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Union Omaha
12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, NE 68046
www.unionomaha.com
Facebook: unionOMA Twitter: Union_Omaha Instagram: Union_Omaha YouTube: Union Omaha
Martie Cordaro
President
martiec@omahastormchasers.com
+1 (402) 734-2550
Yes
Mark McCullers, Principal, McCullers Sports Group; Randy Swanson, Project Director, Legends; Joe Kohout, Kissel -Kohout- ES Associates; Emiliano Lerda, President, PGSA
Attached
Union Omaha History In its inaugural season in 2020, Union Omaha announced itself to the rest of USL League One not just by leading the league in attendance, but by finishing the season as a league finalist. Union Omaha then followed up on its stellar organizational performance by repeating its performance in attendance and finishing as League One champions in 2021. By demonstrating strength on the field and in the stands, Union Omaha has already made itself known as a strong organization deserving of the support of its community. “One Means All” The team motto promotes diversity and inclusion on the field, in the grandstands, and in the community.
Omaha Multi-Use Stadium Grant Request
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Capital project
The proposed funds would be used to fund part of the construction costs associated with a 7,000-seat, multi-use, rectangular stadium. The stadium would anchor a mixed-use development. The 2021 USL League One Champions, Union Omaha, will be the primary tenant at the stadium. In addition to Union Omaha, the stadium would host concerts, festivals, community events, high-school sports, collegiate sports, U.S. Open Cup games and international friendly matches. Our projections expect around 160 events annually in the stadium, at stabilization. This project will be transformative for the City of Omaha and the State of Nebraska. In addition to the construction jobs from the project, we would anticipate an influx of jobs to support the operations of the stadium. We intend to deploy as many North and South Omaha contractors in the construction process. The stadium will accelerate and drive traffic to the retail and hospitality offerings. The first phase of the development will be over $150 million in private investment including a hotel, retail, and multi-family residential. The second phase will bring total private investment over $300 million. The funding plan for the Stadium calls for contributions from the Sports Facility Financing Assistance Act, the formation of an Enhanced Employment Area district, TIF Funding, assistance from the City Capital Improvements Program, funding from other State grants, philanthropic dollars, and private dollars from Union Omaha. The stadium is planned to open in the Spring of 2025. To meet this deadline, construction needs to begin in January of 2024. Design is expected to be complete in May of 2023, with infrastructure and site preparation following immediately thereafter. Project funding needs to be secured and finalized by the end of June 2023. The planned development would occur South of Seward Street, North of Cuming Street, and East of 16th Street. The Stadium is proposed to go into the NE corner of the development.
Targeted Opening Date – Spring 2025 Construction – Jan 2024 – Opening Infrastructure Construction- June 2023- Jan 2024 Design- Oct 2022- Sep 2023 Final Funding Approval – June 2023 Timeline also attached
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Fundamental Change (i.e., a proposal that will continue to elevate North or South Omaha's presence and perception within the region, significantly improving the lives of area residents through physical development) Long-Lasting Economic Growth (i.e., a proposal that will foster gainful employment opportunities and financial investment in the area, leading to the creation of generational wealth and widespread economic vitality in North and South Omaha) Transformational (i.e., a proposal that will help energize, recharge, or spur significant and favorable advancements in North or South Omaha's function or appearance)
Other Infrastructure (i.e., develop or improve broadband, business districts, roadways, sewer, etc.) Quality of Life (i.e., create or enhance natural spaces, mixed uses, parks, safety, etc.) Sustainable Community (i.e., create or enhance housing, services, education, civic uses, recreation, etc.)
Sustainable Community – The stadium will be a resource to host community and civic events. The team and other stadium uses will positively contribute to recreation for all residents. Other Infrastructure – The creation of the Stadium and Millwork Commons development will prime the entire area for further reinvestment and create a new destination for the residents of Omaha. Quality of Life – This Stadium will improve the quality of life for the residents of Omaha. The stadium will attract many concerts, events, and other entertainment offerings to the area. As well as providing adequate infrastructure to a championship contender.
This project is in alignment with the vision workshop findings. This project will increase the infrastructure in the community and incentivize further development and infrastructure improvements. This stadium asset will also serve a diverse and multi-cultural segment of the population and become a community living room for all resident of Greater Omaha.
This project will help provide incentive, development, and opportunity to a community that was disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This project will increase the quality of life, address infrastructure needs, and create many employment opportunities for the community.
Total Impact over 32 years is projected at 420 jobs and $429 million in economic impact All numbers come from a market feasibility/ economic impact report from Convention, Sports, and Leisure commissioned in 2021
195 FTE jobs from ongoing stadium operations, paying total wages of $7.2 million -annually
225 Construction Jobs, paying total wages of $22.7 Million
Total Wages given in each category.
We will make it a priority to engage small businesses from North and South Omaha in the design process by choosing an architecture firm that is committed to working with construction firms that have a demonstrated track record and institutional capacity.
This project will be transformational for the Millwork Commons neighborhood. This Stadium will drive foot traffic and sports tourism to the area – creating jobs and incentivize private investment. The presence of a professional sports franchise, increased entertainment offerings, and additional recreation space will increase the qualify of life in the area. The benefits of this project will go far beyond just the immediate community. This level of infrastructure and investment in professional sports will aid and increase efforts to attract and retain young professionals.
Sustainable Community – The stadium will be a resource to host community and civic events. The team and other stadium uses will positively contribute to recreation for all residents.
Sports anchored Mixed-use developments are being built all around the United States. This project will allow Omaha to have a sports-anchored district to attract national and international tourism.
This Stadium will be a catalytic asset. As previously mentioned, initially the stadium will anchor $150 million in private real estate development which is expected to grow to $300 million at full build out. We would expect even more investment to follow to the area after the anchor asset in online. $150 million Phase I will include 350 apartment units, a hotel, retail, and land development.
This outcome could be measured by economic development professionals in Omaha.
Yes, the planned mixed-use development will include private investment of $150 million in phase 1 and a total of $300 million in private investment at the completion of phase 2
Yes
Future Forward
No MOU is in place now, but the organization is working to come to terms on a MOU
Yes
Future Forward will need to be temporarily relocated but they will be offered affordable space in the accompanying development.
11th and Millwork Ave. Site Diagram attached.
Adjacent to one or more QCTs
We are working towards an LOI to acquire the required land from Union Pacific, this process is ongoing. A land acquisition diagram is also attached. The site is not a brownfield.
No
No
Yes
No
No
Cost Estimating was completed by Randy Swanson from Legends.
No
The total project cost is $100 million. We see $50 million in funding coming from LB1024 as part of the Public-Private Partnership required to get this Stadium project completed.
LB1024’s Grant funding will be used to pay hard construction costs and other costs associated with the construction of the Stadium, including softs costs and land acquisition.
Yes
If awarded funding, the project would be fiscally sustainable. Union Omaha will operate the stadium and cover the cost of operations. Furthermore, our budget has built-in soft costs, a project contingency, and escalation to protect from cost overruns. The 1024 grant funding will be part of an overall funding plan to pay for the construction of the Stadium. After the initial investment, Union Omaha will operate the stadium and cover the costs of operations. Part of the operations plan calls for Union Omaha to create a capital expenditures fund that is paid into each year to help cover the cost of future maintenance.
Our proposed capital stack includes funding from the City of Omaha from EEA turnback. The proposed project also accounts for funding from the City Capital Improvement Program. The proposal also calls for turnback through the State’s Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act. Lastly, we are exploring the possibilities of a one-time grant from the State’s cash reserve fund.
State, SAFFAA Turnback, Pending, June 2023 State, Cash Reserve Drawdown, Pending, June 2023 City, Creation of EEA District, Pending, March 2023 City, CIP, Pending March 2023
This proposal will not be able to continue without the turnback from the EEA District or the turnback through the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act.
This proposal is not scalable. The stadium needs to be completed to design to ensure the greatest economic impact for the community.
The team will lease the stadium and pay an annual rent to play in the stadium. These rent payments will be bonded against and will contribute roughly $6,000,000 to the capital stack.
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Additional Location Documents (see application for list) Data table of uses (breakdown of how the requested funds will be used for your proposal) Organizational Chart Plans and detailed descriptions, including pictures and a map of the site location/surrounding area Proposal Budget/Sources and Uses Schedule