Today the Lincoln City Council meets to decide whether the citizens of Lincoln will have the ability to decide whether or not to support the construction of a West Haymarket Arena. This arena would be the new home of Husker Basketball, both men's and women's, and would replace the cramped Pershing Center as an entertainment and sports venue.
The Daily Nebraskan supports Mayor Chris Beutler's plans for the arena and hopes the Lincoln City Council will respect the ability of Lincoln's citizens to decide the matter for themselves. This development, so close to City Campus, would bring additional entertainment options and jobs (many of which will no doubt go to college students) to the Haymarket.
Councilman John Spatz told the Lincoln Journal Star he believes the council will approve the addition of the West Haymarket Arena to the May 11 ballot. The initiative asks taxpayers to help raise about $10 million a year toward the $344 million price tag — about $168 million for the arena itself and the remainder for the surrounding bridges, streets, parking lots and the relocation of rail lines.
This development would be paid for by a two percent increase on restaurant and bar tabs and a four percent increase on hotel stays and car rentals. In the case of the latter, most of these costs would be borne by out-of-towners.
The Nebraska Restaurant Association is concerned about the planning increase in taxes, especially since restaurants and bars already pay seven percent, but supports the development anyway, considering the crowds (and their wallets) it will bring to Downtown. In addition to the area, private developers plan restaurants, shops and a hotel and convention center around a public plaza.
Councilman Jon Camp, a self-reported undecided vote, owns eight buildings in the Haymarket next to the proposed arena site. We encourage Councilman Camp to abstain from the vote as he has done on other Haymarket development projects, but we hope the rest of the council will support the inclusion of the arena on the May ballot.
In addition, the council is also being asked to approve the creation of a joint agency between the City of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to ensure the men's and women's basketball will be coming to the new arena, a much needed tenant. Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne has expressed the intention to proceed with renovations to the aging Bob Devaney Sports Center if the arena issue is not put on the May ballot.
Although many of us may not be here to enjoy the arena as students, we are sure to take pride in what we helped accomplish as alumni. We hope the City Council and the residents of Lincoln will help make this a reality.
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