By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
If you’re heading to Baxter Arena for an Omaha hockey game, get ready! There’s nothing quite like Maverick hockey under the lights in Aksarben Village. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time fan, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your game-day experience.
🎟️ Tickets and Entry
You can purchase Omaha Hockey tickets through OMavs.com or directly at the Baxter Arena box office, located at the west entrance of Baxter Arena.
Mobile tickets: Save time by downloading your ticket to your phone before arriving. Bring your ticket up on your phone’s brightness turned all the way up — scanners at the gate can be a little picky.
Student tickets: UNO students receive free admission with a valid MavCARD — the student section fills up fast, so arrive early. Students enter at the west entrance. Use the left-most door (north).
Doors open: Typically one hour before puck drop (for a 7:07 p.m. start, doors open at 6:00 p.m.).
👉 Pro Tip for season ticket holders: Join the UNO Blue Line Club for a minimum donation of $50. Show your BLC card at the entrance and get early entry. BLC members can get in at 5:30 p.m. (You can watch the teams warm up on the concourse between 5:30-5:55 p.m.)
🚗 Parking and Arrival Tips
Complimentary parking is available at Baxter Arena on a first-come, first-served basis. There are more than 2,400 total parking stalls across the arena’s main lots, with overflow options throughout Aksarben Village — and even the furthest spaces are only about an five-minute walk from the arena.
For hockey, parking passes are required for Lots 21, 22, part of 24, and 25. Consult the Baxter Arena Parking Lot Map before you go.
🅿️ Tips for a smooth arrival:
Get there early. Arrive 45-60 minutes before puck drop for the best selection of parking spots.
Main entrances are accessible from Mercy Road and 67th Street. To avoid traffic, enter from the south, off Grover Street (but you must park across the bridge in Lot 26 unless you have a Lot 25 parking pass. There is no access to Lot 27 when entering from the south).
Overflow parking is plentiful throughout Aksarben Village, including near the Inner Rail Food Hall and the Pacific Life building. EV parking is available in the garage next to the Inner Rail Food Hall.
Rideshare drop-off and pick-up areas are located near Lot 22, on the north side of the arena. (See map)
Insider tip: If you’re meeting friends before the game, Aksarben Village has several nearby options — grab dinner or a drink and then walk over together once the pregame crowd builds.
🏟️ Where to Sit
There isn’t a bad seat in Baxter Arena — it’s one of the most intimate rinks in college hockey, seating about 7,900 fans.
Center Ice: Sections 103-104 and 117-118 offer perfect sightlines.
Red Army (next to the Student Section): Section 112 is home to UNO’s loudest fans — expect chants, drums, and nonstop energy.
Family-Friendly: The 200-level offers a great elevated view, with fewer standing fans. The end zones offer cheaper seats.
👉 Insider tip: Sit on the side where UNO shoots twice (Sections 113-115, 213-215) if you want to see more Maverick offense.
🍔 Food and Drinks
Baxter Arena has stepped up its concessions game in recent seasons, but the offerings are more expensive than at many other hockey arenas. You’ll find arena classics — hot dogs, nachos, pretzels — plus these favorites:
Dippin Dots frozen ice cream
Godfathers Pizza slices
Rotating local beer taps from Nebraska breweries
Beer, wine, and seltzers are available for purchase throughout the concourse (21+ with valid ID). Lines are longest between periods, so plan your snack run before puck drop or midway through the second. (Don’t walk around during play though — wait for a whistle.)
🎉 Game-Day Traditions
UNO Hockey has developed a few beloved fan rituals over the years — and you’ll fit right in once you know them:
Wear Black, Get Loud: Every game. Every time. (And wear Maverick Hockey gear if possible. You can purchase new gear at the Lawlor’s in-arena stand on the north side of the concourse.)
Fish Pickup: After the Mavericks’ first goal, a real (frozen) fish is thrown onto the ice, and the Mavboni drives onto the ice and picks up the fish.
Stick Salute: After home wins, players line up and raise their sticks to the fans. They then “rush” the student section and hit the glass to celebrate with their classmates.
Post-Game Fite Song: After a win, fans gather in the Baxter Arena lobby (west entrance) and the team comes out and sings the fite song. Many players stick around for photos and autographs.
Red Army and Student Chants: Super fans and students coordinate on in-game cheers, including the unique “Microwave the Cat” cheer.
👉 Don’t be shy — Maverick fans are known for being passionate but welcoming.
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly Fun
UNO games are a great family outing.
The arena is clean, well-lit, and easy to navigate.
Kids love pre-game high-fives from the players at the team tunnel and post-game autographs (after a home win).
Strollers and diaper bags are allowed (subject to security check).
If your kids are new to hockey, consider sitting a few rows back — the boards can be loud when the checking starts — and on an end (behind the nets). Pucks can fly off the ice surface fast.
Also, note that the games can be LOUD. Noise-canceling headphones are recommended for the children.
🕒 Timing and Atmosphere
Pregame warmups start about 30 minutes before puck drop. You’ll want to be in your seat for player introductions and the national anthem — the lights, sound, and crowd energy set the tone for the night. New this year is a “light show” on the Maverick app. Download it before the game in order to participate.
UNO’s in-game production includes music, contests, and a few fun local nods (keep your eye on the Jumbotron for fan cameos).
📸 Fan Etiquette and Photos
Fans are encouraged to take photos and videos (no flash during play). If you post on social, tag #OmahaHky — the team sometimes reposts fan content on the Jumbotron during the game
Please keep aisles clear during play and respect your neighbors — especially in tight seating sections. Wait for a whistle before leaving your seat or returning to your seat. There are numerous stoppages in play during each period. Ushers are only available in the lower bowl usually, so upper bowl etiquette is up to fans.
🏁 After the Game
Stick around for the post-game stick salute, the Three Stars of the Game announcement, and the post-game fite song celebration in the lobby (after a win).
If you’re hungry afterward, there are several restaurants and bars within walking distance: Backlot Taphouse, Inner Rail Food Hall, Beacon Hills, and Jimi Ds are local favorites for a post-game bite or celebratory drink.
🖤 Final Thoughts
Baxter Arena isn’t just home ice — it’s home base for Maverick pride. The crowd energy, the student section, the player interaction — it all adds up to one of the best college hockey atmospheres in the Midwest.
Whether you’re there for the first time or the 500th, one thing’s for sure:
Win, lose or draw, everyone for Omaha.
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