When construction for Omaha’s convention center and arena broke ground in 2001 on the site of a former Union Pacific Railroad yard, it set off a wave of exciting new developments with ripples that are still being felt more than two decades later.
“This project has completely transformed the riverfront landscape of downtown Omaha,” said Roger Dixon, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, or MECA, the nonprofit organization responsible for the facility’s operations. “To remember what it looked like 20 years ago and to see what it is now, it’s mind-boggling.”
Later renamed CHI Health Center Omaha, the multi-use complex officially opened to the public in September 2003 with a comprehensive footprint that boasts 1.1 million square feet of space, 346,000 square feet of dedicated convention space, 16 meeting rooms and a grand ballroom. In just a few years, seating capacity within the attached arena (home court of the Creighton University men’s basketball team) was expanded from 16,500 to 18,300 in order to accommodate growing demand for concert and sporting event attendance.
Creighton University men’s basketball pink out game, 2023
Since the building’s inception, downtown Omaha has seen an influx of hotels, apartments, condos, restaurants, offices, green space and infrastructure developments, along with the emergence of The RiverFront, renovating Heartland of America Park, Lewis & Clark Landing and Gene Leahy Mall, along with other tourism attractions.
Taylor Swift, 2013
“We’re not done yet,” Dixon said. “There’s a lot of construction happening in the area just west of us toward the Creighton campus, and Mutual of Omaha is planning to build its new 41-story world headquarters here.”
MECA works closely with Visit Omaha, local hotels and hospitality groups to promote events and activities going on at the CHI Health Center, creating a seamless experience for guests to the city.
“On average, this facility generates around $70 million a year in economic impact,” Dixon said. “About 1 million visitors come through our doors annually.”
A constantly evolving schedule of consumer shows, concerts, conventions, association meetings and sporting events keeps the center busy on a year-round basis.
“Omaha is an affluent community that likes to be entertained,” Dixon said. “When we first opened, Omaha had a strong music scene, but it wasn’t really known as a concert city. The biggest facility we had at the time was the old Civic Auditorium, which held about 9,000 seats.”
Coldplay, 2017
Doubling that capacity, CHI Health Center has put Omaha on the map as a top-tier venue for well-known touring artists like Paul McCartney, U2, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Garth Brooks.
“We don’t have any Taylor Swift dates right now, although she has been here a couple times in the past!” Dixon laughed.
To celebrate its milestone anniversary this year, CHI Health Center Omaha is hosting a private event to recognize donors, sponsors and city officials with dinner and a party on Sept. 9.
“The original construction of the center cost $291 million; $75 million of that was donated through the local philanthropic community,” Dixon said. “I’ve been in this industry for almost 50 years, and I’ve never seen a more giving community than Omaha.”
For more information, visit chihealthcenteromaha.com.
