Ak-Sar-Ben (arena)
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The Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track and Coliseum was an indoor arena and horse racing complex in the central United States, located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Quick Facts Address, Location ...
Address | 6800 Mercy Road |
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Location | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
Coordinates | 41.240°N 96.013°W / 41.240; -96.013 |
Owner | Ak-Sar-Ben Future Trust Douglas County |
Capacity | 11,500 (Grandstand) 7,200 (Coliseum) |
Construction | |
Opened | July 6, 1919 (1919-07-06) (Race track) June 9, 1929 (1929-06-09) (Coliseum) |
Renovated | 1921, 1938, 1965, 1986 |
Expanded | 1928, 1975 |
Closed | August 8, 1995 (1995-08-08) (Race track) September 2002 (2002-09) (Coliseum) |
Demolished | October 8, 2004 (2004-10-08) |
Construction cost | $1 million ($17.6 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
Tenants | |
Omaha Knights (USHL) (1945–1951) Omaha Knights (IHL/CHL) (1959–65, 1966–75) Omaha Racers (CBA) (1989–1997) Omaha Lancers (USHL) (1990–2002) |
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Built to fund the civic and philanthropic activities of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, the thoroughbred race track was built in 1919,[2] and the Coliseum in 1929. The racetrack closed in 1995 and the arena in 2002; the facility was demolished in 2005, and is currently being redeveloped for a variety of uses, including dormitory housing for the University of Nebraska Omaha and the Aksarben Village development.
Ak-Sar-Ben is "Nebraska" spelled backwards; the Knights originally said they were turning Nebraska around, thus "Ak-Sar-Ben."