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LINCOLN — Community leaders on Wednesday launched a campaign to persuade voters to approve construction of a new arena in the historic Haymarket district.
The arena would be the home for Husker basketball teams and replace the aging Pershing Center as a venue for concerts, circuses and other events.
Local businessman Dick Campbell will serve as chairman of a campaign committee of nearly 40 local residents
Campbell said the May 11 vote on an approximately $25 million bond issue is critical to moving Lincoln in the right direction.
He noted that when Pershing was built in 1957, Lincoln was home to about 95,000 residents. Now, more than 250,000 people live in the capital city.
“The project will create jobs in our community now and in the future. A recent economic analysis predicts over 1,200 permanent jobs will be created by the Lincoln Haymarket Arena project,” he said.
Mayor Chris Beutler has pledged that the arena would be built without a property tax increase.
Committee members include neighborhood leaders, business owners, historic preservationists, union representatives, recreational trail supporters and members of both political parties.
Clint Burge, local business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, emphasized the importance of construction jobs.
An economic analysis projects that more than 2,500 people would be put to work in each of the three years the arena would be under construction.
“In this economic time, we have an opportunity to benefit from building the Lincoln Haymarket Arena to create jobs and build a stronger economy. Hundreds of jobs for Lincoln workers are critical to our community,” Burge said.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9581, leslie.reed@owh.com
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