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Omaha Civic Auditorium

Location	1804 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68102
Coordinates	41°15′42″N 95°56′24″W / 41.26167°N 95.94°W / 41.26167; -95.94Coordinates: 41°15′42″N 95°56′24″W / 41.26167°N 95.94°W / 41.26167; -95.94
Opened	1954
Owner	City of Omaha
Operator	Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA)
Surface	multi-surface
Capacity	Concerts: 10,960 Basketball: 9,300
Tenants
Creighton Bluejays (Women's Basketball, Volleyball) (MVC) (2003-present) Omaha Beef (IFL) (2000–Present) Omaha Lancers (USHL) (2009–present) Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (AHL) (2005–2007) Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball (MVC) (1961–2003) Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) (1972–1975) UNO Mavericks (CCHA) (1997–2003)

The Omaha Civic Auditorium is a multi-purpose convention center 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 Qwest Center Omaha in 2003.

Contents 1 Facilities 1.1 Arena 1.1.1 "You're 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 Bluejays men's basketball team, the University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights American Hockey League team, and the NBA's Kansas City-Omaha Kings basketball team (1972-75).

Today, it is home to the Omaha Beef indoor football team and the Creighton women's basketball and volleyball teams. It is also used for trade shows, concerts, smaller conventions, and local graduations. On 5 February 2009, the Junior-A United States Hockey League announced on its website that the Omaha Lancers franchise would be moving to the Civic Auditorium from the Mid-America Center across the river in Council Bluffs.

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're 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're no Jack Kennedy."

[edit] Music Hall

The Civic Auditorium Music Hall, located on the east side of Omaha Civic Auditorium 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 None	Home of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 2005 – 07	Succeeded by i wireless Center
Preceded by Cincinnati Gardens	Home of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings 1972 – 75	Succeeded by Kemper Arena
Preceded by Vinardi Center/"Old Gym"	Home of Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball 1961 – 2003	Succeeded by Qwest Center Omaha

v • d • e City of Omaha History • (Founders • Companies) • Government • (Mayors • City Council • Police • Parks • Public schools)• Neighborhoods • Landmarks • Buildings • Culture  (Cuisine • Theatre • Music • Sports) • Media • Education (Public schools • Catholic schools • Higher education) • Economy (Businesses • Railroads • Tourism) • Crime (Civil unrest) • Hospitals • Cemeteries • Geography • Transportation (Trails • Boulevards • Port • Streets • I-80) • Metropolitan area • People • (Racial tension • Civil rights • Ethnic groups) • Churches • Synagogues • Lists Further information: Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area

v • d • e Current Basketball Venues in the Missouri Valley Conference Carver Arena (Bradley men) • Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) • JQH Arena (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) • Bradley Athletics Performance Center (Bradley women) • SIU Arena (Southern Illinois)

v • d • e Current arenas in the Indoor Football League United Conference DeltaPlex Arena · Dome Arena · Gateway Arena · Hartman Arena · Omaha Civic Auditorium  · Show Place Arena · Sioux Falls Arena · U.S. Cellular Coliseum Intense Conference Budweiser Events Center  · Carlson Center · Central Pavilion Arena · Ector County Coliseum · El Paso County Coliseum · Rimrock Auto Arena · San Angelo Coliseum · Sullivan Arena · Taylor County Expo Center 2010 Expansion Amarillo Civic Center  · Arthur Ashe Athletic Center  · Resch Center  · La Crosse Center  · Luedecke Arena  · Sears Centre  · ShoWare Center  · Toyota Center  · Verizon Arena

v • d • e Current arenas in the United States Hockey League East Division Ann Arbor Ice Cube • Cedar Rapids Ice Arena • Conseco Fieldhouse1 • Covelli Centre • Edge Ice Arena • Resch Center • Pepsi Coliseum2 • Young Arena West Division Buccaneer Arena • FirsTier Event Center • Gateway Arena • Ice Box • Omaha Civic Auditorium • Sioux Falls Arena • Urban Plains Center 1Some of the Indiana Ice's home games are played at the Conseco Fieldhouse. 2The majority of the Indiana Ice's home games are played at the Pepsi Coliseum.