Men's Basketball To Have New Venue in 2012-13
Sep 20, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Arena Web Site
OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Nebraska Omaha announced today that its men's basketball team will play its home games at the new Ralston Sports and Event Center beginning with the 2012-13 season. The arena is currently under construction and is expected to open in the fall of 2012.
“This is great news for our men's basketball program as it continues its reclassification to Division I,” said Trev Alberts, UNO's Director of Athletics. “The new Ralston arena will provide the team with a first-class, state-of-the-art venue in which to play and will offer our fans outstanding amenities and great convenience just south of our campus.
“We're looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership with the city of Ralston.”
For the 2011-12 season, the men will continue to play their home games at venerable Sapp Fieldhouse on the UNO campus. The building, which also houses the offices of the UNO athletic department, has served as the home of UNO basketball since it opened in 1949.
“I think the new Ralston arena is going to provide our team with the kind of home court advantage we currently enjoy at Sapp Fieldhouse,” said Derrin Hansen, head men's basketball coach. “It also will be a great recruiting tool as we continue to bring in the kinds of players who will help us be successful at the Division I level.”
When completed, the new Ralston arena will seat approximately 4,000 for basketball, offer 12 suites and boast a total of 95,000 square feet of event and function space. Parking for all events at the arena will be free. For more information on the arena, visit www.ralstonarena.com.
“We are pleased and excited to be a partner with the University of Nebraska Omaha,” said Donald Groesser, Ralston Mayor. “UNO Division I basketball played at the Ralston Arena will provide fans with an exciting basketball experience in a first-class environment.
“As construction continues on the Ralston facility we look forward to additional exciting event announcements,” said Groesser. Earlier in the year, Lancers Hockey announced that it will move to the Ralston Arena & Entertainment Complex.
As part of the move, UNO will offer new ticket packages for current and new season ticket holders in the coming weeks.
The Mavericks are scheduled to begin the 2011-12 season on Saturday, Nov. 12 when they visit Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne. The complete men's schedule will be released soon. Fans should check OMavs.com for the latest information.
