Q&A on the Devaney Sports Center
Lincoln Journal Star
February 27, 2010
Q: What prevents the Devaney Sports Center from holding concerts?
A: First, it's a scheduling issue. Devaney is booked virtually every day of the year, with much of that time taken up on the main arena floor for practices for the NU basketball programs. Even when the season ends, there are times for individual instruction, pick-up games and sports camp schedules to deal with.
Second, the arena was designed as a basketball court and not a multi-use venue. What's the difference? Multi-use arenas have concrete floors with basketball courts brought in piece by piece. Devaney's basketball court is permanent and is specially designed to absorb some of the pounding that athletes give it. It is not designed to hold the amount of weight involved in stages for many of today's touring acts.
Also, the entrances to the arena floor are limited in height, and other than the floor bleachers, there is no "flexible" seating, making it impossible to truck large items into the building. Concerns with the roof prevent suspending significant weight from the ceiling.
Q: Will ticket prices for Nebraska basketball games go up if the Huskers move to the new arena?
A: Like many things, ticket prices are a function of supply and demand. If officials believe that excitement generated by the new venue will drive more ticket sales, you can expect an increase. And that doesn't take into account the pressure that a successful season on the court would generate. Without a doubt, there would be more high-priced premium seats at the new arena, but with more than 2,000 additional seats available, lower-priced levels still would be part of the equation.
Q: Will I have to pay for parking at the new arena?
A: Yes. Parking revenue will help to pay for the project, just as with Qwest Center in Omaha.
However, with the University of Nebraska taking over State Fair Park, you can expect to pay for parking on the former state fairgrounds in the future, just as fans have had to pay to park on campus for football games, volleyball matches and other events over recent years.
Q: Could the new arena draw the NCAA men's basketball tournament back to Lincoln?
A: It's doubtful, at least until the NCAA changes the tournament's format for first- and second-round games or Lincoln lines up more full-service hotels.
The current NCAA format involves eight teams playing at one site on the opening weekend, and the NCAA expects that each team will be housed in a distinct full-service hotel. Currently, Lincoln does not have enough hotels with adequate meeting space and around-the-clock meal service to qualify.
The new arena, however, would be perfectly suited for NCAA volleyball regionals, early-round games in the NCAA women's basketball tournament and potential championship events in gymnastics and wrestling.
Q: How will the Lincoln Stars be affected?
A: Lincoln's junior hockey franchise will continue to play at the Ice Box on the former state fairgrounds. Such a venue, and the entertainment option of hockey games, is viewed as an asset to the proposed Nebraska Innovation Campus.
Q: Are there other sports that could play in the new arena?
A: Certainly the arena could host a Nebraska volleyball match or other Husker events in addition to a full schedule of men's and women's basketball games.
As for minor-league sports, arena football is a possibility, although its national appeal has fallen over recent years. Minor-league basketball likely would involve too many scheduling conflicts.
More likely would be a stop on the rodeo circuit, perhaps a motocross event and maybe even a preseason NBA or NHL game.
http://www.journalstar.com/article_bacc504e-2407-11df-bfa1-001cc4c002e0.html
