The Inaugural Series at Baxter Arena (UNO vs. Air Force) -- Oct. 23-24, 2015

Wow, what a week it's been for UNO Hockey! In this blog post, I'll round up some of the honors and awards accumulated by individual players and the team this week, provide links to the preview articles about the series, and give you info about pre-game and gametime activities scheduled for this weekend's inaugural weekend at Baxter Arena. (And then after the series, I'll post links to the coverage from the games themselves.)

First, the honors:
UNO achieved its highest-ever poll rankings this week -- for the first time ever, we were ranked #1 in the USA Today/US College Hockey Magazine's poll. We were #2 in the USCHO poll (which is the one that NCAA Ice Hockey uses for their weekly graphic).

Here's the #1 ranking from USA Today/US College Hockey Magazine (week 3):

Here's the #2 ranking from USCHO:

Austin Ortega picked up honors as The NCHC Offensive Player of the week. He has five goals (three of them game winners) and one assist in four games played.

He was also named Warrior Hockey's "Player of the Week":

Ortega's goal earned him the #1 spot in the NCHC Top 5 Plays of the week (week of Oct. 13-17):

http://www.nchc.tv/nchc/video/nchc-nchc-top-5-plays-of-the-week---s3,-episode-2-10-20-15

(starts at the 1:25 mark)

Nominate a play this weekend to the NCHC Top 5 Plays of the week by using the hashtag #NCHCTopPlay on Twitter.

And College Hockey News named UNO its "Team of the Week."

Here's the preview stories:
Here's a story KMTV did about the #1/#2 ranking:
http://www.kmtv.com/news/local-news/uno-mavs-hockey-team-1-in-poll-fans-ecstatic?autoplay=true

USCHO did a story about the opening of Baxter Arena:
http://www.uscho.com/2015/10/22/home-at-last-omaha-opens-baxter-arena-as-one-of-the-top-teams-in-college-hockey/

Tom Shatel talks UNO Hockey:
http://www.omaha.com/sports/shatel-thanks-to-keen-thinking-cu-soccer-nu-volleyball-and/article_86a6fd2f-dd26-597a-8626-b8659a41c1e7.html

OMavs preview article about the series:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=210442034

Air Force preview article about the series:
http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/102115aaa.html

Omaha World-Herald preview article about Friday's game:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/in-a-week-of-firsts-uno-hockey-is-trying-to/article_6fbf1f1f-f527-544a-8f13-d60c6ae83152.html

KETV story about the opening of the new arena:
http://www.ketv.com/news/mavericks-opens-baxter-arena-against-air-force/36005562?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=FBPAGE&utm_campaign=KETV%20NewsWatch%207&Content%20Type=Story

Colorado Springs Gazette preview story about the series:
http://gazette.com/air-force-hockey-hoping-to-spoil-top-ranked-nebraska-omahas-arena-opening-party/article/1561778

"The Bottom Line" (OWH podcast) previews the opening of Baxter Arena:
http://www.omaha.com/sports/blogs/tbl-tony-boone-talks-uno-hockey-baxter-arena-the-crawford/article_f0013406-79cd-11e5-b2aa-23893491be91.html

Original UNO Hockey beat writer Eric Olson (now of the Associated Press) writes about the impact of Baxter Arena and the changes in the UNO Athletic Department since 2009 (article appeared in the San Luis Obispo newspaper):
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/article41286288.html

OMavs story about Friday night's win:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=210447114

College Hockey News box score of Friday's game:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/box/final/20151023/afa/uno/

Omaha World-Herald story about Friday night's game:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/uno-opens-baxter-arena-with-victory-over-air-force/article_6b2a204e-79fa-11e5-900c-e3ce8f9897e8.html

Omaha World-Herald story about the pre-game program:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/notes-alberts-dedicates-arena-to-uno-students-former-a-d/article_cb69cd99-4011-5063-a181-60b476694a91.html

Omaha World-Herald video of the Frozen Four banner raising:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/blog/video-mavs-open-baxter-arena-raise-frozen-four-banner/article_1b298d76-79ed-11e5-9137-8b3802df6974.html

Cool Omaha World-Herald video (with some time-lapse moments) of the opening of the arena:
http://studio.omaha.com/?ndn.trackingGroup=91341&ndn.siteSection=omahawh_spt_ncaa_sty_pp&ndn.videoId=29852042&freewheel=91341&sitesection=omahawh_spt_ncaa_sty_pp&vid=29852042

Tom Shatel shares his thoughts about the first game at Baxter Arena:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/shatel-uno-hockey-opener-brings-more-than-its-share-of/article_f0407b59-d38e-5c8b-aece-90545b724711.html

Here's a time lapse video of the pre-game festivities Friday night:



OMavs story about Saturday's sweep:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=210449428

College Hockey News box score of Saturday's game:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/box/final/20151024/afa/uno/

Omaha World-Herald story about Saturday night's sweep:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/no-letdown-mavericks-bring-opening-weekend-to-a-close-by/article_9bc314f0-7ac1-11e5-8ce7-23514cda1220.html

Dirk Chatelain included the opening of Baxter Arena as part of his "one-drous" night story:
http://www.omaha.com/sports/chatelain-crawford-provides-the-capper-to-a-one-drous-omaha/article_11686c84-f0b4-5bc6-bbdc-77a0d166dbb5.html

Stuff you need to know about the game!
First, UNO has released a special app for Baxter Arena, called "Mav Experience." Read about it here:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/uno-s-baxter-arena-app-is-among-first-of-its/article_3d35b13a-da0d-50a4-a127-9e3e40b68227.html

Parking woes are sure to be an issue for the first series, despite UNO's efforts to get the word out about alternate routes to Baxter Arena and parking options in Aksarben Village. Check out this story about parking options for Baxter Arena:
http://www.unomaha.edu/athletics/arena/parking-information.php

UNO prepared this PDF to address parking/tailgaiting and traffic info:
http://www.omavs.com/pdf9/3999311.pdf

Get to Aksarben Village early and celebrate with other fans at Dudley's Pizza & Tavern's #GetYourGameFaceOn pre-game party! The event starts around 4 p.m. with a photo booth, face painting, emcee/DJ Shif-D, and Q&A with #oldbulls Mark Bernier, Kendall Sidoruk & Dan Swanson. Check out Dudley's new Game Day menu!

More details here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/464718103728518/

Also, Dudley's is the "Home of Maverick Hockey" -- they will have live streams (or live TV coverage) of ALL UNO Hockey games, both home and away, during the 2015-16 season. Check out their website here.

Still need tickets for the series? The games are sold out, but you can find tickets here:
Friday tickets
Saturday tickets

Here's how student tickets will be handled (fun YouTube video!)
https://youtu.be/XBeWj9FJnSo

Doors will open on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. We haven't heard an official "start time" for the pre-game activities, but there will be approximately 50 minutes of speeches, ceremonial puck-dropping, and Frozen Four banner-raising. (Estimated puck drop is 7:42 p.m.)

Jim Cornelison will sing the National Anthem:

The Mavs are happy to welcome Jim Cornelison to Baxter Arena on Friday for the National Anthem. Please sing along. https://t.co/vHpSSzMiny

— Maverick Hockey (@UNO_Hockey) October 21, 2015

So get to your seat early, wear black, and GET LOUD! #WearBlackGetLoud

There will be an inaugural night t-shirt that will be available for purchase in the Baxter Arena Team Store. Short-sleeve shirts are $22; long-sleeve are $29, and hoodies are $45. The team store opens at 2 p.m. on Friday.

It's also Parent's Weekend.

Baxter Arena ticket policy re: children:

• Children 2 years and under are free (no ticket required) if they sit on a ticketholder's lap.
• If the 2-year-old wants their own seat, they need a ticket.
• Over 2 years old must have a ticket.

And one important note from UNO:
Once your ticket has been scanned, there is NO RE-ENTRY of the arena. So bring everything you need the first time!

If you want to gear up for the game, visit Lawlor's main location at 84th & J. Tell them you want the "Mavpuck discount" and you'll save 10% on your entire purchase (through 10/31/15).

TV Coverage:
Friday night's game will start at 7 p.m. on NCHC.tv and at 7:30 p.m. on American Sports Network, which is channel 42.2 (over-the-air), Cox Channel 121. It's also on Centurylink Channel 43. DirecTV will also have the game on Friday night channel 628-1 and Saturday morning at 2:30 a.m. on Channel 681. Jim Rich will do play-by-play and Pat Micheletti will provide color.

Radio Coverage:
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2 (1180 AM). Dave Ahlers will do play-by-play, and Terry Leahy will handle color. Lester St. James will provide ice-level reports. The radio show should begin at 6:30 p.m.

You can also tune into Mavradio.fm to hear the student call of the game. Noah Sullinger and Matt Barros will have the action for you!

And, just for fun, here's a time lapse of "the building of Baxter Arena" -- not construction, but "a day in the life":
https://hdr.wistia.com/medias/zq0bzwof1d

UNO Hockey on Television 2015-16

Want to watch your UNO Mavericks on television? Here's when UNO Hockey will be on television during the 2015-16 season. (This post will be updated as additional games are picked up, and we'll provide channel information too.)

Friday, Oct. 23 vs. Air Force (Baxter Arena) -- 7:07 p.m. on American Sports Network
Friday, Nov. 6 vs. Minnesota Duluth (Baxter Arena) -- 7:07 p.m. on NET
Friday, Jan. 8 vs. Denver (Baxter Arena) -- 7:07 p.m. on NET
Friday, Jan. 22 vs. Miami (Baxter Arena) -- 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Saturday, Jan. 23 vs. Miami (Baxter Arena) -- 7:07 p.m. on NET
Friday, Jan. 29 at Colorado College (World Arena) -- 8:37 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Friday, Feb. 12 vs. Western Michigan (Baxter Arena) -- 6:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Saturday, Feb. 13 vs. Western Michigan (Baxter Arena) -- 7:07 p.m. on NET
Saturday, Feb. 27 vs. North Dakota (Baxter Arena) -- 7:07 p.m. on American Sports Network

Funding for the NET broadcasts is provided by UNO's Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

The bad news for UNO ticket holders is that the vast majority of games being televised are ones they'll be attending. Seven of the eight games are home games.

And remember, if you want to watch ALL the Mavs conference games (home and away), subscribe to NCHC TV.

Here's the link to the NCHC TV schedule:
http://www.nchchockey.com/page/show/878695-tv-schedule

It's Curtains for UNO Basketball

Because we're season ticket holders for UNO Hockey, we received a letter from "Omaha Athletics" today with information about purchasing UNO Basketball season tickets.

One thing we noticed right away: They are curtaining off Baxter Arena to limit attendance. You can see the curtains in the photo on the UNO/Ticketmaster/IO-Media website.

The diagram shows several seating areas. Courtside seats are in GREEN and are $500 per ticket. "Lower Center" tickets in RED -- sections 114, 115, 117) are $300 each. The "Lower Corner" seats in YELLOW are $225 each (sections 113, 119, 107, and 102). The only upper bowl seats are in sections 214, 215, 216, 217, and 218) and those are in BLUE -- they're $150 each. Students are in Section 118 (behind the away bench, and those tickets are free for UNO students.

Payment plans WILL be available -- there is a half-and-half payment option (pay 1/2 now and the other half in 30 days), plus 3-month and 6-month payment plans.

Club seat holders have access to ALL UNO home athletic events (hockey, men's and women's basketball, and volleyball) at Baxter Arena, and those seats are all sold out.

As with the hockey season ticket selection process, priority points are being used to determine when you can pick your seats. Our letter said we're able to pick on Thursday, June 18.

Some of you probably already know this, but the home basketball schedule will have 13-15 games, according to Brian in the UNO ticket office. The schedule has not yet been finalized (some home and away games are still pending), and they expect to release the schedule by the end of July. The link will be here on the Omavs website. There aren't currently any "big names" on the home game schedule, according to Brian, and he mentioned that some of the big name teams are reluctant to schedule a home game in the first year of a new arena -- I would guess because of the "upset factor" -- we have more incentive to win than they do. *smile*

Last year, UNO had about 200 season ticket accounts that controlled about 600 seats. I would imagine that demand will be higher this year because it's the first year UNO is playing a full Division I schedule, and they're in the new arena.

There will be 300 or so "fixed" seats for students, plus Brian said they are considering adding bleacher seating (probably on the end(s), like they did at the Ralston arena) for big games as overflow seating.

Remember, with season tickets, you'll get a discount over single game pricing, and have your guaranteed seat. (Jon and I are looking at getting a couple of basketball season tickets.)

Brian also said that single-game hockey tickets are likely to go on sale towards the first part of August, and that pricing for single game seats (for hockey OR basketball) have not been determined.

The UNO ticket office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 402-554-MAVS, if you have any questions about hockey or basketball tickets.

"It Just Doesn't Get Any Better..."

By Jon Brooks

Rendering of Baxter Arena courtesy of UNO Athletics

On a damp June morning, the University of Nebraska at Omaha held a press event announcing "naming rights" for the heretofore titled "UNO Community Arena."

The event was held at the venue's north parking lot -- a stone's throw from the arena proper. Media, civic dignitaries, staff and other onlookers gathered to find out which entity's philanthropic gift would ultimately win out, and become the name of the massive steel-and-concrete structure that represents the future of UNO Athletics.

While a corporation will have its name emblazoned on UNO's new arena, the family behind the name has a history that embodies what the University of Nebraska at Omaha is all about.

If you were born and raised in Omaha, Baxter Auto stands as a well-known automotive brand in the city. In many respects, their catchy advertising slogan/jingle -- "Baxter...It Just Doesn't Get Any Better!" -- has become implanted into the subconscious of generations of pop-culture savvy Omahans.

The heirs of the late Tal Anderson (former Baxter Auto owner and UNO grad) have maintained the family-owned and operated Baxter brand, and have supported academic and athletic endeavors at the university.

The name of their business will be featured on the university's signature athletic facility, now known as "Baxter Arena."

Tal Anderson's UNO Story
Tal Anderson's history with the University of Nebraska at Omaha started off in similar fashion to that of many local alumni.

He was a student at Omaha University in the late 1950s, attending classes and playing collegiate athletics. He also worked part-time for Baxter to support his way through college.

"UNO Magazine" (a publication of the UNO Alumni Association) profiled Anderson in the Summer 2014 issue.

"Anderson was a two-sport standout for OU then. In 1958, he was among the leading free throw shooters in small college basketball and a leading scorer for the team. On the diamond he was a catcher and part of one of the university’s finest baseball teams ever. The 1959 OU squad went 15-0 and won the Central Intercollegiate Conference regular season title, then finished second in the NAIA national championships.

That said, money was tight as Anderson attended school on a partial scholarship. To make ends meet during his sophomore year, Anderson got a job pumping gas at a Benson Texaco station owned by Johnny Baxter Chrysler Plymouth. Soon thereafter, Anderson sold his first car for Baxter, a 1950 Chevy, to a college friend for $250.

Anderson enjoyed selling cars part time for Baxter so much he left school to do so full time. Shortly thereafter Anderson bought stock in Baxter’s dealership after winning and then selling a new car he had won in a sales contest in the Kansas City area. Eventually, the small-town boy from Stanton, Iowa, a small, farming town just 64 miles southeast of Omaha, built an automotive empire."

Even though Anderson enjoyed tremendous professional success as he climbed up the ladder with Baxter, his academic career wasn't quite finished:

"The partnership between Anderson and Baxter flourished, and by the time Baxter was ready to retire, Anderson had completed his business degree at UNO and owned 49 percent of the company. Anderson bought the other 51 percent of the company..."

The Narrative Exceeds the Donation
In my mind, Tal Anderson seems to epitomize what it means to be UNO student.

Most who attend UNO work for a living. Among the student ranks there also exists a healthy slice of non-traditional students. Many work full-time jobs. Some are married; others have families. They are students returning to finish undergraduate degrees and obtain advanced degrees and certifications.

It is all part of the interesting dynamic that exists at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Much of UNO's history is about "second chances," and fulfilling its mission as a metropolitan university striving to meet the needs of an ever-changing workforce.

I must admit that Tal Anderson's story was a new one to me (and you all know that Bridget and I are basically obsessed with "all things" UNO).

As an alumni, fan, and fervent supporter of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I can say with pride that this is a naming partner that goes beyond corporate hyperbole.

Tal Anderson's academic story at the university symbolizes what it means to be a UNO grad, and a Maverick.

Taking it all into account, the "Baxter Arena" name adds a shiny veneer to a campus that doesn't always get the respect it deserves, but is becoming more prestigious by the day.

Well done.

(And no, I am not getting paid by UNO to say these things).

$149 for a Single Game Ticket at the New Arena?

So it begins... Fans don't even have their season tickets (and won't until September), but the first signs of "secondary market" tickets are showing up online (StubHub, in this instance). Ticket resellers have apparently identified UNO Hockey as a potentially lucrative ticket. (Although we'll have to see if this actually plays out.)

 

A trio of seats in Section 222 (upper bowl, shoot-once end) are being offered at surprisingly high rates. Pretty bold pricing. I would be shocked if anyone pays those rates. But it's interesting to see tickets already being offered for resale, given that we're more than four months out.

It also brings out into question exactly who is buying these tickets -- "good-hearted souls" who truly enjoy UNO hockey, or mercenaries wanting to make a buck???

While I think there will be a legitimate resale market for tickets, I'm not sure that $99-$149 for a single game ticket will be supported.


Update: As of July 28, the lowest asking price for tickets is at $99...but we expect some of those to increase -- especially for the North Dakota series, once single game tickets go on sale Aug. 3.

Update: As of Oct. 9, the lowest asking price for tickets for the opening game is $59.

The Arena Origin Story (Part 2)

By Jon Brooks

In Part 1 of "The Arena Origin Story" we touched on the nascent days of hockey in Omaha, looking at how the The Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum became the hub for pucks in the area.

Whether or not that piece of property -- nestled in the middle of Omaha -- is "hallowed ground" for the sport is yet to be seen. But there is no denying that the area holds an important place in the city's sports landscape.

The Spokes on the Wheel
With the Omaha Lancers finding a foothold at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum in the late 80s, hockey's passionate fans came roaring to the fore. A rough start to the franchise's history was succeeded by teams with excellent records, and capacity crowds to cheer on the boys.

It only stood to reason that other interested parties would stand up and take notice.

Not only would rumblings once again surface regarding the possibility of UNO Hockey, but a minor league hockey team's owner would even propose building a 10,000-seat arena in Omaha.

The Land of Our Dreams
In November of 1990, the Ak-Sar-Ben board of governors decided to put its 340 acres of property up for sale.

As I mentioned in Part I, the proceeds from horse racing on the property had declined throughout the 1980s, and those charged with its care started looking for other opportunities.

When the decision was made to sell, it was done with the idea that only select civic entities would even be considered.

An Omaha World-Herald article on Nov. 20, 1990 stated: "A new owner would be prohibited from using the land and buildings for any commercial activity..."

Obviously, that didn't quite end up being the case, and the Aksarben property is today a vibrant "mixed-use" development with commercial, residential, and educational facilities.

UNO was one of the educational entities on the short list for the sale. Local leaders felt there was merit in the idea that the property would allow for UNO's landlocked campus to have expansion opportunities.

Another entity that Aksarben's leadership found acceptable as a buyer was Douglas County, and board member Steve McCollister started devising a plan for the property.

McCollister proposed many possibilities for the property, and the idea of UNO as a major participant was definitely at play. In addition, he proposed building a new sports arena:

"The number of seats hasn't been determined but probably would be between 8,000 and 15,000," McCollister said. "Omaha's City Auditorium Arena seats 9,300; the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln seats 14,300." -- Omaha World-Herald, Jan. 5, 1991

There was a certain amount of debate as to where the city should build a new sports arena. Some local politicians (such as then-Mayor P.J. Morgan) favored downtown Omaha as a locale. Others were pushing for the soon-to-be available Aksarben property.

The sale of Aksarken had the resultant effect of putting all the various plans in limbo.

"Hockey at UNO?"
That sentence started out an Omaha World-Herald article published on March 22, 1991.

UNO had just released a 20-year master plan, and hockey was listed as a possible addition to athletics.

[UNO Athletic Director Bob] Gibson said several people have asked him about UNO adding hockey. He said the success of the Omaha Lancers is probably one reason why.

"I don't think there's any question that has something to do with it," he said. "This is a hockey city."

The article itself was little more than a "tease," but it showed the concept was on UNO's radar.

Douglas County Makes Its Pitch
Douglas County Commissioner Steve McCollister wrote an editorial (published in the Omaha World-Herald on Jan. 8, 1992) titled "How Purchase of Ak - Sar - Ben Would Add to Quality of Life."

The plan would see the county purchasing the property, and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben continuing as a foundation (using proceeds from the sale for charitable work within the community).

McCollister also wrote: "It is important to stress that it is not what Ak - Sar - Ben is today that is exciting; it is what it can be in 10 or 20 years. This is not an offer to buy a racetrack."

The vision that McCollister had is largely what we have seen the Aksarben development become (albeit with a significant commercial component).

Mayor Daub Enters the Picture
In April of 1995, Mayor Hal Daub started talking about redevelopment possibilities at Aksarben. Debate was swirling as to whether the property -- which in its heyday had been known for horse racing -- should be used for "non-gambling" uses, or whether casino gambling should be allowed on the property.

Daub focused on redevelopment centered around educational uses for UNO. He commented on the topic in the April, 21, 1995, issue of the Omaha World-Herald.

Mayor Daub said Friday that a conference center, a sports arena and an engineering college for the University of Nebraska at Omaha are among the redevelopment options that are under consideration for Ak - Sar - Ben.

Daub said the plan could include a 6,000-seat sports arena for hockey and basketball and a conference center for use by the city's medical schools and other educational institutions.

He said his personal view was that an engineering college "should offer undergraduate and graduate study, as well as continuing education classes."

(Note: Hal Daub currently serves on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, and was one of the board members who approved the bonds to fund the UNO Community Arena adjacent to the Aksarben redevelopment).

McCollister voiced similar views the following week, and expressed his concerns about the property being turned over to "gaming" interests. He also reiterated the notion of the property being used for future UNO facilities.

Many discussions have been held over the years about uses as varied as UNO facilities and parking, amphitheaters, soccer fields, amateur and collegiate hockey to Shakespeare on the Green. -- Omaha World-Herald, April 28, 1995

In the final sum game, the "non-gambling" interests won out, and the road toward the ongoing Aksarben redevelopment we see today was forged.

It is fascinating to see how the property has developed in a fashion similar to those early visions.

It wasn't easy getting from there to here, and the notion of UNO having a new sports arena -- let alone a hockey team -- seemed like a faint dream.

While local leaders were ruminating on the future of sports, entertainment, and conventions in the area (along with the dealings at Aksarben, Mayor Daub was laying the groundwork for riverfront redevelopment downtown), UNO Athletic Director Don Leahy was laying the groundwork for D-I hockey at the university.

The "Don" of a New Era
The concept of D-I hockey at UNO was again floated publicly as Don Leahy returned to UNO for another stint as athletic director. This time, Leahy would pull it off.

Leahy's installment as AD was covered in the Aug. 11, 1995 issue of the Omaha World-Herald:

Don Leahy, introduced as UNO's new athletic director in a press conference on Thursday, said he had come up with the idea during his previous stint as athletic director at the school, from 1974 through 1985.

"Shortly after I arrived, I went to Ronald Roskens -- who had hired me -- with a plan to start hockey at UNO," Leahy said. "He said he liked it, but because of the timing and some possible problems involved, we decided to put it on hold."

Leahy had come to UNO from Ak - Sar - Ben's executive staff, where his responsibilities included working with the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League.

Now, more than 20 years later, UNO Chancellor Del Weber is enthused about the possibility, Leahy said.

But coming up with the funding -- and finding a place to play -- are different problems.

"I would think it would be extremely difficult for us to play at Ak - Sar - Ben, with another hockey team (the Omaha Lancers) and a basketball team (Omaha Racers) already there," he said. "But that will be part of our investigation. I haven't looked into it yet, but we're going to look at every option."

Another option would be renovation at the City Auditorium that would include ice for hockey.

Leahy had been brought in to revitalize athletics. There was considerable hand-wringing regarding UNO Athletics in the early 1990s, and it wasn't a pretty period.

I was a UNO student at the time, and there were some in Omaha who were even suggesting that the university drop athletics altogether.

Leahy -- and hockey -- proved to be the elixir that would fix an ailing athletic department.

(Note: That was part of my motivation for sending Bridget over to UNO to stand in line for hockey season tickets in May of 1996. I saw our school doing something positive for athletics, and thought it was important to support them in the effort).

Looking back, it is fascinating to consider Leahy's connection to the Omaha Knights organization, and his previous employment with Ak-Sar-Ben.

Even though the UNO Hockey program has yet to play a game in the area, Aksarben is inextricably tied to the program, and it almost seems like UNO building a new home there was predetermined from the inception.

But as we all know, the program would take a few detours on its road to the UNO Community Arena...

Next time: The Arena Origin Story: Part 3

The Arena Origin Story (Part 1)

By Jon Brooks

Every story has a beginning...

The road to the UNO Community Arena saw its beginnings long before the first puck was dropped at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in 1997.

To tell you the truth, I'm not altogether sure the general public was really paying attention. I know I had read bits and blurbs, but I certainly didn't see how things were evolving at the time. It's the benefit of hindsight, I suppose.

As much as the vision started with proposals for the redevelopment of the Ak-Sar-Ben property, it started years before when the Omaha Knights left the city, leaving a void in the city's sports landscape.

Club Hockey at UNO
The Omaha Knights had folded. Their league (the CHL) was in limbo. By all accounts, fans of the sport were left to wonder whether they'd get to watch high-level hockey in Omaha again.

UNO Athletics (under the direction of Athletic Director Don Leahy) fielded a club hockey team in the immediate aftermath of the Knights' departure — a team that played 14 games at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum in 1975-76.

(Omaha University had a club hockey team during the 1940s that played in the Amateur Hockey League.)

Mike Kemp (who was only 23 at the time) was the coach of the club team, and he had high hopes they would move up to the varsity level for the 1976-77 season (either Division I or Division II, the latter held championships from 1978-84 and 1993-99).

Omaha World-Herald writer Jerry Fricke addressed the state of hockey in Omaha in a column published on April 21, 1976:

"Coach Kemp, whose club team finished with an 11-14-2 record, has been recruiting and arranging a schedule with the idea that UNO will go varsity.

'If we don't go varsity, I won't be here,' Kemp said. 'Most of the games I've arranged are with varsity teams, and they won't play us unless we have a varsity team.'"

OWH research also shows that a non-profit group had been set up to help raise money for scholarships for the club players.

"Varsity" UNO Hockey did not become a reality in the 1970s, and the dream was put on hold. Every so often an errant mention of UNO possibly starting a varsity hockey program would surface, but it wouldn't happen for another 20 years.

The Heat is On!
A spectator-brand of hockey didn't return to Omaha until 1986, when a USHL franchise formed in Omaha.

The Omaha Lancers didn't come out of the chute with immediate success (they were 0-48-0 in their inaugural season), and they initially played at Hitchcock Ice Arena in South Omaha (which sat 900 for hockey).

But Lancer Hockey changed the Omaha sports landscape in a profound way during the intervening years.

When the Lancers did finally take the ice for the first time at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum in December 1987 (a single game during the 1987-88 season played there), 4,000 tickets were pre-sold, according to Omaha World-Herald reports. Ticket prices: $4 and $3.

When 28-year-old Omahan Ted Baer (and his father) bought the franchise, more games were played during the 1988-89 season at the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum. Baer was a fixture during his tenure, and could be seen walking around the arena during games in a jersey and blue jeans.

Ak-Sar-Ben Executive Director Don Drew said in an Omaha World-Herald article on May 27, 1988, that the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum had "the best ice surface west of the Mississippi."

"The quality of the ice, the arena, and the excitement of players realizing they will play before large crowds is very important," Drew said. "It should help make the Lancers a better team. I've heard people talking about hockey. Hockey is a big, big game in this town."

Baer moved all home games to the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum for the 1989-90 season. The organization also made a coaching change, and hired Frank Serratore to take the reins.

(Serratore is currently the head coach at Air Force. He'll bring the Falcons to Omaha this October for UNO's debut at the new arena).

Before long, the Lancers became known for packed houses and on-ice success.

I have fond memories of attending games at the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum. It was old, musty and smelled like warm beer, but it was a wonderful atmosphere for hockey, and still stands as one of the great sports experiences in Omaha.

Sure, there were beams that obstructed the view from certain seats, and the pitch and angles were kind of wonky. But the rough-and-tumble fans made it an experience.

As important as Baer's purchase was for the future of hockey in Omaha, an inkling came in the summer of 1988 that Aksarben's future was in limbo.

The Future of Aksarben
In 1988, the Douglas County Board of Directors had their sights on purchasing the Aksarben property so that they could build an arena and convention center using revenue bonds.

That July, the Ak-Sar-Ben Board of Governors rejected the proposal.

According to OWH articles at the time, horse racing on the property wasn't generating the sort of revenue that the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben wanted. Other forms of gaming were eating into the revenue that horse racing had previously generated.

For those not familiar with the Aksarben property's historical place in Omaha's history, here is a bit of background from the July 17, 1988 issue of the Omaha World-Herald:

"The Knights of Ak - Sar - Ben, a nonprofit civic organization dating to 1895, opened a race track in 1920. Ak - Sar - Ben has sponsored Thoroughbred meetings each year since 1935, except for 1943 and 1944. Ak - Sar - Ben (Nebraska spelled backward) also sponsors a rodeo and a 4-H show, provides big-name entertainment, has more than 47,000 members, and calls itself 'the largest civic organization of its kind in the world.'"

As interest in horse racing waned in the late 80s (competition came across the river in Council Bluffs from casinos and greyhound racing), the buzzards started circling, eyeing the prime Aksarben real estate in the city's center.

Vast acres lay in wait for what would eventually become a mixed-use development (and the home of UNO's "Pacific Street Campus")...

Next Week: The Arena Origin Story (Part 2) 

The Civic Sellout Myth

Note: My husband Jon will be guest posting this entry:

Some people have expressed concern over the ~7,500-seat capacity of the UNO Community Arena (set to open later this year). They argue that planners should have opted for greater seating capacity in the new facility. The oft-used phrase is "room to grow."

The concern seems to stem from the capacity of the Omaha Civic Auditorium -- UNO's home during the program's first six seasons. That facility held 8,314 for hockey (8,310 after some chairs were removed in 2001).

The question is whether there is solid foundation for the concern about the size of the new arena, or if the "8,314 sellout" notion was an exaggeration built on a foundation made of sand.

Magic... or Myth?
Reporter Eric Olson examined UNO Hockey attendance in an Omaha World-Herald article published Jan. 24, 2002.

The article was written during one of UNO's early successful seasons. UNO would go on to finish the 2001-02 season 21-16-4. The previous season saw the Mavs go 24-15-3.

Taken together, UNO had shed the auspices of a fledgling program, and looked more like a program poised to take its place among college hockey's elite.

Any season where a D-I hockey program wins 20-plus games tends to signal success. The team wasn't quite in a position to receive an at-large berth* to the NCAA tournament, but seemed to be building toward that crescendo.

* Note: The NCAA didn't change from a 12-team to a 16-team championship format until the 2002-03 season.

Both the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons featured good crowds to watch a solid Maverick squad, but "typical attendance" was nowhere near the "8,314 sellout" reported in "box scores."

Furthermore, UNO rarely approached 7,500 attendees (the reported capacity of the UNO Community Arena) during those seasons in terms of actual "people in seats." (From Olson's Omaha World-Herald article: "UNO provides the news media with an 'announced' attendance that uses the ticket count as its base and then adds people who enter the building with passes. UNO counts the number of people with passes, many of whom attend receptions that various organizations hold in different rooms at the auditorium.")

UNO Athletic Director Bob Danenhauer admitted in the 2002 article that UNO had had to "buy back" tickets on certain occasions to preserve the sellout streak:

"Referring to buy-backs in past seasons, Danenhauer said, 'There have been some tumultuous times where you ask yourself, 'Why am I doing this?' We look back on it now and are really happy that we did protect it.'"

Manufacturing sellouts fed skepticism about the veracity of the "sellout streak."

My wife (never one to mince words) had this to say about the streak in Olson's article:

"'There's an overemphasis on it,' Weide said. 'Having attended the home games, it has become somewhat of a debatable point, almost to the point of being laughable, that they can call some of those games sellouts.'"

The "optics" weren't matching the "messaging" during the team's final years at the Civic, and it led to collective head-scratching among fans.

According to Olson's article, the highest number of "tickets taken" for a game during those two seasons came during a matchup with Michigan on Feb. 3, 2001.

2000-01 Attendance Figures (Source: Omaha World-Herald):

• Oct. 6 Manitoba - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,537 | Tickets taken: 5,734
• Oct. 13 Niagara - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 7,248 | Tickets taken: 5,742
• Oct. 14 Boston College - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,246 | Tickets taken: 4,862
• Oct. 27 Ferris State - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,122 | Tickets taken: 5,742
• Oct. 28 Ferris State - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 5,439 | Tickets taken: 5,543
• Nov. 10 Massachusetts - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 7,397 | Tickets taken: 6,297
• Nov. 11 Massachusetts - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 5,097 | Tickets taken: 3,697
• Dec. 1 Alaska-Fairbanks - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,729 | Tickets taken: 5,729
• Dec. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,299 | Tickets taken: 5,516
• Dec. 19 Notre Dame - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,152 | Tickets taken: 4,562
• Dec. 20 Notre Dame - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,575 | Tickets taken: 5,175
• Jan. 12 Bowling Green - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 7,517 | Tickets taken: 6,566
• Jan. 13 Bowling Green - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,556 | Tickets taken: 5,858
• Jan. 19 N. Michigan - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 8,314 | Tickets taken: 6,002
• Jan. 20 N. Michigan - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 8,314 | Tickets taken: 6,539
• Feb. 2 Michigan - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 8,314 | Tickets taken: 7,129
• Feb. 3 Michigan - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 8,314 | Tickets taken: 8,026
• Feb. 16 Ohio State - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 8,314 | Tickets taken: 6,409
• Feb. 17 Ohio State - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 8,314 | Tickets taken: 6,988
• March 1 Findlay - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 6,354 | Tickets taken: 5,354
• March 2 Findlay - Paid: 8,314 | Announced: 7,564 | Tickets taken: 6,752

The 2001-02 attendance figures look very similar to those listed above. The OWH article only provides detailed figures for that season through Jan. 24, 2002, and 7,421 represented the highest number of "tickets taken" (for a November game against Michigan).

During those two seasons, the team featured the likes of future NHLers Jeff Hoggan, Greg Zanon, and Dan Ellis -- players who rank among the greatest in UNO Hockey history, and players still competing at the professional level.

But actual attendance rarely matched the long-held notion that there were 8,000 warm bodies at games on a regular basis. That was at a time when ticket prices were $10.50, $12.50 and $14.50 per game for the three tiers at the Civic Auditorium.

Those two seasons also represent the zenith for UNO Hockey at the Civic Auditorium -- the best the program had to offer, and the best we would see out of the program until the 2005-06 season (when UNO would make the NCAA tournament for the first time).

When Enough Capacity is Enough...
The question then is this: Why do many believe in the notion that 8,500-plus seats would have been a preferable capacity for the UNO Community Arena?

It appears to stem from a healthy dose of "misinformation" about the "sellout streak" at the Civic Auditorium during those early years. That notion -- combined with UNO's recent Frozen Four appearance -- has led some to believe capacity has been capped too low.

The other component to keep in mind is the fact that NCAA hockey realignment shifted Big Ten schools into their own six-team conference.

North Dakota is still a draw, but the other NCHC powers don't have the "name value" of Michigan or Minnesota.

People will point to recent seasons when we had the sellout-promotion games at the CenturyLink Center. They believe those games represent an indication of "what could be."

The fact is that massive ticket promotions and groups sales were used to spur attendance on those nights -- yielding an attendee that wasn't a long-term, high-value prospect.

The season ticket base also eroded to around 3,400 season tickets sold (from a peak number of around 6,500 during the Civic era).

Final Thoughts...
Looking at the numbers, it appears reasonable to assume that the UNO Community Arena's capacity (and configuration) will prove to be a smart balance of high-end price points and moderately-priced seating.

Only time will tell, but it looks like the 7,500-seat capacity represents a healthy and realistic number for UNO's new arena.

Herb Brooks Was Right (Of Course He Was...)

Note: My husband Jon will be guest posting this entry: 

"I love the Civic," (Herb) Brooks said, "and it would be crazy if they ever took the college game out of there. You keep putting 8,000 people in the Civic and keep the tickets a premium, and you've got something going. With the sight lines, it's one of the great college hockey rinks in America. The fans are as boisterous and as enthusiastic as any I've seen." 

So said the renowned coach in the July 11, 2001 issue of the Omaha World-Herald to reporter Eric Olson. 

We had the chance to meet Brooks later that summer at the UNO Blue Line Club's Face-Off Golf Classic Banquet held at the Sapp Fieldhouse (an event Bridget helped organize).

The thing I remember most about the banquet was that Brooks wasn't afraid to tell it as he saw it -- pulling no punches in the process. A certain cynical edge was apparent as he talked about his disdain for "Dream Teams" (and the rise of professional athletes) in the Olympics.

The man was an interesting character...a character who helped build collegiate hockey into the terrific sport it is today. In fact, he referred to collegiate hockey as "the most 'exciting athletic event, pro or amateur.'"

I agree.

His prophetic comments back in 2001 regarding UNO's arena situation should be a reminder that bigger is not always better, and ignoring the obvious can cause problems down the road.

His comments hold true for me as it regards UNO's current arena situation, and all of the recent banter as to whether the facility is "big enough."

We should embrace the notion of "intimate" and realize that a packed house of "core fans" has the potential to create a truly special atmosphere and environment for the UNO Hockey program.

For the past seven years Bridget and I have had seats in sections that became the repository for large, "special occasion" groups. While I appreciated the efforts to grow the fanbase, I also found it to be incredibly irritating.

The reason being is that I love watching UNO Hockey games each season, and look at each of the 20-odd-something games as being a special part of my life -- shiny nuggets in a relatively ordinary existence.

Being surrounded by folks who often seem "ambivalent" about being there really hasn't done anything to further UNO's goals, or help create a rollicking atmosphere. It has basically been a tease.

As terrific as the environment was at the Civic, interest ebbs and flows. It's just the natural course of things.

Here is a picture of the boys celebrating a goal back in March 1, 2001, at the Civic against Findlay (a program that no longer exists) to close out the regular season:

Even though there were empty pockets that night (a Thursday), there still existed sparks of electricity in the arena. I think it is safe to say that a Thursday night stand against Findlay at the CenturyLink Center would have been a veritable "power outage."

The ~7,500-seat capacity will be terrific for this program. The simple fact is that a considerable amount of time has passed since the program's days of yore. I think we've all forgotten how exciting an intimate environment can be. 

And while Thomas Wolfe once wrote "You Can't Go Home Again" (and Jon Bon Jovi had a catchy duet with Jennifer Nettles playing on that phrase), UNO has the potential to experience something new -- an opportunity to move away from the cavernous sterility of the CenturyLink Center, and actually create a "home."

Wolfe wrote: "Make your mistakes, take your chances, look silly, but keep on going. Don't freeze up."

This isn't the moment to second guess the situation. Every season ticket holder has had the opportunity to claim his or her seats (and then some) in the UNO Community Arena. Excitement among our fans is percolating along after our Frozen Four experience. 

Let's not douse the momentum.

As Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell) says in the "Unleash the Fury" pump-up montage that plays before the third period, "Great moments are born from great opportunity..."

Let's enjoy this opportunity, and the great moments ahead. 

Seat Selection at the New UNO Community Arena

The selection process for seats in the new arena is well underway! The new UNO Community Arena, located in Aksarben Village, will host its first hockey game on October 23, 2015.

In 2010, UNO announced that it would use a "priority points" process to determine seat selection. Points would be awarded for consecutive season tickets (dating back to 1997) as well as donations to the One Fund.

Letters were sent out notifying individuals of their "priority" number, and people were given the opportunity to make corrections or improve their status by making additional donations.

UNO also sent out a brochure outlining the pricing options (click on the image to enlarge):

Pricing for UNO Hockey tickets for the 2015-16 season is:
Suites: $40,000 (corners) – $50,000 (center ice)
Club Seats: $1500 per season, per seat
Glass: $495 per seat
Lower Premier (basically, center ice in the lower bowl, goal line to goal line on the non-suite side): $495 per seat
Lower End Zone (lower bowl seats, shoot-once end): $455
Upper Premier (goal line to goal line in the upper bowl): $295 per seat
Upper End Zones (upper bowl seats, both ends of the ice): $265
UNO Students: Free

There are 17 suites available for purchase. Suites include 12 fixed seats, plus four additional "bar rail" seats and four standing room tickets. Suites also include four parking passes per suite in the private parking lot, plus access to the Club Lounge and Suite Concierge staff. Suite purchases include all arena events.

Club suites include tickets to all UNO athletics regular-season events (hockey, basketball, volleyball) and first right of refusal on all non-UNO Athletic events. It also includes access to a Club Lounge and premium parking (accounts with 1-4 tickets will receive one parking pass; 5-8 tickets will receive two passes, etc.). Club suite chairs are 22" seats and have the UNO logo on them.

Regular seats are 20" seats (non-logoed) and season ticket holders will have "exclusive pre-sale access to all non-UNO Athletic events."

Parking is free and is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with more than 2400 stalls available. Premier parking is available for Suite and Club Seat members.

The process was finalized in March and the higher level priority people were given the opportunity to select their seats "on paper" in mid-March because the software wasn't available yet.

In late March, the software was finalized and people were given the opportunity to select their seats using the iomedia software.

You can view the available seats here:
omavshockey.io-media.com

Current UNO season ticket holders finished selecting their seats in mid-April. Individuals who had called the UNO ticket office and asked to be put on the waiting list were given the opportunity to select next.

The general public is expected to be able to start selecting on or around April 24, 2015.

If you are interested in purchasing season tickets, call 402-554-MAVS.

You can read the Mavpuck.com threads about the new arena seat selection process here:
2015-16 Season Tickets
Purchased My Tickets Today


4/22/15 Update:
UNO Athletics has announced that season tickets for the 2015-16 hockey season will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 27. At that time, tickets can be purchased online through OMavs.com/tix, in person at the Sapp Fieldhouse ticket office, or by calling 402-554-MAVS.