Best of 2013: Regents Approve Arena

Omaha – It was a special year for UNO in 2013 with countless events, achievements, special guest visits and national recognitions for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Perhaps no bigger event occured in 2013 then a 7-0 vote of approval from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to begin fundraising and planning for a new University/Community arena located on UNO's Center Campus, just south of Aksarben Village.

Scheduled to open in 2015, the arena will be home to men's hockey, men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball. The arena will also be designed in a way to support a wide array of community events including open ice skating, gradations, concerts and local/regional conventions.

“The arena is a game changer for UNO – enhancing not only Maverick Athletics and our move to Division I, but also recruitment, student life and as a home for university special events,” said Chancellor John Christensen after the approval. “As importantly, this facility will provide a wide range of opportunities for community use, as a similarly-sized replacement for the Civic Auditorium, in addition to serving as a wonderful complement to Aksarben Village and midtown redevelopment.”

Currently, UNO athletics practice and compete at various locations around Omaha, including the Century Link Center (hockey), Ralston Arena (men's basketball), and the Sapp Fieldhouse (women's basketball and volleyball). The new arena allows for a true home for Maverick Athletics, one of the nation's newest Division I programs.

Related Links:
UNO Athletics Homepage
Omaha World-Herald Story on Arena
UNO Arena Fact Sheet

Previous 'Best of 2013':
Bioinformatics Degree Approved