[Husker] Osborne: Haymarket Arena Starting to Make Sense

[Nick Chevance]

On Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 8:46 PM, Bob Beach <rbeach at neb.rr.com> wrote:
> Steve Reichenbach wrote:
>  > Second, the locations which have been discussed are closer to the
>  > campus center than the Devaney Sports Center.  Yes, it will be
>  > off campus, but for practical purposes so is the Devaney Sports
>  > Center.

Frankly, I don't see an issue, other than the "feeling" that the
facility is a university facility only, rather than a multipurpose
building.  If anyone has attended a Creighton game, there is no doubt
that at least at that time, the Qwest Center is THE Bluejays house.
The fact that Arrowsmith, Bon Jovi, the Olympic swimmers, Nebraska
basketball and volleyball, and monster truck events all take place
there too really doesn't matter much to me.  It certainly doesn't seem
to matter much to the Creighton fans.  The Devaney Center is a fine
facility but it is dated and pretty limited as to amenities.  I've
been in better places and some much worse.  I think the biggest
problem for Devaney is its location.  While it may be on State land,
the railroad tracks are a major impediment (though at least at one
event, a well timed train allowed me to get out of the parking lot and
onto the street in record time, but I'm rarely that lucky) and its not
easy to walk to or to find parking.

A new facility shared by the city would be a fine way to share limited
resources on the part of both the city and the university.  Pershing
seemed old when I was there in the early '80's and the city would
benefit from a new facility.  The university would have a more
convenient location and all new stuff, and the public would have much
nicer amenities that everyone would enjoy.  Due to the costs involved
with building such things, it only makes sense to join forces and
share costs.  I doubt the city could afford a fine new facility, and
then not be able to put one of the best potential tenents in it.  If I
were a Lincoln taxpayer (and I'm not) I would want someone to share
that burden with me - the more deep pockets the better.  And is the
university ready to replace the Devaney on its own?  If basketball
grows, the fans will desire better amenities.  And then, beyond
basketball, what if women's volleyball continues to grow?

And the bit about the naming rights; I too am not sure how much that
gets these days, but we have a Memorial Stadium with a Tom Osborne
Field.  What's wrong with a "First National Bank Event Center" and the
Bob Devaney Arena or something just as odd as that?

Nick
-- 
"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an
infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even
considering if there is a man on base."
Dave Barry