CenturyLink Center Omaha - Arena & Convention Center

Located in the NoDo neighborhood of Omaha, the CenturyLink Center is a world-class arena and convention center. The arena hosts a number of sports competitions including World Wrestling Entertainment bouts, basketball and hockey games throughout the year; in 2008, it was the site for the U.S. Summer Olympics Swimming Trials.  The Swim Trials were so successful in Omaha that they were assigned to Omaha again in 2012, 2016, and will return in 2020. The CenturyLink Center is also used as a concert venue and has hosted several A-list performers in its 18,300-seating capacity arena. A number of annual events are held at the convention center, including the yearly shareholders meeting of Berkshire Hathaway.  The CenturyLink Center was first conceptualized in 2000, when Omaha voters approved a $216 million initiative intended to provide initial funding to the project; the remaining funds were obtained from private sources, including CenturyLink, who purchased the right to name the facility. The CenturyLink Center opened in September 2003 for the River City Roundup, an annual agricultural expo and rodeo event. The arena was expanded in 2005 to add seating capacity; the project added another $5.7 million to the total cost of the CenturyLink Center.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks hockey team and the Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball team play their home games at the CenturyLink Center to high-capacity crowds. The 2008 NCAA National Volleyball semifinal game was held in the arena and broke the NCAA volleyball attendance record, set in 2006 at the semifinal match also held in CenturyLink Center. Husker fans appreciate that the National Championship of Women's Volleyball - won by the Huskers - was held at CenturyLink in 2015.

CenturyLink Center comprises 1.1 million square feet of space, incorporating the 18,300-seat arena, 62,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space, and a 194,000 square-foot exhibition hall. The annual shareholders meeting for Berkshire Hathaway is held in the center, as well as numerous other conventions, expositions, and public events, making it one of the busiest convention centers in the country.