• A bit of everything is going on now with construction of the $128 million, 24,000 seat stadium: work on the lighting structures, plumbing, electrical system and the outside wall, said Roger Dixon, president of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority.
• Workers also are continuing to pour seating forms around the main bowl.
When Michael Huyghue brought his professional football league's sales pitch to Omaha, he faced tough questions from some of the city's civic leaders.
Omaha officials vetted the year-old United Football League's plans, asking about financial backing, the quality of the play and even the reputation of the players.
“They didn't want to take a leap of faith unless they had confidence this would be a product that is good for Omaha,” said Huyghue, the league commissioner.
Thursday, city and civic leaders gave their strong endorsement of the league's arrival in Omaha, putting their confidence — and Omaha's reputation — behind another experiment aimed at forming a minor league for the NFL.
Now the UFL's fifth franchise must sell itself to the rest of the community. To families whose entertainment dollars are a necessary base of support. To high school coaches and teams who have a new competitor under the Friday night lights. And to football fans who expect championship-quality play from football in Nebraska.
Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski made his first pitch for support by saying the team will be a winner.
“The opportunity that we have right now to have a professional team here in Omaha is going to be unbelievable,” he said at a press conference Thursday. “It's going to make this city more recognizable because we're going to have a great product here.”
The league is pitching its games as an inexpensive outing — tickets will cost about $20 — and pregame events will include a kid-friendly party zone outside the stadium where players interact with fans.
Huyghue said the league, which already has teams in Las Vegas, Sacramento, Orlando and Hartford, Conn., is not asking for any local tax incentives to come to Omaha.
Instead, the UFL says it will pump $10 million annually into the local economy, largely through its payroll and local marketing. It will offer 60 jobs, mostly seasonal.
The league's two-year lease for downtown's new TD Ameritrade Park will help pay down that project's debt, although local officials would not release information about the lease payment. The team will play at Rosenblatt Stadium this fall and TD Ameritrade starting in 2011.
By booking four dates, the still-unnamed franchise will help address concerns from a public eager to see the new stadium filled.
Mayor Jim Suttle said the city must continue to be innovative in finding ways to use the stadium that will replace Rosenblatt.
Roger Dixon, president of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, which will run TD Ameritrade Park, said the stadium in time can be expected to fill 100-plus booking dates, putting it in line with Rosenblatt's usage.
Dixon said MECA is talking with a concert promoter about hosting three to five major festivals a year there and has approached the Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conferences about playing league baseball tournaments downtown. Dixon said he believes continuing discussions with an independent minor league baseball league will be successful.
The stadium also will hold soccer, he said.
“Just wait and see,” Dixon said.
League officials acknowledged they have relationships to build with the metro area's high school football teams.
Although the schedule is still being developed, the league will play on fall Friday or Saturday nights. But any Nebraska home Saturdays will be blackouts for any UFL game in Omaha.
Jim Tenopir, executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association, urged, “Keep Friday night sacred for high school football games.”
As the economy has slowed, Tenopir said, high schools have seen a drop in attendance as people are tighter with their discretionary money. So far this year, the association's championship events are down 35,000 paid spectators, he said.
Tenopir said he wouldn't argue against the team coming to Omaha. Still, he said, “where I would see the real problem would be if we had to go up against them on a Friday.”
Bill Peterson, the UFL's senior vice president, said he believes the league and high school football can coexist.
“It will find a settling point,” he said. “It will be fine.”
Peterson said the league wants to be involved in the community and serve as a fundraising outlet for local high school teams. He said the UFL has offered high schools the chance to keep $10 for every $20 ticket they sell, has donated to programs that are struggling financially and has helped to build fields.
Omaha civic leaders already are sold on the league's benefits.
The Omaha franchise will have local ownership, although no names or details have been released. The UFL, which officials described as having strong financial backing, will own half the team.
The local commitment is no small investment totaling $30 million in some markets.
David Brown, president of the Greater Omaha Chamber, said local leaders are convinced the UFL has a great plan. “It has been nothing but a professional experience with them,” he said.
Local business officials expect positive national exposure about Omaha through the team's TV appearances. Brown said the chamber is trying to put figures to the marketing impact of Omaha's new association with the league.
“We're convinced that it moves the bar,” he said.
The four-team league considered 12 cities for two expansion sites. Another franchise is expected to be announced in a couple of weeks.
Huyghue said the UFL sought a community that would offer its support and be open-minded about the concept. And officials believe they found that in Omaha.
Huyghue said the league's early experience has shown: “People who love football can't get enough football, and that if it's done well, that they will support it.”
Contact the writer:
444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com
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