The End Is Near For The Civic Auditorium

Demolition started Aug. 17 with the razing of the Music Hall.

My earliest memories of the Omaha Civic Auditorium came from Creighton University men's basketball games. Parking in the adjacent covered garage, walking up the wide ramps, seeing the sun shine in during Saturday afternoon games, the "Fanta" advertisements on the concession stands – all fond memories of my childhood.

The arena seated up to 9,300 people for sporting events and up to 10,960 for concerts. The arena was home to the Creighton men's basketball. women's basketball and volleyball. The University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team sold out every game it played there and even the Kansas City-Omaha Kings NBA basketball team called it home for at least one season. The Omaha Beef indoor football team played its games there from 1999 to 2012. I even remember covering the Big Eight volleyball tournament there for the Lincoln Journal Star.

Now, the once venerable arena is coming down.

Construction of the Civic Auditorium began in 1953. (Photo courtesy of KETV.)

It has stood empty since June of 2014.

For the first eight seasons of the Omaha Beef, I was the team's lead statistician.

Creighton volleyball games were played there, along with Bluejay men's and women's basketball.

Most of the large Omaha high schools conducted graduations there.

What the auditorium looked like shortly before property was put up for auction.