Shatel: Arena offers pluses for NU
Omaha World-Herald
February 1, 2010
By Tom Shatel
First, if Lincoln wants to build an arena, that’s fine by me. It’s not my money.
Second, the city of Lincoln needs the arena more than the University of Nebraska. The last time I looked, the lights still turn on at the Devaney Center and the baskets still work, though that tends to go game-to-game these days.
Having said that, I absolutely believe that NU should move to the new arena if it’s offered.
Now, I’m a Devaney Center fan. But most of that comes from the memories of covering and watching games there over the years — Wayman Tisdale, Norm Stewart, the 1984 and 1988 NCAA regionals, Bruce Chubick sprinting back to block Alonzo Jamison. It’s a decent place to watch college hoops. It can be loud and impact the game, especially now with the students where they should be: close to the floor.
But it can be dreadfully quiet, too. The Devaney Center is good enough, and if you have great teams, it’s more than good enough. But it’s not Allen Fieldhouse or Gallagher-Iba or Ahearn (or Rosenblatt Stadium) or any of the old barns that stir feelings. If NU leaves Devaney, nobody will say, “Man, I can’t believe they’re leaving the Devaney Center.’’
And that’s the point. Nebraska basketball needs something that stirs emotions, any emotion. It’s stuck in the State Fair mud. Like Andy Markowski says, it needs that “wow’’ factor.
A new downtown arena can do that. Now, new arenas aren’t always the answer to good basketball. But in this case, I don’t see a downside. I’ve seen what Qwest Center Omaha has done for Creighton and recruiting. The Jays have a big-time feel to their program — a program that hasn’t exactly been big time on the court. There’s an energy to CU games. It’s an entertainment destination, in a dinner and a game sort of way. The new arena could give Husker Hoops that much-needed energy and impact.
Last — and certainly not least — are the financial considerations. NU wouldn’t have to build it. The school would pay rent, but it would also get to keep its ticket revenue and some concessions (not a bad deal). The alternative would be to pay millions for much-needed renovations at the Devaney. And with Chancellor Harvey Perlman tightening the school belt, this isn’t exactly the time to ask for money for the 12th-place basketball program. So this move makes fiscal sense as well.
If Haymarket Arena is built, I have just one request: Take care of the students. The money people get all of the best seats in these things; that’s understood. But save some close spots for the people with the loudest voices. Create some atmosphere. Do that, and this might not just be a logical move, it might be a great one.
