CHI Health Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CHI Health Center Omaha |
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Former names | Omaha Arena and Convention Center (planning/construction) Qwest Center Omaha (2003–11) CenturyLink Center Omaha (2011–18) |
General information | |
Location | Downtown Omaha |
Address | 455 North 10th Street Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
Coordinates | 41°15′46″N 95°55′41″W / 41.26278°N 95.92806°W |
Named for | CHI Health |
Groundbreaking | March 1, 2001 |
Opened | September 20, 2003 |
Inaugurated | September 12, 2003 |
Cost | $291 million ($463 million in 2022 dollars ) |
Owner | City of Omaha |
Technical details | |
Size | 1,118,300 square feet (103,890 m2) |
Design and construction | |
Architecture firm | DLR Group |
Structural engineer | Thornton-Tomasetti Group |
Services engineer | M–E Engineers, Inc. |
Main contractor | Kiewit Construction Co. |
Other information | |
Seating capacity | 18,320 (basketball) 17,100 (hockey) 18,975 (concert center-stage) 2,693 (Peter Kiewit Grand Ballroom) |
Parking | 4,500 spaces |
The CHI Health Center Omaha is a huge building in Omaha, Nebraska. It's both an arena and a convention center. This means it has a big space for sports and concerts, plus many rooms for meetings and large events.
The Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) runs the center. It has an arena with 18,975 seats, a large exhibition hall, and many meeting rooms. The arena is a popular spot for basketball and hockey games, professional wrestling events, and concerts. It also hosts the yearly meeting for a big company called Berkshire Hathaway.
The center first opened on September 20, 2003. It was originally called Qwest Center Omaha. Later, its name changed to CenturyLink Center Omaha in 2011. In 2018, a company called CHI Health bought the naming rights. So, on September 1, 2018, it became the CHI Health Center Omaha.
The main team that plays here is the Creighton University men's basketball team. The Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey team also played here until 2015. They then moved to a new place called Baxter Arena.
Contents
History of the Center
Planning and Building the Arena
People started talking about building a big convention center in downtown Omaha in 1993. After some earlier ideas didn't work out, the mayor announced plans for the Omaha Convention Center in 1997. Some people worried about the cost, but the idea moved forward.
In May 2000, people voted to approve the money needed to build the Omaha Convention Center-Arena. Construction began on March 1, 2001. Before it even opened, a company called Qwest Communications paid $14 million to have their name on the building. The Qwest Center officially opened its doors on September 20, 2003.
Changes and Updates Over Time
The center has been updated several times since it opened. In 2006, more seats were added to the arena, making space for 1,472 extra fans. This project also improved restrooms and food stands. It cost $6 million and was finished in September 2006.
Another renovation happened in 2009. This $6 million project updated the entire building. It included new carpet, wallpaper, fresh seating in the arena, and a brand-new scoreboard.
In 2011, the center's name changed to CenturyLink Center Omaha after Qwest merged with CenturyLink. Then, in 2018, CHI Health bought the naming rights for $23.5 million. This changed the name to CHI Health Center. Some people wondered about the new name, thinking it might sound like a hospital.
In 2021, the center hosted the Olympic Swim Trials, which are very important events. More recently, in November 2024, a plan was approved to expand and renovate the center again. This work started in early 2025 and will add another 90,000 square feet of space.
Exciting Events at the Center
NCAA Sports Tournaments
The arena has hosted many exciting NCAA men's basketball tournament games. These include first and second-round games in 2008, 2012, 2015, and 2024. It also hosted the "Sweet Sixteen" and "Elite Eight" games in 2018. The tournament was planned for 2020 but was cancelled.
The center is also a favorite spot for the NCAA women's volleyball final four. It hosted these championships in 2006, 2008, 2015, 2020, and 2022. In 2020, because of special circumstances, the entire volleyball tournament was held here. Twelve courts were set up in the convention center for practices and games.
The arena also hosted the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in 2010.
Olympic Swimming Trials
The CHI Health Center has hosted the USA Swimming Summer Olympics trials multiple times. These trials decide which swimmers will represent the U.S. in the Olympics. They happened here in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021.
The center doesn't have a permanent swimming pool. Instead, a team of 200 workers builds huge temporary pools in just two weeks! The Omaha Fire Department helps by pumping millions of gallons of water into them. Over 12,000 people watched the event each night in 2008.
After the trials, these special pools are taken apart. They are then moved to other cities to be used permanently. For example, the 2021 pool went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a new aquatic center.
Other Fun Events
The arena has hosted many other events, including WWE shows. It was home to the Judgment Day 2008 pay-per-view.
Omaha native Terence Crawford, a famous boxer, has defended his boxing titles here six times. He wanted to fight in front of his home crowd. His first championship fight at the arena in 2014 was the first in Nebraska since 1971.
Each February, the arena hosts the state wrestling championships for high school students. This tournament moved here in 2006. In 2016, the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions also visited the arena.
What's Inside the Center
Teams and Events | ||
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Creighton Bluejays | Big East | 2003–present |
River City Rodeo and Stock Show | KASB | 2003–present |
UNO Mavericks | NCHC | 2003–2015 |
Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament | NSAA | 2007–present |
United States Olympic Trials | USA-S | 2008–2021 |
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament | NCAA | 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2024 |
NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship | 2008, 2020, 2022 | |
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | 2010 | |
Omaha Supernovas | PVF | 2024–present |
The Convention Center
The CHI Health Omaha Convention Center has been a popular spot for large meetings since 2003. It has three exhibit halls, four ballrooms, and more than 15 meeting rooms.
- Exhibit Hall: This is a huge room that can be split into three smaller halls. Together, these rooms can hold over 1,000 booths or seat more than 16,000 guests for a conference.
- Peter Kiewit Grand Ballroom: This is the biggest ballroom in the building. It's named after the founder of a company called Kiewit Corporation. It can be divided into smaller rooms and is used for graduations, fancy parties, and business meetings.
- Junior Ballroom: This smaller, cozy space is perfect for private events. It's used for weddings, receptions, and parties for up to 1,000 guests.
The Arena
The CHI Health Center Arena is the busiest part of the complex. It was built in 2001 to replace older arenas in Omaha. It's the largest arena in Nebraska, with over 18,000 seats. It also has 32 fancy suites and many club seats. The arena hosts all kinds of shows, from concerts and family events to sports and rodeos. It opened on September 12, 2003, with a private concert.
Hilton Omaha Hotel
Right next to the center is the Hilton Omaha hotel. It has 600 guest rooms, 15 meeting rooms, and two ballrooms. There's also a restaurant and a skywalk that connects directly to the convention center. This hotel opened in April 2004.
Names of the Center Over Time
- Qwest Center Omaha (September 20, 2003–July 14, 2011)
- CenturyLink Center Omaha (July 15, 2011–August 31, 2018)
- CHI Health Center Omaha (September 1, 2018–present)
Amazing Records and Big Crowds
Basketball Records
The CHI Health Center has seen some huge crowds for Creighton University basketball games.
Rank | Attendance | Opponent | Result | Date |
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1 | 18,964 | Providence | W 88–73 | March 8, 2014 |
2 | 18,859 | Georgetown | W 76–63 | January 25, 2014 |
3 | 18,831 | Villanova | L 70–80 | December 31, 2016 |
4 | 18,797 | Villanova | W 101–80 | February 16, 2014 |
5 | 18,759 | Gonzaga | L 92-103 | December 1, 2018 |
6 | 18,742 | Seton Hall | W 72–71 | February 23, 2014 |
7 | 18,735 | Wichita State | L 68–89 | February 11, 2012 |
8 | 18,613 | Wichita State | W 91–79 | March 2, 2013 |
9 | 18,571 | DePaul | W 85-62 | January 27, 2024 |
10 | 18,525 | Marquette | W 67-49 | December 31, 2013 |
The biggest crowd for a Creighton basketball game was 18,964 fans. This happened on March 8, 2014, when Creighton beat Providence.
Hockey and Volleyball Records
On January 13, 2012, a record 16,138 fans watched a hockey game here. It was between the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Minnesota-Duluth. This was the largest crowd ever for a hockey game in Nebraska.
The CHI Health Center also holds several NCAA attendance records for women's college volleyball. The three largest crowds ever for NCAA tournament volleyball matches happened here. On December 19, 2015, 17,561 fans watched the championship game between Nebraska and Texas. This broke a record set just two days earlier at the same venue.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: CHI Health Center para niños
- Omaha Civic Auditorium – (defunct)
- Baxter Arena
- Mid-America Center
- Rosenblatt Stadium – (defunct)
- Ak-Sar-Ben – (defunct)
- Charles Schwab Field
- Morrison Stadium
- Liberty First Credit Union Arena
- Werner Park
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
- List of basketball arenas