Ak-Sar-Ben

Ak-Sar-Ben, or Aksarben, was an indoor arena and horse racing complex in Omaha, Nebraska. Built to fund the civic and philanthropic activities of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, Ak-Sar-Ben provided seating capacity for approximately 7,200. The track was built in 1920 and the arena was built in 1929. The racetrack closed in 1995 and the arena in 2002; the facility was demolished in 2005, and is currently being redeveloped for a variety of uses. Ak-Sar-Ben is "Nebraska" spelled backwards.

Coliseum

Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum was the premiere ice rink and concert arena in Omaha for over 70 years. Popular acts ranging from Frank Sinatra to Nirvana performed to sold-out crowds. It was also home to the Omaha Knights minor league hockey team from 1959-75. The Knights began operations in 1959 in the IHL, and later moved to the now-defunct CHL, with teams affiliated with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Atlanta Flames. The arena hosted the USHL's Omaha Lancers for its final dozen years and the Omaha Racers basketball team of the CBA from 1989-97. [cite news|title=History of the Continental Basketball Association|url=http://hometown.aol.com/bradleyrd/cba7801.html]

In the racetrack's glory days, the Coliseum housed a cinema-sized screen and betting windows to handle the overflow of fans. In the mid-1980s, Ak-Sar-Ben was tenth in the nation in racetrack attendance, with up to 25,000 betting $2 million per day on weekends. Many festivals were also held in the Coliseum annually, including a Greek Festival and River City Roundup booths.

Following his death in 1959, the 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha was buried at the racetrack's Circle of Champions. The thoroughbred spent his final nine years at a farm outside of Nebraska City and made promotional appearances at the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack during the 1950s.

Horse racing at Ak-Sar-Ben ended in August 1995, just ten years after its record season of 1985. Dog racing began in Nebraska in 1986 and other forms of gambling followed, and attendance rapidly declined at Ak-Sar-Ben. A portion of the property was the sold to First Data Resources under the agreement that FDR would donate part of land for the University of Nebraska at Omaha for its Aksarben Campus to build a UNO's new College of Information and Technology [(nd) [http://www.ist.unomaha.edu/ College of Information and Technology] ] .

After the remaining buildings and grandstand were torn down in early 2005, a proposal is underway to create a mixed-use development called Aksarben Village [(nd) [http://www.aksarbenvillage.com Aksarben Village] . Retrieved 7/17/07.] .

Following the closure of the racetrack, a simulcast facility, Horsemen's Park, was opened in Omaha in 1998. The once-thriving horse racing industry in Nebraska is now confined to live racing dates rotating from Fonner Park in Grand Island, to State Fair Park in Lincoln, and finishing at Agricultural Park in Columbus. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-04-18-3724553517_x.htm]

ee also

* Culture in Omaha, Nebraska
* Sports in Omaha, Nebraska

References

External links

* [http://www.ak-sar-ben.com Historic - Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track and Coliseum]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-04-18-3724553517_x.htm USA Today] - Horse racing fights for survival in Nebraska - 18-Apr-2008