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WELCOME BACK TO KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN AT FIVE. AS WE TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD INVESTORS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE ARE FLYING IN FOR BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY’S ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING THIS WEEKEND. THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING WITHOUT WARREN BUFFETT AS CEO AND THE FIRST WITH GREG ABEL, KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S CONNOR SCHMIDT IS SHOWING YOU HOW THE CITY IS PREPARING FOR THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE. FOR ONE WEEKEND EVERY SPRING, OMAHA BECOMES THE CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY UNIVERSE BEFORE SHAREHOLDERS PACK IN THE METROPOLITAN ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION AUTHORITY IS HARD AT WORK GETTING READY SETUP HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DAYS NOW, TOO. SO IT STARTS WELL BEFORE THE WEEKEND EVEN BEGINS AND WILL CONTINUE PROBABLY UNTIL WE OPEN THOSE DOORS ON FRIDAY. MECCA SAYS BERKSHIRE IS ONE OF THE ONLY EVENTS ALL YEAR THAT USES NEARLY EVERY INCH OF C-H-I HEALTH CENTER, FROM THE ARENA FLOOR TO THE EXHIBIT HALLS TO OVERFLOW ROOMS UPSTAIRS. THE ENTIRE BUILDING IS PART OF THE BERKSHIRE EXPERIENCE. YEAH, IT’S UNIQUE BECAUSE IT’S ESSENTIALLY ABOUT 4000 PERSON PRIVATE EVENT. THEY ARE COMING HERE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WEEKEND LONG FESTIVITY, AND PULLING IT OFF TAKES MORE THAN JUST OPENING THE DOORS. MECCA SAYS THERE’S HUNDREDS OF STAFF DAYS OF SETUP AND COORDINATION WITH CITY CREWS, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE TO MAKE SURE SHAREHOLDERS GET IN SAFELY. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE EVERY YEAR WITH THIS EVENT IS JUST THE AMOUNT OF QUEUING THAT HAPPENS IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. SOME START LINING UP AS EARLY AS 2 OR 3 IN THE MORNING SATURDAY, HOPING TO BE THE FIRST INSIDE FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING. AND IT’S NOT JUST MECCA PREPARING IN THE OLD MARKET. CREWS ARE ALSO WRAPPING UP BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS AHEAD OF THE BERKSHIRE CROWDS. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE WERE IN PLACE BEFORE BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY WEEKEND, MECCA SAYS. THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST CHANGE IS THE CLEAR BAG POLICY INSIDE THE ARENA. ANYONE ATTENDING IS ENCOURAGED TO GIVE THEMSELVES EXTRA TIME TO NAVIGATE DOWNTOW
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‘About 40,000 person private event’: Omaha prepares for Berkshire weekend
Omaha is gearing up for the annual Berkshire Hathaway weekend, with preparations underway at the CHI Health Center and across the city to host thousands of shareholders. The Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) has been working for days to ensure the venue is ready for the event. “Set up has been going on for days now, too. So it starts well before the weekend even begins and will continue probably until we open those doors on Friday,” Kristyna Engdahl said. RELATED COVERAGE: Warren Buffett announces retirement at Berkshire Hathaway meeting, recommends successorBerkshire Hathaway is one of the few events that uses nearly every part of the CHI Health Center, including the arena floor, exhibit halls, and overflow rooms upstairs. “Yeah, it’s unique because it’s essentially a about 40,000-person private event,” Engdahl said. “They are coming here specifically for the opportunity to participate in this weekend-long festivity.” The event requires extensive coordination, including hundreds of staff, days of setup, and collaboration with city crews, traffic enforcement, and police to ensure shareholder safety. “The biggest challenge that we face every year with this event is just the amount of queuing that happens in front of the building,” Engdahl said. ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: Warren Buffett’s successor addresses Berkshire Hathaway’s future in investing in first letter to shareholdersSome attendees begin lining up as early as 2 or 3 a.m. Saturday to secure their spot inside for the annual meeting. Preparations extend beyond the CHI Health Center. In Omaha’s Old Market, crews have been completing beautification projects ahead of the influx of visitors. “Our goal is to make sure that all of these were in place before Berkshire Hathaway weekend,” Billy Coburn said. This year, MECA is implementing a clear bag policy inside the arena, encouraging attendees to allow extra time to navigate downtown and pass through security.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Omaha is gearing up for the annual Berkshire Hathaway weekend, with preparations underway at the CHI Health Center and across the city to host thousands of shareholders.
The Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) has been working for days to ensure the venue is ready for the event.
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“Set up has been going on for days now, too. So it starts well before the weekend even begins and will continue probably until we open those doors on Friday,” Kristyna Engdahl said.
RELATED COVERAGE: Warren Buffett announces retirement at Berkshire Hathaway meeting, recommends successor
Berkshire Hathaway is one of the few events that uses nearly every part of the CHI Health Center, including the arena floor, exhibit halls, and overflow rooms upstairs.
“Yeah, it’s unique because it’s essentially a about 40,000-person private event,” Engdahl said. “They are coming here specifically for the opportunity to participate in this weekend-long festivity.”
The event requires extensive coordination, including hundreds of staff, days of setup, and collaboration with city crews, traffic enforcement, and police to ensure shareholder safety.
“The biggest challenge that we face every year with this event is just the amount of queuing that happens in front of the building,” Engdahl said.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: Warren Buffett’s successor addresses Berkshire Hathaway’s future in investing in first letter to shareholders
Some attendees begin lining up as early as 2 or 3 a.m. Saturday to secure their spot inside for the annual meeting.
Preparations extend beyond the CHI Health Center. In Omaha’s Old Market, crews have been completing beautification projects ahead of the influx of visitors.
“Our goal is to make sure that all of these were in place before Berkshire Hathaway weekend,” Billy Coburn said.
This year, MECA is implementing a clear bag policy inside the arena, encouraging attendees to allow extra time to navigate downtown and pass through security.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
