Omaha Civic Auditorium

Omaha Civic Auditorium was a multi-purpose convention center located 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 CHI Health Center Omaha in 2003. With the opening of the Ralston Arena in 2012, all teams that played at the Civic Auditorium moved, which reduced the venue's viability. The auditorium closed its doors in June 2014 and was demolished two years later.

Omaha Civic Auditorium
Construction


Address	1804 Capitol Avenue
Location	Omaha, Nebraska
Coordinates	41°15′42″N 95°56′24″W
Public transit	Metro Transit
Owner	City of Omaha
Operator	Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA)
Capacity	Arena: Concerts: 10,960 Basketball: 9,300 Music Hall: 2,453
Surface	multi-surface
Opened	1954
Closed	June 2014
Demolished	2016
Tenants
Creighton Bluejays men's basketball (NCAA) (1960–2003) Omaha racer (1989-1997) Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) (1972–1978) Omaha Mavericks (CCHA) (1997–2003) Omaha Beef (UIF/NIFL/IPFL/IFL) (2000–2012) Creighton Bluejays women's basketball and volleyball (NCAA) (2003–2009) Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (AHL) (2005–2007) Omaha Lancers (USHL) (2009–2012) Omaha Vipers (MISL) (2010–2011)

Facilities

Arena

The Civic Auditorium arena seated up to 9,300 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 Omaha hockey team, and the Kansas City-Omaha Kings NBA basketball team.

The arena was the site of the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament title game in 1978.[1] 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.

One of Elvis Presley's final concerts

One of Elvis Presley's final concerts was held at the Civic Auditorium on June 19, 1977.[2] The concert was filmed for a CBS TV special, Elvis in Concert.[2]

"You're no Jack Kennedy"

A notable 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 Capitol Avenue.

Omaha Civic Auditorium Music Hall

The Omaha Civic Auditorium Music Hall, located on the east side of Omaha Civic Auditorium, was used for concerts, Broadway shows and other events. It seated 2,453 and was 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.

Demolition

Demolition of the Civic Auditorium began in August 2016.[3] Nothing remains except bare dirt and grass at the site.

See also

CHI Health Center Omaha, which replaced the Auditorium as the city's major indoor arena
Baxter Arena, which opened in 2015 and filled the market niche left behind by the Auditorium
Mid-America Center
Rosenblatt Stadium (defunct)
Ak-Sar-Ben (arena) (defunct)
TD Ameritrade Park
Morrison Stadium
Ralston Arena

References

Hambleton, Ken (March 6, 1978). "Rick Apke makes brother look good as Bluejays win". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 13. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
"Tours 1977". Elvis Concerts. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
Cole, Kevin (August 17, 2016). "After delays, demolition of Omaha's Civic Auditorium is underway". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved January 4, 2017.

Events and tenants
Preceded by None	Home of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 2005 – 07	Succeeded by iWireless Center
Preceded by Cincinnati Gardens	Home of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (with Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City) 1972 – 75	Succeeded by Kemper Arena

City of Omaha
Topics	Culture Cuisine Theatre Music Economy Businesses Port Tourism Transportation Railroads Metro Transit Omaha station Omaha Bus Station Media Hospitals Cemeteries
Geography	Metropolitan area Landmarks Parks Trails Neighborhoods Streets Boulevards
History	Timeline Founders Historic companies Civil Rights Movement Civil unrest Racial tension Mall shooting
Government	Mayors City Council Police Crime
Education	Public schools List Catholic schools Higher education
People	Churches Synagogues Ethnic groups
Category Buildings

Music venues of Nebraska
Outdoor venues	TD Ameritrade Park Omaha Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater
Theaters and clubs	Holland Performing Arts Center Lied Center for Performing Arts Orpheum Theater Slowdown Admiral Theatre (Omaha) Zoo Bar
Arenas	CHI Health Center Omaha Omaha Civic Auditorium Pinnacle Bank Arena Viaero Event Center Baxter Arena Liberty First Credit Union Arena
Festivals	Maha Music Festival Red Sky Music Festival
Historic venues	Ak-Sar-Ben Cog Factory Jewell Building Peony Park Pershing Center

Creighton Bluejays men's basketball
Venues	University Gym (1916–1960) Omaha Civic Auditorium (1960–2003) CHI Health Center Omaha (2003–present)
Rivalries	Nebraska
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey
Playing venues	Omaha Civic Auditorium (1997–2003) CenturyLink Center Omaha (2003–2015) Baxter Arena (2015–present)
Head coaches	Mike Kemp (1997–2009) Dean Blais (2009–2017) Mike Gabinet (2017–present)
Seasons	1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Conference affiliations	CCHA (1999–2010) WCHA (2010–2013) NCHC (2013–Present)
All-time leaders	Scott Parse (197 Points) Scott Parse (79 Goals) John Faulkner (54 Wins)
Frozen Four appearances	2015
NCAA Tournament appearances	2006 2011 2015 2021
University of Nebraska Omaha Omaha, Nebraska

Sacramento Kings
Founded in 1923 Formerly the Rochester Seagrams (1923–1942), Rochester Eber Seagrams (1942–1943), Rochester Pros (1943–1945), Rochester Royals (1945–1957), Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972); played in Kansas City-Omaha (1972–1975), Kansas City (1975–1985) Based in Sacramento, California
Franchise	All-time roster Draft history Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Edgerton Park Arena Rochester War Memorial Cincinnati Gardens Kansas City Municipal Auditorium Omaha Civic Auditorium Kemper Arena ARCO Arena I ARCO Arena Golden 1 Center
Administration	Owner(s) Vivek Ranadivé President John Rinehart General manager Monte McNair Head coach Mike Brown
G League affiliate	Stockton Kings
Retired numbers	1 2 4 6 11 12 14 16 21 27 44
NBA Championships	1951
Rivalries	Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Lakers
Culture and lore	Failed relocation attempts Slamson the Lion Maloof family "Love Song" (Tesla song) Maurie Pete Carril and the Princeton offense The Greatest Show on Court Light the Beam!

Former arenas in the National Basketball Association

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