5 YEARS OF PINNACLE BANK ARENA

5 YEARS OF PINNACLE BANK ARENA | A JOURNAL STAR SPECIAL SECTION

STILL ROCKING JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Plenty of big shows mark arena’s first half-decade Metallica, Cher, Pearl Jam, Rush and Garth Brooks.

“You’re a great crowd, and this is a uring the run-up to the 2010 election, which created what great place,” McCartney said during became Pinnacle Bank Arena, his July 14, 2014 concert. “I love this place. ... It’s great. It’s a great venue. there was much consternaIt really sounds good.” tion that Lincoln couldn’t draw the McCartney isn’t alone in his kind of major concerts or ticket sales praise. Brooks raved about playing promised by the arena’s boosters. there — and how it felt like a far After all, Omaha’s Qwest Center smaller place — the Saturday after was just 60 miles up Interstate 80 and had established itself as a strong the first of his five October 2017 shows at the arena. And, almost to concert venue. And Lincoln, with an artist, those praises have been its population of 250,000, is a midechoed after each show. sized market in the concert world, Pinnacle Bank Arena has develmost of which don’t have the supoped a reputation among artists, port to consistently attract top-end agents, promoters and crews as a shows.

Eight years later, and five years into great place to put on a show, and Lincoln is seen as a concert market the arena’s operations, those fears that punches far above its weight. have proved to be unfounded.

The reason the arena is such a The concerts have come — 73 in good place for shows goes back to the total — and so have the crowds. The arena has sold 1,139,822 tickets with building’s design, which began eight years ago, and its construction from $71,181,717 in total sales.

And the shows have featured many 2011 to 2013.

“The building was built to be basketof the biggest names in music: Paul ball-centric, where it wasn’t as wide and McCartney, Billy Joel, Eric Church, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Odesza, wasn’t as long as arenas built for hockey Kendrick Lamar, Kenny Chesney, Pink, Jay-Z, Carrie Underwood, Please see CONCERTS, Page B5

Arena, Railyard have been engines for development

L. KENT WOLGAMOTT

MATT OLBERDING

Lincoln Journal Star

Lincoln Journal Star

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ill Scott was all-in on Pinnacle Bank Arena and was willing to take a leap of faith that an entertainment district built near the arena would succeed.

WRK LLC, which Scott and his brother, Robert, own, was one of the principal developers, along with Chief Industries of Grand Island, of the Railyard district, a development filled with bars and restaurants south of the arena.

Scott said the area developed seamlessly out of what he jokingly said was once the “armpit of the city” — a rail yard and industrial area full of contaminated soil.

“I’m really proud of how this has all shaken out,” he said.

Ryan Funke, one of the owners of Gate 25, a bar that was one of the first Railyard tenants, said it’s “pretty awesome to have the arena and Railyard.”

Five years ago, when Pinnacle Bank Arena opened its doors for the first time, the area around it was still mostly a blank slate. The Railyard partially opened at about the same

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time — with Gate 25 as one of three tenants — as did an apartment building directly across from the arena called Canopy Lofts. A Hyatt Place hotel and a condo development called Hobson Place opened the following spring.

However, it didn’t take long for further development to spring up.

Before the arena even opened, Olsson announced plans for a new headquarters a couple of blocks south of the arena at Sixth and P streets.

That building opened in the summer of 2014, and the company announced plans earlier this year for a second building next door.

Hudl opened up its new stateof-the-art corporate headquarters building last December at Sixth and Q streets.

Farther south, Lincoln finally got its downtown grocery store, as Canopy Street Market opened at the end of August, part of a larger development that includes apartments.

Scott said the fact that all that has developed in just five years is “nuts.”

“I thought we were looking at 15 to 20 Please see DEVELOPMENT, Page B4

KAYLA WOLF, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Jay-Z performs at the Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 1, 2013.

Fans gather in the Railyard to watch the Nebraska-Purdue football game on Sept.

29. It was the first time the city had allowed the Railyard party to expand onto Canopy Street.

Inside  Timeline: Major milestones in arena’s history. Page B2  From NU basketball to high school tournaments, the arena 00 1

has changed Lincoln’s sporting scene. Page B3

 Q&As with arena production manager Don Adams, and

 Arena finances strong after five years. Page B7 boosters Marc LeBaron and Mike Dunlap. Pages B4-5  List of concerts and similar events the arena has hosted.

Page B8  Small events key to Pinnacle Bank Arena’s success. Page B6

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PINNACLE BANK ARENA

| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2018

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

TIMELINE

An arena risen, its profile still rising n the five years since opening its doors, Pinnacle Bank Arena has spurred major redevelopment in the West Haymarket area. But the road to its construction took nearly twice as long.

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— John Schreier

1. Dec. 15, 2004

2. Jan. 9, 2008

The city releases the Convention, Sports and Leisure study to the public, identifying a spot adjacent to Lincoln’s main post office as its preferred site among five for a 12,000-seat arena that’s estimated to cost $50 million.

The economic downturn put plans on hold for a couple years before the topic re-emerged, albeit in a much larger form.

The arena committee announced its choice for a potential arena would indeed be in the West Haymarket.

Both the Vision 2015 group and University of Nebraska-Lincoln leaders involved in the project supported the decision.

Shortly thereafter, Mayor Chris Beutler promised to take an initiative to Lincoln voters to determine if they wanted to pay for a facility — forecast to cost between $200 million and $300 million — that would rival what was then known as Qwest Center Omaha and replace Pershing Auditorium.

3. Feb. 9, 2010

4. May 11, 2010

Though Beutler had originally indicated voters would have their say on a potential new arena during municipal elections in the spring of 2009, it took until 2010 for the Lincoln City Council to agree to put a portion of the financing up for a public vote.

Following a parade of testimony — most of which was in support — the council voted to put a $25 million funding question on the 2010 primary ballot. At the same meeting, council members approved plans to include UNL in the joint public agency that would help finance the arena and for the Husker men’s and women’s basketball teams to play in the city-owned arena.

By a 56-44 margin, Lincoln voters approved a $25 million general obligation bond — the public portion of the financing, to go along with $319 million in bonds issued by the JPA to build a 16,000-seat arena in the West Haymarket area in what was the largest public works project in the city’s history, at a total cost of $344 million.

With its passage came two taxes to help pay for the arena construction and maintenance — 2 percent surcharges on restaurant and bar sales and 4 percent taxes on hotel rooms and car rentals — and plans to build an entertainment district across the street that later became known as the Railyard.

5. Nov. 16, 2010 Lincoln’s downtown footprint shifts, as construction equipment begins work on the West Haymarket arena site.

The former site of railroad tracks began its transformation from a blighted area into a crown jewel of the city center.

For nearly three years, it underwent the metamorphosis that converted a remnant of the heavy industry that once abutted downtown Lincoln to the west to an arena with rounded edges and distinctive silver paneling around its upper levels.

7. Sept. 13, 2013

8. Dec. 1, 2013

Michael Bublé opened Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday the 13th, with a rousing show for a sold-out crowd. The concert featured plenty of his own numbers, in addition to songs by Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Jackson 5, Daft Punk, Van Morrison and Nat King Cole.

He was the first of many performers in the building to pay homage to the Huskers, revealing a No. 13 jersey beneath his tuxedo during the concert.

“I feel honored you chose me to open this up,” he told the inaugural crowd.

An hour into rapper Jay Z’s concert, the power went out — the first mishap in Pinnacle Bank Arena’s short existence.

For 40 minutes, the high-energy show ground to a halt until the lights shined once again. He returned to the stage — wearing a No. 93 Blackshirts jersey — for what the Journal Star’s review called at the time “the liveliest Pinnacle Bank Arena show yet.”

“We turned up too loud in Nebraska,” Jay Z told the crowd.

“We broke the (expletive) building. I appreciate every one of you in the building that stayed and rocked with me.”

10. March 31, 2014

11. Jan. 17, 2015

Nearly five years later, the three-word name still elicits fond memories from Nebrasketball fans: No-Sit Sunday.

Before an electric record crowd of 15,998, the Husker men’s basketball team upset No. 9 Wisconsin 77-68 en route to an at-large NCAA tournament berth, the team’s first — and only — since 1999. No event at the facility, before or after, can claim larger attendance.

Though the Nebraska women’s basketball team was upset one game shy of playing on its home floor in the Lincoln Regional, the Sweet 16 round went on. Eventual national champion UConn emerged from the four-team field over BYU, Texas A&M and DePaul.

“All we heard before we came here was how amazing the facilities and the people were,” Huskies coach Geno Auriemma told the crowd after cutting down the nets. “If I have anything to do with it, we’ll be back.”

He was a man of his word. UConn returned to Lincoln on Dec. 21, 2016, and secured an 84-41 victory over the Huskers.

In more than four decades of touring, Fleetwood Mac encountered a first in Lincoln.

The iconic rockers were unable to finish the show after founder and drummer Mick Fleetwood fell ill during the concert. After he went backstage to throw up, the band played two more songs, abruptly ending the show at 90 minutes — nearly an hour shorter than it had been running elsewhere.

Singer Stevie Nicks had promised a show and a half on the band’s return to Lincoln, which came last month. This time, Fleetwood completed a full 24 songs and 2½ hours of music.

12. May 21, 2015

13. March 24, 2018

The largest crowd ever to see a concert at Pinnacle Bank Arena, eclipsing the previous record set in 2013 by Elton John, rocked out to 28 songs by Eric Church.

According to Church’s website, the concert drew 15,823 people — making it the most attended event in arena history that wasn’t a Husker men’s basketball game. The country star entertained the packed house for 2 hours and 15 minutes, acknowledging early in the show that they were making history together.

“We’re in a place that has been very, very good to me,” he told the audience. “Tonight, you have broken a record.

There have never been more people in this arena than there are tonight.”

The show went on for Lorde — but it wasn’t without a close call.

The singer from New Zealand asked her fans on social media if she should go ahead with her Lincoln show if the full stage performance was unable to arrive in time for the concert. A snowstorm and a wreck elsewhere stranded one of her equipment trucks en route to Pinnacle Bank Arena.

More than 100 people encouraged her to take the stage regardless. In the end, the momentary panic was for naught, as the truck arrived 45 minutes before the doors opened, and the lighting in it was installed during an intermission between the opener, Run the Jewels, and the headliner.

6. Dec. 6, 2011 Beutler announces the West Haymarket arena will be named Pinnacle Bank Arena. The agreement calls for the bank to pay $11.25 million for the naming rights for 25 years, with the option to renew.

“We’re happy with the name,” said arena coordinator and former City Councilman Dan Marvin that day. “We think it reflects the direction that Lincoln is going.”

9. March 9, 2014

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14. Sept. 6, 2018 Metallica didn’t set the record for largest crowd in what was the closest thing to a fifth-anniversary concert, but it was the largest show in arena history in terms of weight.

The hard rockers hung 100 tons of audio and visual equipment from the rafters in their first-ever appearance in Lincoln. Few venues could withstand the stress of supporting that much weight, but Pinnacle Bank Arena was 00 1 built with such A-list displays in mind.

PINNACLE BANK ARENA

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2018 |

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Hosting Huskers, big-time events and semifinal matches at Pinnacle Bank Arena before championship matches shift to the Huskers’ home court — the Devaney Sports Center.

Pinnacle Bank Arena hosts all rounds of the state high school basketball tournaments, and while the venue provides a great place for teams, it also has been a magnet for fans.

Between sessions, fans spill out of the arena and visit the Railyard, or other bars, restaurants and retail stores in the West Haymarket, Haymarket or downtown areas.

Opening of arena takes Lincoln sports landscape to another level TODD HENRICHS

Lincoln Journal Star

Dial back the clock to 2010, when Lincoln voters went to the polls in May to vote on $25 million in initial public financing for a new arena with a $360 million price tag.

In 2010, the Pershing Center was Lincoln’s civic venue, but sporting events downtown seemingly amounted to the annual rodeo, a visit by the Harlem Globetrotters and state high school tournaments. Well, the state basketball tournament, that is. The NSAA moved the state volleyball tournament out of Pershing after the nets came down in 2009.

City leaders told voters Lincoln was overdue for a new civic venue.

To the north of downtown, Husker basketball teams called the Devaney Sports Center home. But university leaders were at a crossroads, too, seeing attendance drop and hearing more and more from fans who were no longer satisfied with driving to the abandoned fairgrounds for a game and having no options after the final buzzer but to walk into the cold, dodge mud puddles on the way back to the car and drive away.

No bars and restaurants within walking distance.

Only former pig barns.

Years later, sports fans can look back on that 2010 vote, and the 2013 opening of Pinnacle Bank Arena, and see a scorebook filled with big wins. A building with a buzz has changed the dynamic surrounding Husker basketball, drawn international competitions and championship bouts to Lincoln and prompted the NSAA to bring the state volleyball tournament back to town.

Here’s a look at several of the significant sports-related advancements that can be traced to Lincoln’s new arena.

A knockout punch Terence “Bud” Crawford is a big draw as the boxer many consider the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, so it was a big deal for Pinnacle Bank Arena to land his August 2017 title fight against Julius Indongo.

Before the new arena opened, Lincoln would be beating itself in the head in promoting the idea of ESPN cameras capturing a bigtime boxing event in the city.

Instead, Crawford’s fight drew 10,000 and Lincoln could promote itself as a bigtime sports market without the Huskers involved.

Earlier this year, UFC Fight Night was televised live nationally from Lincoln.

March Madness arrives

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTOS

Walter Pitchford celebrates with Nebraska basketball fans who stormed the court following the Huskers’ 77-68 win over Wisconsin to cap the 2013-14 season at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Winnebago’s Cory Cleveland waves the net while celebrating the team’s 66-51 win over Columbus Scotus in the Class C-1 boys state championship game at FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2015.

Terence “Bud” Crawford celebrates his third-round knockout The Huskers, which had of Julius Indongo in their junior welterweight world title fight sold out volleyball matches at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2017. for years at the NU Coliseum, but those involved in the ened the buzz surrounding the made the big move to Devaney design made certain that men’s basketball program. for the 2013 season. But with the venue first and foremost The Husker women’s the move came a dramatic would be a great place to basketball team continues makeover of Devaney. watch basketball. to rank in the top 20 nationMission accomplished. ally in attendance. Basketball The arena drew rave re- games likely won’t ever reach views from the opening tip, the level of Husker footand Nebraska basketball saw ball games for event status, a bump in attendance — and but the West Haymarket is performance — in the ven- a place to be in the winter ue’s initial 2013-14 season. when hoops season is hot.

The Huskers capped off the inaugural year with a wild A spike for volleyball win over Wisconsin on what will forever be remembered With practice facilities as No-Sit Sunday. for the Nebraska basketball Five years later, even as the teams in place, and men’s Huskers have experienced ups and women’s basketball and downs on the court, fans games moving to the arena, continue to buy tickets and there was an opening of sorts the arena has certainly height- for the volleyball program.

Fans yearn for the year the NCAA men’s basketball tournament plays early-round games at Pinnacle Bank Arena. No one will say for certain, but it’s assumed that Lincoln is minus a few full-service hotels necessary to meet presumed qualifications to be a part of March Madness.

In 2014, however, the NCAA dangled the carrot of a women’s regional to Lincoln, and then shipped world-beater Connecticut to Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Geno Auriemma loved Lincoln enough to schedule a UConn return trip for a regular-season game in 2016.

The renovated building includes five suites, ceiling trusses that mimic the Coliseum and a high definition center-hung video board.

There are seats for more fans — crowds of 4,000 at the Coliseum have swelled to 8,000 at Devaney — and fan amenities include more concession options, better restroom facilities and more International flavor space in the concourse areas.

Nebraska now annually So you want a sporting leads the nation in atten- event with a lot on the line? dance.

Pinnacle Bank Arena delivered that in January 2016, as international volleyball A new state teams met in Lincoln for the tournament hub NORCECA Olympic QualiWhen the NSAA moved fication Tournament. the state volleyball tournaLocal fans turned out ment from Lincoln to Grand 10,000 strong as the U.S. Island for the 2010 event, national team, with homeit came down to this: The town favorites Kelsey RobinPershing Center was viewed son, Jordan Larson and Kayla by visitors as a dump.

Banwarth on board, swept But once Lincoln’s new the Dominican Republic to arena was online, the tour- earn an Olympic spot.

Yes, the road to Rio de Janament returned to Lincoln in 2014, with quarterfinal neiro went through Lincoln.

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PINNACLE BANK ARENA

| Sunday, november 18, 2018

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

GWYNETH ROBERTS, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Hudl employees work on the seventh floor of their new headquarters, near the company cafeteria, with a view of the Historic Haymarket and downtown Lincoln.

Development From B1

years,” he said. “It’s happened a lot quicker.”

Instead of looking into the future, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall likes to look back a few years — about eight to be exact.

Birdsall said 2010, the year when voters approved construction of the arena, was “the year Lincoln emerged from its shell.”

“It just kind of changed Lincoln forever,” she said.

Birdsall is fond of saying that while the arena was a home run, the development around it that has ensued, “has really been a grand slam.”

Not only has the arena led to new development in the areas around it, but it also has sparked development elsewhere. New hotels and restaurants have cropped up in the Haymarket, and other developments — large and small — are in various stages of building or

development around downtown.

Would most of that development have occurred without the arena?

“Absolutely not,” Birdsall said.

In addition to the direct economic effects it’s brought — money spent on buildings, increased taxes, money spent at restaurants — the arena has also had intangible effects.

One of the big ones has been in attracting workers to Lincoln.

People today are “looking for a place to live first and work second,” Birdsall said, and the arena and Railyard have played a big role in helping companies such as Hudl attract and keep workers.

Much of the talk about tech companies in Lincoln centers around Hudl, a sports video-software company, because of its success.

But Mayor Chris Beutler pointed out that the arena and surrounding development have helped play a role in making the Haymarket and West Haymarket area a technology hub that is home

to dozens of local startups, as well as local offices of regional and national tech companies.

“The resulting development around the arena gave life to new, cutting-edge startups and technology companies that created new opportunities for our UNL graduates,” Beutler said in an email. “This new tech hub in the West Haymarket now nurtures the young entrepreneurs who are helping Lincoln thrive and grow.”

And because of the development that resulted thanks to the arena, including urban apartments and a grocery store, young people from Lincoln and elsewhere in Nebraska are choosing to stay here rather than move to a bigger city.

“The Pinnacle Bank Arena was a seismic event that altered Lincoln’s history and made us a city that could compete on a national and even, international level,” he said. reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. on Twitter @Lincolnbizbuzz.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

a view of the West Haymarket looking northwest from the Harris overpass. The area, including Pinnacle bank arena, The railyard and Historic Haymarket, is a favorite for Lincoln residents to show off to visitors.

5 QUOTES “What we’re most excited about in moving to the West Haymarket is how much it’s grown in just the last couple of years. We host job candidates from every corner of the country, and all leave Lincoln with a new appreciation for the Midwest. Likewise, university graduates who have moved away several years ago are amazed by all the progress in this area.”

“The impact of the arena and the West Haymarket development goes far beyond it being one of the country’s most successful entertainment venues. It gave Lincoln a newfound confidence.”

— Chris Beutler, mayor

“Pinnacle Bank Arena is an example of forward thinking. It’s a building, but it really was a gift — Hudl Ceo David Graf, to the next generation in terms during 2015 news conference to announce plans for the company’s new headquarters of vibrancy and community. I’m proud of the fact that so many “It (the arena) just kind of changed people stepped up to make that happen.”

Lincoln forever.”

— Wendy Birdsall, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President

— JoAnn Martin, ameritas Ceo and member of vision 2015 steering committee

“This is the holy grail for downtown.”

— downtown Lincoln association President Terry Uland, discussing plans for a West Haymarket grocery store in 2016

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5 QUESTIONS

Marc LeBaron, arena booster arc LeBaron, chairman and CEO of Lincoln Industries, was one of the original members of the Vision 2015 group that promoted the need for a number of large projects in Lincoln, including Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Journal LeBaron Star recently asked him for his thoughts on what the arena has meant to the city.

Q: Has the arena lived up to the financial expectations?

A: The impact of the arena has certainly met the financial expectations that were put together when the project was first proposed. Although the impact on the Haymarket has been substantial, it has had financial impact beyond just the Haymarket.

Q: Did you expect that the development in the West Haymarket would happen so quickly?

A: The West Haymarket development has happened much faster than we anticipated. Everyone felt that it would be a long-term project that would take many years to fully develop, but the amount of investment has happened much quicker than anticipated.

Q: Would projects such as Hudl and Olsson have been possible in Haymarket without the arena?

A: The arena was the catalyst for the redevelopment of the West Haymarket area. It’s possible that over time the Haymarket would have experienced growth and redevelopment, but it would

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have been at a much, much slower pace. The investment in entertainment, restaurants, hotels and residential was the result of the arena. It has created an environment that is very attractive to companies like Hudl and Olsson as well as the many startup companies that reside the Haymarket. There is an energy level that would not have been possible without the arena.

Q: How much of a role has the arena played in some of the other Vision 2015 projects?

A: The arena has provided the incentive for investment and development in the Haymarket and the entire downtown area.

The Antelope Valley redevelopment and P and Q Street enhancements were all part of the original vision and were impacted by the arena. Projects like the Assurity Center locating in Antelope Valley were certainly influenced by the excitement and investment in the Haymarket and downtown areas.

Q: What, if any, role has the arena played in other development around Lincoln?

A: The building of the arena has had an impact on how people look at Lincoln. We bring suppliers and customers to Lincoln from around the world on a regular basis. We constantly get comments on how Lincoln is a changed community. The perception is that we are a growing and progressive community.

There is a level of excitement that we have not experienced for some time. That sense of excitement and positivity impacts the entire community.

— Matt Olberding

Mike Dunlap, arena booster ike Dunlap, executive chairman of Nelnet, was one of the original members of the Vision 2015 group that promoted the need for a number of large projects in Lincoln, including Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Journal Dunlap Star recently asked him for his thoughts on what the arena has meant to the city.

Q: Has the arena lived up to your expectations in terms of both its direct and indirect financial impact?

A: The arena has absolutely lived up to my expectations. Directly and indirectly, I believe it has created a different community in Lincoln than what we had before.

Q: Concerning the development that has sprung up in the West Haymarket, did you expect this much this fast?

A: The recent development in the West Haymarket has been beyond my expectations.

Q: Would a project such as the Hudl headquarters building have been possible in the Haymarket/downtown area

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without the arena?

A: The Hudl headquarters building project would have been impossible without the arena.

It has revitalized the whole area and made the Haymarket the perfect place for new businesses like Hudl to build their offices.

Q: How much of a role has the arena played in allowing some of the other Vision 2015 projects to come to fruition?

A: Passing the arena project spurred more momentum on several projects being developed in Lincoln, such as the redevelopment of P Street. The East Downtown (EADO) area has become more vibrant, and I believe that all of downtown Lincoln has benefited. We hope to encourage even more growth in the future and inspire more people to live downtown.

Q: What, if any, role has the arena played in other development around Lincoln?

A: I think it has helped new developments all over Lincoln, indirectly and directly. The revitalized Pioneers Park concert venue, Union Plaza, Innovation Campus and Tower Square have been impacted by both the arena and the positive vibe of the Railyard in general.

— Matt Olberding

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LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

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JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Carrie Underwood performs at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2016. The arena has drawn rave reviews from musical artists, largely thanks to its concert-conducive design.

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and multiple use,” said arena manager Tom Lorenz. “Our seating is more vertical, so it feels like you’re more on top of the floor, no matter how high you are. So the artist feels, even if 15,000 are packed in here, that it’s a very intimate setting.”

But the arena incorporates much more than just basketball-centric seating, Lorenz said: “The building was designed to do major concerts.”

The concert-friendly design and construction begins outside, with the loading dock at the north end of the building.

That dock was built to allow four trucks to unload and load at a time. And the loading dock is just 90 feet from where the stages are erected.

That multiple truck docking and proximity to the stage saves time — at least an hour per truck — money and effort, said Don Adams, the arena’s production manager.

Next is the steel grid that was installed 90 feet above the stage.

With each of the 20-square-foot bays capable of holding 20,000 pounds of sound and light scaffolding and equipment, the arena has a 160,000 pound over-stage capacity — more than is needed for nearly every show on the road.

And, when utilizing all of the grid, that capacity goes beyond 200,000 pounds. That allowed the arena to present Metallica as designed when the heavymetal icons brought their show’s 240,000 pounds of “dynamic weight” to Lincoln in September.

“A lot of buildings couldn’t do the show or would have had to bring in extra steel,” Lorenz said.

“We got everything they had up in the air. That really completes the show.”

As for the sound praised by McCartney, Brooks and many others, that starts with the design as well.

The design incorporated soundproofing into the building’s ceiling, aimed at preventing sound from bouncing around.

And that feature wasn’t eliminated from the construction

budget, which often happens with arena projects.

The soft, cloth-covered seating also plays a role, absorbing sound rather than reflecting it.

The arena also has “the luxury of us being a full house, a full house sounds better than an empty house,” Adams said.

It isn’t just the building. Lorenz and Adams also credit the crew for contributing to the arena’s reputation. IATSE union members put together the shows, rigging the sound and lights high above the arena, while arena staff respond to artist requests, set up the backstage and, when requested, organize catering for the artist and crew.

It is notable that, with the exception of smoke from the stage triggering a fire alarm during Jay-Z’s 2013 show, the arena has JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO experienced no production issues Billy Joel greets his fans from his piano on March 24, 2017, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. in its first five years.

Pinnacle Bank Arena is accommodating enough that the 5 QUOTES Zac Brown Band, Eric Church “I was here last year with my friend and Odesza have used it for re“They paid like $4 a ticket. I don’t hearsals before beginning tours, Jason Aldean. I believe I’m the only then launched those tours with know what you paid tonight, but Lincoln shows. person to play this place twice. I I ain’t that good. I was better 40 That, too, is a result of more years ago, when you weren’t here.” can’t tell you how amazing it is — I than just the building. It’s related to hotels, restaurants and bars — Billy Joel, May 24, 2017, joking about a previous was just a supporting act then — to around the area where the bands Lincoln show in 1974 that drew about 150 people to come out on my tour and see 8,000 and crews can comfortably stay Pershing Auditorium people. How about that? I’ve got and patronize when they’re not at work. to tell you out of the entire year, “This place wasn’t here the last For example, members of the we sold more tickets in Lincoln, Zac Brown Band and their crew time I was here, 10-12 years ago. stayed at the Graduate Hotel Nebraska, than anywhere else in It’s a nice spot. Roomy.” Later in during their June rehearsals. the country. To see it completely “I think when they started sethis show he called the arena “a ting up the tour, they called and completely full tonight, on behalf beautiful place.” asked if Pinnacle was open for of me and my family, thanks for the amount of time we needed,” — James Taylor, on June 21, 2014 making my dreams come true. I multi-instrumentalist Clay Cook said during that visit. “They said love Nebraska.”

“After a few years on the job, it’s nice certainly it was. ... We loved it the to get to say something new: Hello, — Jake Owen, on Oct. 8, 2014 last time we were here. It’s cool for our crew to get to home here Lincoln. Big Red, are you ready? for a couple weeks. I got in and “I kind of feel like I’m from This is a new building. You’ve had was able to hang out last night Nebraska now, which is kind of and enjoy some of the college life.” some good bands play here. Rod

Stewart, with all due respect; Katy Perry, with all due respect; James Taylor, with all due respect. Just to get it broken in a little, we need to rattle the bolts in here.”

— Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Oct. 10, 2014

weird. In my whole seven years of touring, I’ve never seen a crowd this large and engaged.”

Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @LJSWolgamott.

— Thomas Rhett, Oct. 13, 2018, on being the first ■ Online: L. Kent Wolgamott artist to play Pinnacle Bank Arena three times recounts his favorite music moments at Pinnacle Bank Arena. @JournalStar.com

5 QUESTIONS

A chat with Don Adams, aka ‘D.A.,’ arena production on Adams, Pinnacle Bank Arena’s production manager, is a concert industry veteran, having locally served for years as the production manager of the Nebraska State Fair, Pershing Auditorium and at the Icebox for the Lincoln Stars. He’s also toured with multiple artists playing clubs, fairs and arenas, including a stint with the Dave Matthews Band.

Recently, “D.A.” sat in his office in the arena’s loading dock to answer five questions (and a couple follow-ups) about putting on concerts at Pinnacle

D

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Bank Arena.

Q: Let’s talk about the building itself.

You’ve worked in places all over the country (more than Adams 70 facilities).

What makes this work? All you hear is this a great building to do shows.

Why? A: “Everything from the truck docks, the space we have for parking, being able to back up five trucks at a time, the proxim-

ity from the truck docks to the stage, being that close — we’re literally only 90 feet from the dock to the stage, that makes efficiency so quick. So load-ins and load-outs go so smooth.

There are a lot of buildings where you’ll have a 200- to 300foot push to get the equipment to the deck. When you do that times four to 10 trucks, that adds an easy hour on the load-in.

Times 50 guys, that costs more labor, costs more time. It’s harder to overnight for some of these artists that go from Fargo (North Dakota) to Lincoln, from

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Lincoln to Chicago. They’ve got to do overnights and try to get out of here at 1 (a.m.) and do the next load-in at 8 a.m. the next day.

“The grid structure is awesome. We’ve got 20-foot bays at 20,000 pounds a bay. So we don’t have any rigging issues.

Getting through Metallica proved that, as heavy as that was.

“It all comes down to staff, too.

You’re only as good as your staff.

We’re so lucky. We started out with a great core group, thanks to Pershing and how long all of us had already been together doing

it. There were some key people brought in right from the get-go.

The continuity and experience makes a big, big difference on how good the day goes.”

Q: You hear the artists talk about how great it is to play here. Just sitting out there in the arena, this place has, I think, really good sound.

Why does it sound so good compared to a lot of other arenas I’ve been to?

A: “A lot of arenas do not do any soundproofing in the ceiling.

Please see ADAMS, Page B6

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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2018

PINNACLE BANK ARENA

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

Smaller events generate much arena business L. KENT WOLGAMOTT

Lincoln Journal Star

In the last five years, nearly 4 million people have attended events at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Concerts drew 1.2 million, and 1.7 million came for basketball.

So what accounts for the other 1 million or so?

The answer is far from concise — as would be expected based on the other key arena operation numbers.

PBA annually hosts about 160 events, according to production manager Don Adams. Of those, there are usually 12 to 15 concerts and 35 to 40 Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball games.

That’s not even half the events accounted for by the arena’s anchor tenants and its most publicized happenings.

Then, each year, there are five to seven events and shows such as Cirque du Soleil, Monster Jam, boxing, wrestling, and religious group gatherings such as Women of Faith.

The arena calendar also annually includes the state high school basketball and volleyball tournaments, the annual FFA and FCCLA conventions, graduation ceremonies for Lincoln Public Schools, Southeast Community College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — as many as 11 in a year.

There’s usually a tailgate or two in and outside the arena during each football season. This year, the Colorado tailgate was at the arena. It’s hosted Beerfest,

Adams

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Keryl Giesler samples Namu chocolates during the 30th annual Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy in 2016 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Chocolate Lovers Fantasy events and annual banquets and awards ceremonies for the University of Nebraska Foundation, UNL athletic alumni and the Mayor’s Arts Awards.

Then there are corporate bookings, for everything from meetings to the Sysco Food Show, which brings in dozens of vendors and Sysco clients from around the state.

“We’re busy all the time, if not

Even the people who are standing, that seat is still absorbing sound. And having the luxury From B5 of us being a full house, a full house sounds better than an We were lucky enough that in empty house. That many more the original build budget, they people are grabbing the sound.” allotted for that soundproofing That’s actually the case? The of the ceiling. That’s probamore people in there the better bly 30 percent of keeping that it sounds? reflection from getting up in “The better it sounds. It the air high and reflecting back stops the reflection. Our bodies down. That’s where you start getting the ‘Hey, hey ... hey, hey stop the reflection. We absorb sound.” ... hey, hey.” All those delays.

Q: How about the lighting?

“The seating, having the really The Odesza show, I thought, nice, soft seats, does wonders.

and hip-hop concerts, catering.

“They love it,” Lorenz said of the catering. “That’s a challenging day. Not only are you providing food for crews and artists — as specialty orders — you’re doing suites and the concession stands.

Food and beverage income, Lorenz said, averages between $4.5 million and $5 million at year.

An FFA convention, a corporate banquet or a holiday party won’t bring in tens of thousands of people to the arena. But, together, they add up.

“They maybe don’t have the impact of a 15,000-person concert, but they’re profitable events,” Lorenz said. “Not only do they contribute to our bottom line, but they add to hotel stays, business in the area around here. With a lot of the events, the local hotels fill up.

We’re not just focused on us, but the community and the area.”

With the 160 events, the arena is booked pretty tight, Adams said.

Some groups simply request days in a certain month and adjust their calendars when they get the date that their event can be held. The heaviest bookings are in the spring and fall, with the most availability, not surprisingly from May to July.

And the arena is always looking to host more events.

“There’s really nothing we can’t do,” Lorenz said. “The one thing we don’t do anymore is pancake feeds.”

in here, out in the festival space and all the events at Pinewood Bowl,” said Tom Lorenz, arena manager for SMG-Lincoln, which also operates Pinewood Bowl.

“Take the FFA and FCCLA, for example. They love it here. We’re able to handle every size crowd, from a small meeting of 10 people to the final ending of 4,000. We do a lot of those kind of events — of every size. That’s a good part of our business.”

The events take place throughout the arena. Many are held on the suite level or in the Bryan Health Zone, the large plaza on the north end of the building that overlooks the arena floor.

Many of those events include a buffet or other food service.

That’s another important aspect of arena operations.

Food service extends to con- Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 certs, with, in the case of nearly or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. all country shows and some rock On Twitter @LJSWolgamott.

was spectacular. Do you just provide the places to hang lights? That is all them (band crews), right?

A: “That show was 100 percent contained. A good lighting designer obviously is where it starts. Then it comes down to having a great lighting director to be able to operate what the designer intended. Then putting the budget out there to get the latest, greatest fixtures. It’s all a big package. It takes everybody to make a show look that good.”

Q: What is the budget for a

touring show like that?

A: “Once again, how many trucks you’ve got is money, is the budget. A normal six-truck show will spend about $50,000 to $60,000 a week just on their lighting budget; audio will be in that $30,000 to $35,000 a week, plus labor, plus transportation.”

When you’ve got one (act) that rolls in here with 18 (trucks)?

“They’re spending $100,000plus just on their lighting rig a week. And the big video rigs are what really get expensive.

They’ll spend up to $200,000 a week just on video.”

Q: So the production costs on these shows are strikingly high?

A: “And that reflects right to the ticket. A lot of people are blaming artists anymore, saying the artists are overcharging, saying why is a ticket $140? The cost of doing a show is increasing, just like the cost of us renting our house, buying our house, paying the electric bill. It’s the same thing in the entertainment business.”

— L. Kent Wolgamott

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LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2018 |

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With revenue from the city’s occupation tax growing each year, the West Haymarket JPA should have no problem paying off the bonds to build Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Arena finances are on How will we pay for it? track — and then some CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Building the project

NANCY HICKS

Lincoln Journal Star

Eight years after city voters gave a green light to building a new arena on an old rail yard, most of the money has been spent — $365.4 million for the arena, the new street system, parking garages and environmental cleanup.

And the plan for bringing in revenue to pay back the bonds and maintain the arena seems to be successful so far.

At the end of the last fiscal year, on Aug. 31, the West Haymarket Joint Public Agency, the entity that built the arena and is paying off the bonds, had almost $39.5 million in its reserve.

An occupation tax — on restaurant and bar food and beverages, hotel rooms and rental vehicles — has brought in about $115.6 million over the past six years, far more money than expected.

In the early years, the occupation tax revenue

grew by 4 to 8 percent each year. Though it has leveled off in the past two years, with average 2 percent increases, total occupation tax revenue is still far ahead of projections.

In fact, city leaders didn’t expect the occupation tax revenue to hit the current $17 million in annual revenue until 2030, said Brandon Kauffman, the city’s finance director.

The occupation tax has been so successful that the West Haymarket JPA (consisting of the mayor, a University of Nebraska regent and a City Council representative) has given several million dollars annually to the city to help with operating the arena itself. The arena operation is a city responsibility.

Over time, the city’s tax revenue will benefit from associated expansion in the West Haymarket.

As the West Haymarket has developed, including corporate headquarters buildings for Hudl and

Olsson, the assessed value of the area has increased dramatically, growing 97 percent between 2013 and 2017, Kauffman said.

In 2013, the assessed value for the property in the West Haymarket was $119 million. By 2017, it had risen to $234 million.

For the arena itself, the bond payments will peak in 2021-22, at $24.6 million, then gradually decrease over time, according to Kauffman.

Projections show the JPA should bring in enough money to pay off the bonds and maintain the arena over the next three decades.

The JPA expects to have income of more than $1.03 billion over the 30-year life of the West Haymarket bonds and expenses of $963.4 million.

The West Haymarket JPA has spent $365.4 million on the publicly funded portion of the West Haymarket development, including the arena, streets, trails, parking garages, sewer and Amtrak station.

Reach the writer at 402473-7250 or nhicks@ journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSNancyHicks.

Federal bond subsidies to date

$184.6 million

$6.4 million

$27.6 million

Environmental cleanup

Pinnacle Bank Arena Roads, sidewalks and attached garage and trails

$62.2 million

$9.2 million

$5.1 million

Site purchase

Dirtwork

Bond costs

$56.2 million

$7.6 million

$4.5 million

Surface parking, other parking garages

Project coordination

Other costs (street signage, civic art)

$2 million Utilities

Financing the project

Between 2014 and 2046, the JPA projects it will bring in $1.03 billion in revenue to cover expenses estimated at $963.4 million to pay off bonds, including interest, and maintain the arena and parking garages. To date, city revenues total $209.7 million.

$115.6 million

$10.6 million

$10 million

Occupation taxes to date (restaurant food, drinks; hotel and car rentals)

Other (TIF bond repayment, land sales, county lodging tax, interest earnings)

Donations to date

$28.2 million $26.7 million Arena revenues to date

$6.7 million

$10.1 million

Turnback tax to date (portion of state sales tax from arena and nearby hotels)

Parking revenue to date

$1.8 million Facility rental to date

What’s your share?

A Lincoln resident who spends an average amount on restaurants, take-out and deli food will pay about $40 for the arena each year through the city’s 2 percent occupation tax.

If your check is $25 when you eat out, you’re paying 50 cents to the arena. Do that every week, and your arena contribution will be about $26 for the year.

The couple who flies into Lincoln for the weekend will pay about $12 in occupation taxes, based on typical spending for restaurants, hotels and car rental over two days.

Buy a basketball ticket and you’re paying $1 to the arena through a surcharge.

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| Sunday, november 18, 2018

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

5 years of concerts and special events nov. 20 — Twenty one Pilots (scheduled) nov. 21 — breaking benjamin (scheduled) 2013 Sept. 13 — michael bublé OTHER EVENTS Sept. 19 — Jason aldean 2014 oct. 4 — The eagles June 24-25 — Cirque du Soleil oct. 10 — miranda Lambert and dierks Sept. 2 — WWe Smackdown bentley oct. 3-4 — Women of Faith oct. 20 — bon Jovi oct. 12-13 — disney Junior Live on Tour! nov. 9 — Pink 2015 nov. 14 — Trans-Siberian orchestra Jan. 16 — Harlem Globetrotters nov. 22 — John mayer July 21 — WWe Smackdown nov. 23 — elton John aug. 28-29 — Women of Faith: Loved dec. 1 — Jay-Z oct. 17 — Theresa Caputo 2014 oct. 23 — bulls vs. mavericks nba exhimay 24 — Zac brown band bition game may 30 — Cher nov. 21-23 — disney on Ice June 7 — Santana & rod Stewart 2016 June 21 — James Taylor Jan. 7-9 — norCeCa volleyball Tournament July 14 — Paul mcCartney apr. 6 — Harlem Globetrotters aug. 20 — Katy Perry June 3-5 — ringling bros Circus XTreme oct. 9 — Pearl Jam FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO July 27-31 — Cirque du Soleil oct. 18 — Jake owen aug. 26-27 — The belong Tour With the roar of six-string power chords of guitarist al Pitrelli (right) and the siren song of violinist asha 2015 Sept. 6 — WWe Smackdown mevlana, the Trans-Siberian orchestra hits the stage at Pinnacle bank arena on nov.

14, 2013.

Jan. 17 — Fleetwood mac oct. 12 — Timberwolves vs. nuggets Feb. 6 — Life in Color 2017 2018 march 6 — Lil Wayne Feb. 11 — Life In Color X Tour Feb. 13 — Florida Georgia Line Feb. 10 — Jeff dunham Feb. 8 — avenged Sevenfold march 26 — Carrie underwood march 24 — billy Joel mar. 15 — bob Seger mar. 31 — Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the Camarch 6 — Pink april 30 — brantley Gilbert may 10 — rush march 25 — Journey ble Guy march 24 — Lorde June 10-11 — Celebrate Lincoln may 20 — eric Church april 10 — Chris brown apr. 8 — Harlem Globetrotters June 21 — Justin bieber april 26 — brad Paisley July 11 — neil young april 14 — daniel Tosh aug. 19 — Crawford vs. Indongo boxing July 22 — KISS may 12 — Chris young July 16 — Kenny Chesney may 12 — Tim mcGraw and Faith Hill 2018 oct. 4 — maroon 5 June 8 — Zac brown band Sept. 24 — Shania Twain may 24 — def Leppard Feb. 2 — Harlem Globetrotters oct. 8 — Keith urban oct. 11 — def Leppard June 30 — nelly apr. 13-14 — monster Jam July 9 — Iron maiden nov. 4 — alan Jackson oct. 16 — darius rucker July 19 — Journey and def Leppard apr. 21 — Spring brawl mma aug. 7 — bruno mars dec. 4 — motley Crue dec. 5 — Stevie nicks Sept. 6 — metallica may 16-20 — Cirque du Soleil aug. 18 — Kendrick Lamar oct. 2 — odeSZa 2016 2017 aug. 25 — uFC Sept.

27 — The Weeknd Feb. 25 — blake Shelton oct. 5 — Fall out boy Jan. 13 — eric Church — Compiled by L. Kent Wolgamott Feb. 26 — Life in Color oct. 13 — Thomas rhett oct. 20-22 — Garth brooks (5 shows) Jan. 20 — red Hot Chili Peppers

CONCERTS

To schedule a Celebrate ad, email celebrate@journalstar.com.

Happy 80th Birthday Wishing Allan Deyong a Happy 80th Birthday Through the years you have been there for family, friends and Strangers in needLeading by example.

Wishing you good health, happiness and longevity.

Cards may be sent to: Allan Deyong 7021 S. 38th Street Apt. 46 Lincoln, NE. 68516 From your family.

Celebrating 80 years November 20th!

Kenneth E. Carpenter We wish this wonderful Husband, Dad and Papa a fabulous birthday!

We love you and appreciate all that you do for us.

Your loving and grateful family.

Richard & Elvera Seeley Richard and Elvera Seeley are being honored with an open house to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary and Richard’s 85th Birthday. Richard and Elvera were married Thanksgiving day, 1958 at the Adams Methodist Church, Adams NE The open house will be Saturday, Nov 24th from 2:00 to 4:00 at the same church. Please no gifts. Your presence will be their treasured gift.

Judy B from Waverly is turning 80!

Judy Burcham will celebrate her 80th Birthday on November 20th! Judy’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would love to make this a special milestone, please help us by showering her with cards!

Cards can be sent to: 624 Park Street Syracuse NE 68446.

Celebrate the special moments in your life: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduations, etc.

Runs every Sunday in the Lincoln Journal Star No logos, memorials or business ads please.

Single Box Announcement: $50 single photo, heading & 50 words Double Box Announcement: $100 two photos, heading & 80 words Deadline: Wednesday prior to publication.

Happy 90th, Donna Gill!

Mom always told us (and still does) to “be nice.” We’d like to wish THE NICEST PERSON WE KNOW a Beautiful and Happy 90th birthday!

Love, Dara & Diane If your life has been touched by Donna, please send her a card.

She’d love to hear from you.

7200 Van Dorn, #335, Lincoln, NE 68506

Dick Gray 80th Birtday Dick Gray turn 80 on November 22nd.

If you know him send a card to: 6233 SW 126th Denton, NE 68339 Love your family and friends

60th Anniversary Bill and Verda Umland, Palmyra, NE, will be celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary with an open house at Immanual Lutheran Church, Eagle, NE, Saturday, November 24, 2018, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Your presence is your gift.

Submit your announcement at journalstar.com/celebrate or email to celebrate@journalstar.com

Herb Stortz Celebrates 90th Birthday - Nov 22, 2018

Happy Birthday Jay Carpenter

The family of Herb Stortz would like to honor him with a card shower in celebration of his 90th birthday, November 22nd, 2018. Cards and memories may be sent to him at: 6305 O Street, Apt 101 Lincoln, NE 68510

This 1938 model will be 80 years old on the 24th. If you see Jay, please wish him a Happy Birthday or send a card to: Jay Carpenter 150 Washington St Box 68 Sterling NE 68443

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