Lincoln Haymarket Arena to Appear on May Ballot

A vote on the Lincoln Haymarket Arena is slated to be part of the State Primary Election ballot on May 11, 2010.

According to an economic analysis conducted in May 2009, the project will create over 2,500 full-time jobs each year of construction, in occupations that will design and build the arena and surrounding development.

In the future, the Lincoln Haymarket Arena project will add more than 1,000 permanent jobs at the arena and in the surrounding retail, commercial and residential area.

The project as proposed has been developed through an extensive process of community engagement, study and taskforce research.

If approved by the voters in May, a new development in the area west of the current Haymarket will become home to:
• 16,000 seat arena (w/ UN-L basketball as the anchor tenant)
• Breslow Ice Center
• 200-room Hotel
• New places to eat and shop: 100,000 sq ft retail, 100,000 sq ft office
• 100 apartments and condos
• Public Gathering Space
• Festival Space
• Parking and infrastructure for all of the above

The Lincoln Haymarket Arena, together with the ice center, recreation fields, hotel, new shops, restaurants, and other development, will bring in new events and will generate more than $260 million of economic activity in our community each year.

As proposed, the Lincoln Haymarket Arena will be built without increasing property taxes. Instead, a majority of the revenues needed for the project will be provided through a unique public-private partnership that leverages private donations, investment and taxes on non-Lincoln residents.