Over time, it was becoming clear that the UNO men's basketball program wouldn't be moving downtown to the Civic Auditorium this season.

While the Mavericks are staying on campus at the Sapp Fieldhouse for 2011-12, their future home, beginning in 2012-13, will be the Ralston Sports and Event Center — not the Civic.

"It's a great fit for us," UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts said. "We're a transitioning Division I program. There are a lot of factors involved, and some of the financial parameters are very important. Having a brand new facility to recruit student-athletes to puts us in position to compete well in the Summit League and it gives our fans, our students and our student-athletes the chance to have an experience they've never had before."

Alberts said UNO signed a letter-of-intent with the city to play for five seasons at the $32 million arena that is set to open in fall 2012. He said UNO also has two three-year options, which could put the Mavs near 72nd and Q Streets — about five miles from campus — for up to 11 years.

Alberts declined to divulge the rental fee. He said it will be based on benchmarks, including attendance. He said playing in Ralston's 4,000-seat arena was more economical than moving to the 9,000-seat Civic, which was the program's stated goal when it announced its move from Division II to Division I in March.

"There are strong arguments in a number of ways, but the financial realities of a potential lease at the Civic were not plausible," Alberts said.

A state-of-the-art facility, closer to midtown (though slightly farther from campus than the Civic) is expected to attract fans and recruits alike, UNO coach Derrin Hansen said.

"There aren't many times when teams make a transition like ours that they can get a brand-new, permanent home with the amenities and parking it will have for the fans and a first-class experience for the student-athletes," Hansen said. "It's going to be great to show our recruits brand-new facilities. You always hear about the facilities war in Division I athletics. Well, for our level of Division I, I like where this places us."

Sapp Fieldhouse, built in 1949, will continue to be home to UNO women's basketball and volleyball, Alberts said. One frequent complaint about the on-campus facility, which seats about 3,000, is that it is difficult to find available parking — particularly on weeknights when school is in session.

Parking for all events at the Ralston arena is expected to be free. The arena's primary tenant is the Omaha Lancers hockey team. The arena is expected to have 12 suites. Scheduling conflicts with the Lancers are expected only on certain Saturdays, in which case UNO would play in the afternoon and the Lancers at night, Alberts said.

"We are pleased and excited to be a partner with the University of Nebraska Omaha," said Ralston Mayor Donald Groesser in a press release. "UNO Division I basketball played at the Ralston Arena will provide fans with an exciting basketball experience in a first-class environment."

Since the arena is still being built, Alberts said UNO will be able to have some input in incorporating some elements.

"It's not that we're moving into a finished arena and then having to retro-fit it," he said.

Part of UNO's plan to make the move to Division I viable was to place an emphasis on men's basketball as a potential second source of revenue in addition to hockey.

The men's basketball program will continue to headquarter at the field house and will use the new arena for competition only. The team will have its first full Summit League schedule in 2012-13.

Alberts wouldn't say how the long-speculated on-campus hockey arena — which theoretically could be used by the basketball and volleyball programs — is affected by the move to Ralston.

"We'll have a clearer picture on what we hope for the rest of the program soon," he said.

There are no plans to move the hockey team to Ralston for games or practices, he said.

"We're pleased to be playing hockey in the CenturyLink Center, and we continue to get commitments from some of the most well-thought of commitments in the country," Alberts said. "One of our selling points is the CenturyLink Center, and we're going to continue to build and grow our brand. If Wisconsin (crowds of more than 15,000 and 10,000 for games with the Badgers last season) is what's out there, then we're looking forward to continuing to partner with MECA and play there."

Contact the writer:

402-444-1201, sports@owh.com

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