • Higher education • Index) • Economy (Businesses • Railroads • Tourism) • Crime (Civil unrest) • Hospitals • Cemeteries • Geography • Transportation (Trails • Boulevards • Port • Streets • I-80) • Metropolitan area • People • (Racial tension • Civil rights • Ethnic groups) • Churches • Synagogues • Lists
Further information: Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan areaUnited Conference Eihusen Arena · Hartman Arena · Omaha Civic Auditorium · Resch Center · Sears Centre · Sioux Falls Arena · Sovereign Center · Stabler Arena · U.S. Cellular ColiseumIntense Conference Allen Event Center · Budweiser Events Center · Casper Events Center · ShoWare Center · Toyota Center2012 Expansion Current arenas in the United States Hockey League East Division Ann Arbor Ice Cube • Cedar Rapids Ice Arena • Conseco Fieldhouse1 • Covelli Centre • Edge Ice Arena • Resch Center • Pepsi Coliseum2 • Young ArenaWest Division Buccaneer Arena • FirsTier Event Center • Gateway Arena • Ice Box • Omaha Civic Auditorium • Sioux Falls Arena • Scheels Arena1Some of the Indiana Ice's home games are played at the Conseco Fieldhouse.
2The majority of the Indiana Ice's home games are played at the Pepsi Coliseum.Teams Active: Baltimore Blast • Milwaukee Wave • Missouri Comets • Norfolk SharX • Rochester Lancers • Syracuse Silver Knights • Wichita Wings
Arenas Active: 1st Mariner Arena • U.S. Cellular Arena • Independence Events Center • Norfolk Scope • Blue Cross Arena • Oncenter War Memorial Arena • Hartman Arena
Categories:- Defunct college basketball venues in the United States
- Convention centers in Nebraska
- Sports venues in Nebraska
- Creighton Bluejays basketball venues
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Indoor soccer venues in the United States
- Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
- Sports venues in Omaha, Nebraska
- Arena football venues
- Theatres in Omaha, Nebraska
- Defunct National Basketball Association venues
- Defunct college ice hockey venues in the United States
- Buildings and structures in Omaha, Nebraska
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