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Spring into family-friendly fun at The RiverFront
MECA’s new CEO says he’s exploring additional ways to entertain the community and attract new visitors
WELCOME BACK TO KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN. AT NOON TODAY, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, ADAM STRAIGHT. HE IS THE NEW CEO OF THE METROPOLITAN ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION AUTHORITY, ALSO KNOWN AS MECCA. ADAM, WELCOME. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO WE HAD YOU ON A FEW WEEKS AGO TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU’VE NOW BEEN HERE 60 DAYS. ANY NEW REALIZATIONS OR GOALS? JUST THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH POTENTIAL THAT THAT THE CITY HAS. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN GREAT. THEY’VE BEEN SO WELCOMING. MY TEAM CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE SIT DOWN AND CHAT ABOUT OUR FUTURE AND OUR MISSION AND VISION. THAT IS AWESOME. AND SPEAKING OF THE PEAK, THE LEWIS AND CLARK LANDING PLAYGROUND WAS JUST NOMINATED FOR A BEST OF AWARD FROM USA TODAY. WE HAVE THAT IN OUR NEWSCAST YESTERDAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? OH IT’S TREMENDOUS. IT’S ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES THAT I WENT WITH MY FAMILY, NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT IT WAS A MECCA PROPERTY, BUT WE WE JUST KIND OF VENTURED DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT’S SO ATTRACTIVE. YOU GET SO ATTRACTED TO THE RIVERFRONT AND THE PARK IS JUST AMAZING. WE DID SOME MEDIA YESTERDAY AND IT WAS IT WAS FULL BECAUSE IT WAS 78 DEGREES. SPEAKING OF THE RIVERFRONT, ONE OF THE PARK’S BIGGEST SPRING EVENTS IS COMING UP. TELL US ABOUT THAT. YES, TOWARDS OUR TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH, THE EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. EXCELLENT. I LIKE WHAT YOU DID THERE. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE PARK ACTIVATIONS. HAVEN’T BEEN THROUGH IT YET, BUT IT’S GETTING VERY, VERY EXCITING AS OUR AS OUR SCHEDULE STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE AND FORM. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY? THAT’S WHAT. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR. WE’RE HERE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND AND TO GET OTHER VISITORS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO OMAHA. YEAH, SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO. ARE THERE ANY ASPECTS OF YOUR NEW JOB THAT YOU’RE LIKING THE MOST THAT YOU’RE REALLY LIKE, OH, THIS IS THIS IS I’M MEANT TO BE HERE. WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, IT’S THE PEAK FOR ME. AND IT IS THE CULMINATION OF EVERYTHING I’VE DONE IN MY CAREER. SO I’M LOOKING TO JUST TAKE FROM THOSE THOSE EXPERIENCES IN MY LAST 25 YEARS AND BRING THEM TO THIS, THIS GREAT CITY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME TO COME. WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS YOU HAVE? YOU KNOW, JUST AGAIN, JUST EXPOSING WHAT OMAHA HAS TO OFFER FROM A NATIONAL AUDIENCE AND TO, TO GET THEM HERE AND MAKE THEM REALIZE THAT THEY DON’T NEED TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE. THEY CAN HAVE A HOME RIGHT HERE AND BRING THEIR EVENT HERE ANNUALLY. AND LET’S GET IN THAT, IN THAT RHYTHM.
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Spring into family-friendly fun at The RiverFront
MECA’s new CEO says he’s exploring additional ways to entertain the community and attract new visitors
MECA’s new CEO, Adam Straight, says Omaha has large growth potential.That’s why he’s striving to keep locals entertained while attracting national attention.”We’re here to serve our community and get other visitors who have not been exposed to Omaha,” Adam said. He sat down with KETV Newswatch 7’s Quanecia Fraser to talk about his first sixty days at the helm of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority. “My team continues to amaze me every single day,” said Straight. He says that expansion remains a top priority to give Omaha a competitive edge and that he’s excited to explore additional ways to engage the community. And there are plenty of ways metro residents can hop into spring. Happening on March 29, 2026, at Gene Leahy Mall is The RiverFront’s annual Eggcellent Adventure from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.To see more exciting, family-friendly events MECA is throwing this Spring, visit theriverfrontomaha.com.
MECA’s new CEO, Adam Straight, says Omaha has large growth potential.
That’s why he’s striving to keep locals entertained while attracting national attention.
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“We’re here to serve our community and get other visitors who have not been exposed to Omaha,” Adam said.
He sat down with KETV Newswatch 7’s Quanecia Fraser to talk about his first sixty days at the helm of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority.
“My team continues to amaze me every single day,” said Straight.
He says that expansion remains a top priority to give Omaha a competitive edge and that he’s excited to explore additional ways to engage the community.
And there are plenty of ways metro residents can hop into spring.
Happening on March 29, 2026, at Gene Leahy Mall is The RiverFront’s annual Eggcellent Adventure from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
To see more exciting, family-friendly events MECA is throwing this Spring, visit theriverfrontomaha.com.
