Omaha Civic Auditorium

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Omaha Civic Auditorium
Location	1804 Capitol Avenue Omaha, Nebraska 68102
Coordinates	41°15′39.52″N, 95°56′22.53″W
Opened	1954
Owner	City of Omaha
Operator	Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA)
Surface	multi-surface
Tenants
Creighton Bluejays women's basketball and volleyball (MVC) Omaha Beef (UIF) (2000 – present) Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (AHL) (2005 – present)
Capacity
10,960 (concerts) 9,300 (sports)

The Omaha Civic Auditorium is a multi-purpose convention center in Omaha, Nebraska. It was built in 1954 and was the largest convention/entertainment complex in the city until the completion of Qwest Center Omaha in 2003.

Contents 1 Facilities 1.1 Arena 1.1.1 "You are no Jack Kennedy" 1.2 Music Hall 1.3 Exhibit Hall 1.4 Mancuso Hall 2 External links

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Arena

The Civic Auditorium arena currently seats up to 9,300 people for sporting events and up to 10,960 for concerts.

In the past, the arena was home to the Creighton University Bluejays men's basketball team, the University of Nebraska at Omaha ice hockey team and the NBA's Kansas City/Omaha Kings basketball team. Today, it is home to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights American Hockey League team, the Omaha Beef indoor football team and Creighton's women's basketball and volleyball teams. It is also used for trade shows, concerts, KidzExplore and a dog show.

The arena was the site of the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament title game in 1978 and 1981. It was also the site of the seventh WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1996.

[edit] "You are no Jack Kennedy"

Main article: Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy

A memorable 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 are no Jack Kennedy."

[edit] Music Hall

The Civic Auditorium Music Hall is used for concerts, Broadway shows, and other events. It currently seats 2,453 and is well known for its intimate yet casual atmosphere.

[edit] Exhibit Hall

The Civic Auditorium exhibit hall features 43,400 square feet (4,000 m²) of space for conventions and trade shows.

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links

• Omaha Civic Auditorium

Preceded by Cincinnati Gardens 1957–1972

Home of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings 1972–1978

Succeeded by Kemper Arena 1974–1985

Current Basketball Venues in the Missouri Valley Conference
Carver Arena (Bradley) • Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) • Hammons Student Center (Missouri State) • Hulman Center (Indiana State) • Knapp Center (Drake) • McLeod Center (Northern Iowa) • Omaha Civic Auditorium (Creighton women) • Qwest Center Omaha (Creighton men) • Redbird Arena (Illinois State) • Roberts Stadium (Evansville) • SIU Arena (Southern Illinois)

Current arenas in the American Hockey League
Eastern Conference		Western Conference
Arena at Harbor Yard | Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena | Cumberland County Civic Center | DCU Center | Dunkin' Donuts Center | GIANT Center | Hartford Civic Center | MassMutual Center | Norfolk Scope | Times Union Center | Tsongas Arena | Verizon Wireless Arena | Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza | Wachovia Spectrum		Allstate Arena | AT&T Center | Blue Cross Arena | Bradley Center | Carver Arena | Copps Coliseum | MTS Centre | Omaha Civic Auditorium | Ricoh Coliseum | Toyota Center | Van Andel Arena | War Memorial at Oncenter | Wells Fargo Arena

Current arenas in United Indoor Football
Eastern Conference		Western Conference
Family Arena | Roberts Municipal Stadium | Rockford MetroCentre | Rupp Arena | US Cellular Coliseum | WesBanco Arena		Budweiser Events Center | Gateway Arena | MetraPark Arena | Omaha Civic Auditorium | Sioux Falls Arena