Sports in Omaha, Nebraska
Sports in Omaha, Nebraska are supported by a high attendance at events and tax support from the City of Omaha. Omaha, Nebraska is home to several professional sports teams and modern sports venues.
The city has hosted a number of important sporting events. Since 1950 Omaha has hosted the baseball College World Series. The Cox Classic golf tournament was part of the second-level circuit now known as the Korn Ferry Tour from 1996 to 2013. The circuit returned to Omaha in 2017 with the Pinnacle Bank Championship.
Former sports clubs in Omaha include the
Sports
Several sports have heritage in Omaha. The
at the turn of the 20th century. His revolutionary course "Conscious Evolution" inspired many American leaders in the fields of government, business, entertainment, law, athletics and medicine.Basketball
In 1972 the
From 1988 to 1997 the Omaha Racers of the CBA played at Ak-Sar-Ben winning the CBA league championship in 1993. The only number retired by the Racers was Tim Legler's number 23.
Cricket
- In 1991, the Omaha Cricket Club was formed. N.P. Dodge Park has been home of the Omaha Cricket Club since 2001. It was founded by Jamaican community with help of the Indian Diaspora.
- In 2010, the Cricket Association of Nebraska, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization was formed with their home ground at historic Freedom Park, Omaha. The Nebraska Cricket Club is the cricket-playing wing of CAN. Owing to the floods in 2012, they got their second field at the Hefflinger Park Cricket Field
- In 2011, the Simply Play Cricket Club was formed with their home at the Hefflinger Park Cricket Field, the tennis ball cricket enthusiasts now has the largest following in the metro area.
- In 2013, the University Of Nebraska Omaha Cricket Club was formed by the group of young cricket enthusiasts. The home ground for UNO Cricket club is the UNO Dome facility. The club has a history of representing the UNO at American College Cricket Nationals. As of 2019 July 31 the club is in inactive status.
Football
The
Baseball
An early team in Omaha was the Luxus, who played with support from the Krug Brewery, and in 1915 played for the Amateur World Championship.
The Omaha Omahogs was a baseball team started in 1900 as part of the new Western League. Their name changed to the Omaha Indians in 1902. In 1904 the team was fielded as the Omaha Packers, and in 1906 as the Omaha Rourkes. They kept that name until 1921, when the name changed to the Omaha Buffaloes, which stuck until 1928 when it changed to the Omaha Crickets. In 1930 the team changed its name back to the Omaha Packers, and kept that name until 1935, when they moved to Council Bluffs and subsequently folded. A new team called the Omaha Robin Hoods formed in 1936, but moved to Rock Island, Illinois late in the year. The team reformed shortly thereafter as the Omaha Cardinals, remaining as such for several years.
In the 1940s, the African American players of the
The Omaha Storm Chasers are the city's current minor-league baseball team. They are the AAA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Years | Team Name | League | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1879 | Omaha Green Stockings
|
Northwestern League | |
1888 | Omaha Lambs | Western Association | |
1892–1901 | Omaha Omahogs
|
Western League | |
1902–1903 | Omaha Indians
|
Western League | |
1904 | Omaha Rangers
|
Western League | |
1905–1920 | Omaha Rourkes
|
Western League | |
1921–1927 | Omaha Buffaloes
|
Western League | |
1928–1929 | Omaha Crickets
|
Western League | |
1930–1935 | Omaha Packers | Western League | |
1936 | Omaha Robin Hoods
|
Western League | |
1947–1959 | Omaha Cardinals | Western League | |
1961–62 | Omaha Dodgers | American Association
|
|
1969–1998 | Omaha Royals
|
American Association | |
1999–2001 | Omaha Golden Spikes | Pacific Coast League | |
2002–2010 | Omaha Royals
|
Pacific Coast League | |
2011– | Omaha Storm Chasers | Pacific Coast League |
Omaha has served as host city of the
Soccer
On May 1, 2019, the United Soccer League announced that Alliance Omaha Soccer Holdings, Omaha had been granted an expansion franchise in USL League One, beginning in 2020 and playing out of Werner Park.[8] The team's name was announced as Union Omaha on October 3, 2019.[9]
The team plans to build a 7,000-seat soccer-specific stadium on the north side of Downtown Omaha. The plans were announced in 2024 as part of a mixed-use development and entertainment district.[10] Long-term plans for Union Omaha include moving up to the USL Championship, the third tier of American soccer, once the stadium opens in 2026.[11]
Hockey
The University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey team plays their home games at Baxter Arena, which opened for the 2015–16 season. Founded in 1997 and joining the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 2 years later, the Mavericks enjoy a loyal and vocal fan base. They currently play in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and made their first-ever appearance in the Frozen Four, the semifinal round of the NCAA Division I hockey tournament, in 2015.
The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights were the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The Knights played their home games at the Civic Auditorium. Following the 2006–07 season the Knights were relocated to the Quad Cities due to mounting losses taken on by the Calgary organization, they were renamed the Quad City Flames and replaced the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League.[12] The franchise's attendance in the Quad Cities was lower[13] than it was in Omaha.
On February 9, 2013, at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, two hockey games took place as part of the Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice. In game 1, the Lancers took on the Lincoln Stars, while in game 2, the Mavericks battled the University of North Dakota.
Roller Derby
In 2006,
In 2012, the team played in the
In 2015, the
In 2019, the
Indoor soccer
On August 18, 2010, the
Omaha City Football Club started in 2016 and continue to compete in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) the third tier in the Major Arena Soccer League System. They also compete in Major League Futsal (MLF).
Wrestling
Omaha also hosted the WWE Judgment Day Pay-Per-View Event on May 18, 2008, which was held at the then-Qwest Center.
Volleyball
- Omaha Supernovas[18]
- LOVB (League One Volleyball) Omaha [19]
College Sports
Creighton University
The Creighton Bluejays compete in a number of NCAA Division I sports. In July 2013, Creighton became an invited member of the Big East Conference after more than 35 years in the Missouri Valley Conference. The men's basketball team plays their home games at the CHI Health Center, while the women's basketball and volleyball teams play on campus at D. J. Sokol Arena. Their men's and women's soccer teams play their home games at Morrison Stadium.
The most popular team of the Creighton University athletic department is their men's basketball program. They have amassed 17 consecutive postseason appearances, including nine appearances in the NCAA tournament during that stretch. Overall, Creighton has 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
During the 2018–19 season, Creighton ranked 8th in all of NCAA Division I basketball in average home game attendance, averaging 15,980 per game.[20]
University of Nebraska Omaha
The Omaha Mavericks represent the University of Nebraska Omaha in NCAA Division I competition. They compete in the Summit League in all sports with the exception of ice hockey. The Mavericks hockey team became a charter member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in 2011, and left the Western Collegiate Hockey Association at the end of the 2012–13 season with NCHC play beginning the next season.
Venues
Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was formerly home to the Omaha Royals, now known as the Omaha Storm Chasers. From 1950 to 2010, it also hosted the annual NCAA College World Series men's baseball tournament in mid-June.[21]
Downtown Omaha and the
The
Today the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha hosts Creighton men's basketball and the Nebraska School Activities Association Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament annually. In 2008 the arena, then known as Qwest Center, hosted the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA tournament, WWE Judgment Day 2008 and the USA Swimming Summer Olympic Trials. The venue again hosted the Olympic swimming trials in 2012 and 2016 under its second name, CenturyLink Center Omaha. The facility also hosted UNO's ice hockey team, the Omaha Mavericks, before the opening of Baxter Arena.[23]
In 2009, the Creighton women's basketball and volleyball teams left the Civic Auditorium and moved back to campus with the opening of D. J. Sokol Arena.
Two new baseball parks opened in the Omaha area within days of each other in April 2011. On January 21, 2009 Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey along with others broke ground on the new Omaha Baseball Stadium, which would later be named
Venue | Sport(s) | Location | Description | Opened | Closed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium | Baseball, Football | South 10th Street | The Henry Doorly Zoo .
|
1948 | 2010 |
Morrison Stadium | Soccer | NoDo | 6,000 seat soccer stadium serving as the home ground for Creighton Bluejays soccer. | 2003 | |
Omaha Civic Auditorium | Basketball, football, hockey, volleyball | Downtown | Multi-purpose arena, concert hall, and convention centre. Notable users include the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, Omaha Beef, and Ak-Sar-Ben Knights . Demolished in 2014 after being replaced by the Qwest Center.
|
1954 | 2014 |
CHI Health Center | Basketball, hockey, rodeo, swimming, wrestling | NoDo | Arena and convention center operated by MECA. Originally the Qwest Center; first renamed July 15, 2011, following the purchase of Qwest by CenturyLink. Received its current name on September 1, 2018, when a new naming deal with CHI Health took effect. Host of the 2008, 2012, and 2016 US Olympic Swimming Team Trials. Notable tenants include Creighton men's basketball and Omaha Mavericks hockey until 2015. | 2003 | |
D. J. Sokol Arena | Basketball, volleyball | Creighton campus | 2,500 seat arena on the Creighton campus. Home of Bluejays women's basketball and women's volleyball. Also used as a practice facility for other Cregihton teams, and occasionally hosts high school games. | 2009 | |
Charles Schwab Field Omaha | Baseball | NoDo | Baseball stadium purpose-built for the College World Series. Other tenants include the Creighton Baseball, and defunct football teams the Omaha Nighthawks and Omaha Mammoths. Originally called TD Ameritrade Park. | 2011 | |
Werner Park | Baseball, soccer | Papillion | Built for the Omaha Storm Chasers after the closure of Rosenblatt stadium. Added Union Omaha as a tenant in 2020. | 2011 | |
Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse | Basketball, volleyball | UNO north campus | 3,500 seat arena located on the University of Nebraska Omaha north campus, opened in 1950. Serves as a practice and occasional competition facility of many Mavericks teams. | 1950 | |
Liberty First Credit Union Arena | Basketball, football | Ralston | 4,000 seat arena located in the suburb of Omaha Rollergirls .
|
2012 | |
Baxter Arena | Basketball, curling, hockey, volleyball | Midtown | Arena owned and operated by The University of Nebraska Omaha. Full-time home for Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey and men's and women's basketball, and part-time home for women's volleyball. Includes a second ice rink open to the public, and used as a hockey and curling practice facility.[23] | 2014 |
Notable athletes
Omaha is home to numerous important historical and modern sports figures. They include:
- Houston Alexander, UFC light heavyweight contender
- Max Baer, Professional Boxer
- Bob Boozer, former National Basketball Association player and gold medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- Steve Borden, professional wrestler better known as Sting
- Carmen Butler, current Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader
- Lance Cade, professional wrestler
- Jason Christiansen, professional baseball player
- Terence Crawford, professional boxer
- Eric Crouch, 2001 Heisman Trophy winner for University of Nebraska
- Brian Deegan, FMX Rider
- Ted DiBiase, Professional Wrestler
- Bob Gibson, Hall of Fame pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Ahman Green, professional football player
- Kenton Keith, professional football player
- Nile Kinnick, 1939 Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Iowa
- Jason Kreis, former professional soccer player, current manager of the MLS club New York City FC
- Scott Munter, relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
- Dave Nelson, professional skateboarder
- Gregg Olson, professional baseball player, 1989 American League Rookie of the Year
- Jed Ortmeyer, professional ice hockey player
- Ron Prince, former head football coach at Kansas State University
- Andy Roddick, professional tennis player
- Johnny Rodgers, 1972 Heisman Trophy Winner, College Football Hall of Fame; Inductee and voted University of Nebraska's "player of the century".
- Gale Sayers, professional football player, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts University men's basketball coach
- Danny Mayer, professional skateboarder
- Dipali, Professional Cricketer
See also
- Sports in Nebraska
- Parks in Omaha, Nebraska
References
- ^ "About" Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine, American Taekwondo Association. Retrieved 10/08/07.
- ^ "The Omaha Stockmen football team makes its home at Ralston High School".
- ^ "Welcome to nginx eaa1a9e1db47ffcca16305566a6efba4!185.15.56.1". Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ^ (n.d.) Mickey Stubblefield Profile
- ^ (n.d.) Barnstorming & Tournament Ball Archived 2006-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Omaha, Nebraska Minor League City Encyclopedia" Sports Reference. Retrieved 10/16/09.
- ^ "College World Series to stay in Omaha through 2035". HeraldNet.com. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ Peters, Chris (May 1, 2019). "Pro soccer is coming to Omaha: New team will begin play at Werner Park in 2020". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ "Team Name, Crest and Colors Unveiled at Community Block Party in Benson District" (Press release). United Soccer League. October 3, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ Crisler, Dan (January 25, 2024). "New soccer stadium, mixed-use district planned for north downtown Omaha". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Gonzalez, Cindy (January 25, 2024). "New 7,000-seat Union Omaha downtown soccer stadium to anchor $300 million entertainment district". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ (2007) Flames announce relocation of American Hockey League franchise to the Quad Cities (Moline, IL)[permanent dead link]. Calgary Flames Franchise website. Retrieved 6/7/07.
- ^ AHL Attendance [1] Archived 2009-01-31 at the Wayback Machine AHL Website. Retrieved 2/5/09.
- ^ "Past WFTDA Tournaments". WFTDA. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- ^ "Team Profile: Omaha Roller Girls - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- ^ "About – OMAHA ROLLER DERBY".
- ^ "Martin 'Farmer' Burns". Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Retrieved 10/9/07.
- ^ "Omaha Supernovas". Pro Volleyball Federation. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "LOVB: LOVB Omaha Volleyball". www.lovb.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "Division I Team Leaders" (PDF). 2020 Men's Basketball Attendance Records. NCAA. p. 3. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- Cox News Service. Retrieved 2006-06-19.[permanent dead link]
- ^ (2006) A tale of two cities Archived 2007-04-06 at the Wayback Machine. At the Yard website. Retrieved 5/29/07.
- ^ a b c Burbach, Christopher (October 6, 2014). "UNO's rising arena, finances both solid". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
- ^ "UNO's new athletic arena gets a name". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Omaha Releases 2015-16 Men's Basketball Schedule" (Press release). Omaha Athletics. July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ^ "Omaha Women's Basketball Schedule Released for 2015-16" (Press release). Omaha Athletics. July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ^ "Mavs Unveil 2015 Volleyball Schedule, Ticket Plans" (Press release). Omaha Athletics. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.