Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack
| Location | 6800 Mercy Road Omaha, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Owner |
Ak-Sar-Ben Future Trust Douglas County |
| Capacity | 11,500 (Grandstand) 7,200 (Coliseum) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | July 6, 1919 (Race track) June 9, 1929 (Coliseum) |
| Renovated | 1921, 1938, 1965, 1986 |
| Expanded | 1928, 1975 |
| Closed | August 8, 1995 (Race track) September 2002 (Coliseum) |
| Demolished | October 8, 2004 |
| Construction cost |
$1 million ($13.8 million in 2016 dollars) |
| Tenants | |
| Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Youth Exposition (1927–2002) Ak-Sar-Ben Rodeo (1947–2002) Omaha Knights (IHL/CHL) (1959–1975) Omaha Lancers (USHL) (1986–2002) Omaha Racers (CBA) (1989–1997) |
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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.
Built to fund the civic and philanthropic activities of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, the thoroughbred race track was built 98 years ago in 1919, 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."
Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum was the premiere ice rink and concert arena in Omaha for more than 70 years. Popular acts ranging from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley to Nirvana all performed to sold-out crowds. It was also home to the Omaha Knights, a minor league hockey team from 1959–75. The Knights began operations in 1959 in the IHL, and later moved to the now-defunct CHL, with teams affiliated with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and both the Calgary and Atlanta Flames. The arena hosted the USHL's Omaha Lancers for its final dozen years and the Omaha Racers basketball of the CBA from 1989–97. The Coliseum also hosted world-class boxing, was a major stop on the PBR and attracted many popular comedians.
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