Ak-Sar-Ben (arena)

Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track
and Coliseum
Aerial view of the facility in 1993
Map
Omaha is located in the United States
Omaha
Omaha
Location in the United States
Omaha is located in Nebraska
Omaha
Omaha
Location in Nebraska
Address6800 Mercy Road
LocationOmaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Coordinates41°14′24″N 96°00′47″W / 41.240°N 96.013°W / 41.240; -96.013
OwnerAk-Sar-Ben Future Trust
Douglas County
Capacity11,500 (Grandstand)
  7,200 (Coliseum)
Construction
OpenedJuly 6, 1919 (1919-07-06) (Race track)
June 9, 1929 (1929-06-09) (Coliseum)
Renovated1921, 1938, 1965, 1986
Expanded1928, 1975
ClosedAugust 8, 1995 (1995-08-08) (Race track)
September 2002 (2002-09) (Coliseum)
DemolishedOctober 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)

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 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."

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track and Coliseum". HistoricOmaha.com. Retrieved November 5, 2013.