New details on ‘Stadium District’ project in downtown Omaha

A fenced-in, overgrown, empty lot in north downtown Omaha is the proposed future home of a multi-million-dollar mixed-use space. It's been coined the "Stadium District" because the north side would be home to a new soccer stadium.

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A fenced-in, overgrown, empty lot in north downtown Omaha is the proposed future home of a multi-million-dollar mixed-use space. It’s been coined the “Stadium District” because the north side would be home to a new soccer stadium. “For us to have a place to call our own, both for Union Omaha and for the community and downtown, for professional soccer and other sports, is incredibly important,” Alexis Boulos, chief operating officer of Union Omaha, said. READ MORE: Union Omaha, city officials announce agreement for downtown soccer stadium, mixed-use districtOmaha City Council will soon hear a resolution for the tax increment financing, TIF, redevelopment plan for the area. The resolution asks for more than $48.2 million in TIF. According to the proposed city council resolution, the entire development would cost more than $316.5 million. The lot itself is about 25 acres and is right across the street from Charles Schwab Field and the CHI Health Center.It’s a location Union Omaha said is vital for their growth in the community. “Our ability to engage in the community, in those neighborhoods and in downtown Omaha is really what the growth opportunity for us is,” Boulos said. “There are so many youth leagues that we can’t reach where we are right now.”Union Omaha said the entire stadium will create an estimated 200 jobs. “For us to be able to take that space and make it into something valuable for our community is really important to us,” Boulos said. Boulos said the stadium opens the door for hosting more than 100 other events throughout the year. “That includes concerts, other sports, community walks, nonprofit charity events,” Boulos said. “It will improve our ability to have international friendlies and put us on the map as a, as a facility that can host worldwide events for soccer. To have high school sports, collegiate sports, other things that can be housed there, to share what we have to offer in downtown Omaha.”New details on stadium project in downtown OmahaIt’s something the TIF proposal shows could bring in nearly $1.1 million in just rent alone. With a dedicated space, Boulos said it would also allow them to add a women’s team in the next five years. “For us to be able to bring a women’s team into that atmosphere and into that ecosystem would be fantastic,” Boulos said. “It’s growing. The community wants it.”More fans will also be able to catch a game.”(A total of) 6,500 fixed seats, with the additional, you know, about a thousand seats of berm and standing room only seating. So that’ll be a big change for us,” Boulos said. Union Omaha said things are still being finalized, but they hope to break ground this fall and be open for the 2028 season. There is a public hearing scheduled for the TIF redevelopment plan at the Omaha City Council’s April 7 meeting. To read the proposal, click here. 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, Neb. —

“For us to have a place to call our own, both for Union Omaha and for the community and downtown, for professional soccer and other sports, is incredibly important,” Alexis Boulos, chief operating officer of Union Omaha, said.

Omaha City Council will soon hear a resolution for the tax increment financing, TIF, redevelopment plan for the area. The resolution asks for more than $48.2 million in TIF.

According to the proposed city council resolution, the entire development would cost more than $316.5 million. The lot itself is about 25 acres and is right across the street from Charles Schwab Field and the CHI Health Center.

It’s a location Union Omaha said is vital for their growth in the community.

“Our ability to engage in the community, in those neighborhoods and in downtown Omaha is really what the growth opportunity for us is,” Boulos said. “There are so many youth leagues that we can’t reach where we are right now.”

Union Omaha said the entire stadium will create an estimated 200 jobs.

“For us to be able to take that space and make it into something valuable for our community is really important to us,” Boulos said.

Boulos said the stadium opens the door for hosting more than 100 other events throughout the year.

“That includes concerts, other sports, community walks, nonprofit charity events,” Boulos said. “It will improve our ability to have international friendlies and put us on the map as a, as a facility that can host worldwide events for soccer. To have high school sports, collegiate sports, other things that can be housed there, to share what we have to offer in downtown Omaha.”

New details on stadium project in downtown Omaha

It’s something the TIF proposal shows could bring in nearly $1.1 million in just rent alone.

With a dedicated space, Boulos said it would also allow them to add a women’s team in the next five years.

“For us to be able to bring a women’s team into that atmosphere and into that ecosystem would be fantastic,” Boulos said. “It’s growing. The community wants it.”

More fans will also be able to catch a game.

“(A total of) 6,500 fixed seats, with the additional, you know, about a thousand seats of berm and standing room only seating. So that’ll be a big change for us,” Boulos said.

Union Omaha said things are still being finalized, but they hope to break ground this fall and be open for the 2028 season.

There is a public hearing scheduled for the TIF redevelopment plan at the Omaha City Council’s April 7 meeting.

To read the proposal, click here.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.