Viaero Center

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Viaero Center
Viaero Center logo.png
Viaero Center
Former namesTri-City Arena (2000–2004)
Kearney Event Center (2004–2006)
FirsTier Event Center (2006–2009)
Location609 Platte Road
Kearney, Nebraska, U.S.
Coordinates 40°40′01″N99°05′33″W / 40.667014675858816°N 99.09254376737702°W / 40.667014675858816; -99.09254376737702
OwnerStorm Hockey, LLC
OperatorStorm Hockey, LLC
Capacity 5,000
Construction
Broke ground November 1999
OpenedNovember 18, 2000 [1]
Construction cost$10.5 million
($19.2 million in 2024 dollars [2] )
Tenants
Tri-City Storm (USHL) (2000–present)
Tri-City Diesel (NIFL) (2001–2004)
Nebraska Cranes (USBL) (2005–2006)
Kearney Hawks (MPIF) (2016–2017)

Viaero Center, [3] previously known as the Kearney Event Center and Firstier Event Center, is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Kearney, Nebraska. The arena was announced as the Kearney Arena in 1998, before changing its name to Tri-City Arena upon opening in November 2000. The arena adopted its current name in 2009, after the naming rights were purchased by Viaero Wireless.

Contents

It is home to the 2016 USHL Clark Cup Champions Tri-City Storm ice hockey, and former teams, the Nebraska Cranes basketball and Tri-City Diesel arena football. Seating capacity for hockey, basketball and arena football is 4,047. The arena features 20 luxury suites and also plays host to concerts, trade shows, conventions and other events.

History

In August 1998, plans were announced to build a hockey arena in Kearney, Nebraska. [4] Plans were supercharged by a $3 million investment offer to help build the arena. [5] During development, a dispute between developers and Buffalo County over if the county could have involvement in development began. It was ruled in 1999 that the county can have involvement in the project. [6]

Ground was broken in November 1999 with construction commencing shortly after. [7] By early 2000, the private investment group involved in the project announced their intent to pull out of the project, largely due to the dispute with Buffalo County. [8] The Kearney Arena officially opened on November 18, 2000 as the Tri-City Arena. [9]

The arena lost $2.1 million between 2001 and 2003. By 2004, their contract with the Tri-City Storm came into question, as they were unsure on if the arena would close or not. In 2004, the Tri-City Arena rebranded to the Kearney Event Center. [10] Additionally, two firms, Global Entertainment Corp. and Compass Facility Management Incorporated, would take over as managers for the arena. [11]

In 2009, it was announced that the arena would change its name to Viaero Event Center, after failed negotiations with FirstTierBank and then-owner Kirk Brooks. [12]

Events

Since its inception in 1998, Viaero Center was meant specifically to house sports teams. The 2016 USHL Clark Cup Champions Tri-City Storm have used it as its home arena since their founding in 2000. The arena also housed the former indoor football team, Tri-City Diesel from 2001 to 2004. [13] The arena was also home to the basketball team Nebraska Cranes from 2005 to 2006. [14] Viaero Center is also used to host the annual Freedom Fest. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Dale Miller (November 17, 2000). "Tri-City Arena May Be Worth Wait". The Independent.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Now call it the Viaero Center". Kearney Hub. May 29, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Hockey rena eyed". Kearney Hub. August 26, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Investors offer $3 millio toward hockey arena". Lincoln Journal Star. October 1, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Attorney: County can be involved in Kearney Arena". The Grand Island Independent. April 13, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Chamber leader: Arena will unlock convention potential". Kearney Hub. November 10, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Private group wants out of Kearney arena deal". Lincoln Journal Star. February 8, 2000. p. 19. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Arena an asset that provides new attractions for community". Kearney Hub. November 28, 2000. p. 4. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Kearney Event Center undergoes evolution". Kearney Hub. December 27, 2004. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Iowa, Arizona firms retained to manage Kearney Events Center". The Grand Island Independent. September 5, 2004. p. 13. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Now call it the Viaero Event Center". Kearney Hub. May 29, 2009. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Tri-City Arena loses indoor football team". Telegraph. January 8, 2005. p. 11. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Nebraska Cranes to make debut tonight". The Grand Island Independent. April 21, 2005. p. 17. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  15. ↑ Cobler, Ariana Joy (July 1, 2025). "No volunteers, no festival: Freedom Fest cancelled". KHGI. Retrieved August 20, 2025.

40°39′59″N99°5′32″W / 40.66639°N 99.09222°W / 40.66639; -99.09222


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