Nebraska was only sparsely settled until the California Gold Rush sent people scrambling west in 1849. Most would-be miners passed through the state, intent on seeking riches, but many pioneers saw potential in the territory and decided to call it home. Lincoln became the capital of the newly founded state in 1867.
Like the ’49ers of yesteryear, planners have often passed Lincoln over for glitzier destinations. Gold is thin on the ground these days, and with event budgets tighter than ever, the affordable "Star City" is beginning to look like the mother lode.
At one time, meeting planners often would say that they were only interested in resort cities," says Derek Feyerherm, director of sales at the Lincoln CVB. "In the past couple years, as the United States has seen drastic fluctuations in the economy, meeting planners are more open to the idea of using a smaller city for their events."
With cost now a huge factor, he says Lincoln offers affordability along with all the amenities and venues planners expect.
"This has given our city an opportunity to show off what we have to offer, and we believe that even with the economy rebounding, meeting planners will continue to look for affordable options versus expensive
destinations," Feyerherm says.
The city is certainly getting more attention from meeting planners. Combine value with promising growth, and Lincoln presents a highly competitive package for conventions.
"Lincoln is moving in the right direction, and meeting planners are taking note," Feyerherm says. "Hotels with meeting space are continually being built in our city, and our community recently voted to construct a new arena in our historic Haymarket District."
The $344 million West Haymarket Development will also include hotel, retail and commercial projects as well as an ice rink and festival venues.
Rich in Space
In one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, the handsome brick warehouses of the Haymarket District reflect the booming prosperity of Lincoln in the 1880s. Now a hip entertainment destination, the Haymarket, designated one of 10 "Great Neighborhoods" by the American Planning Association in 2009, is home to dozens of art galleries, cafes, restaurants and bars. The addition of an arena with meeting space is sure to intrigue planners keen to mix business and pleasure all within a short walk for attendees.
The restored Rococo Theater, built in 1929, is available for gatherings of more than 1,000.
Green Gateau Reception Centre brings an Old World flair to Haymarket gatherings. Built in 1890 as a livery stable, the space is restored in an English equestrian style and can welcome 280 guests.
At the western edge of the Haymarket, Lincoln Station train depot lends a historic spirit to gatherings as large as 425. Built in 1927, the train depot is graced with marble floors and 19-foot-high ceilings.
The new Haymarket development will be years in the making, but meanwhile Lincoln is seeing steady hotel growth. The most recent development is a new full-service Holiday Inn property located in south Lincoln. Holiday Inn Lincoln Southwest, set to open this summer, will bring 91 guest rooms, a restaurant and meeting space for 300 into an area of the city previously served only by limited-service hotels.
Nearby, Champions Fun Center welcomes groups as large as 200 for bowling, miniature golf and go-karts. An outdoor pavilion can host as many as 1,500.
In the northeast section of town, Lancaster Event Center is the city’s largest convention venue, with 405,000 square feet of meeting space. The facility is located near the city-owned Mahoney Golf Course, making it convenient for a round or two during breaks.
Adjacent to Haymarket is the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), an important resource for planners, especially of sports events and tournaments. Facilities available for rent at the university include Lied Center for Performing Arts, with a 2,210-seat theater and an auditorium; the 85,500-seat Memorial Stadium; Wick Alumni Center, which can host 300; and the Nebraska Champions Club, which can welcome 650. In addition, UNL is home to several attractions that can double as interesting off-site locations. These include Sheldon Museum of Art, the International Quilt Study Center & Museum and University of Nebraska State Museum.
Among the large-scale events being held at UNL this summer is the Special Olympics 2010 USA National Games. Competitions will take place in university sports facilities and at local high schools and golf courses. The games are expected to draw 3,000 athletes and 30,000 spectators, and the number of volunteers signed up to help with the event has exceeded expectations.
Downtown Lincoln offers 780 hotel rooms at properties such as The Cornhusker Marriott, with 46,000 square feet of meeting space; the recently renovated Holiday Inn Lincoln-Downtown, with 15,000 square feet of function space; and Embassy Suites, with 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
Off-site choices in the area are plentiful. Pershing Center has 45,000 square feet of exhibition space. Haymarket Park baseball field can seat 4,500 and offers 16 luxury private suites. The area is also home to several museums, including Great Plains Art Museum, Lincoln Children’s Museum and the Museum of Nebraska History.
Also located downtown, the Grand Manse provides elegant meeting space in a turn-of-the-previous-century former federal courthouse. The Great Hall can accommodate 200 beneath 24-foot ceilings and surrounded by oak walls, ornate crown molding and stunning murals. The erstwhile judge’s bench is now a full-service bar.
South of downtown, Courtside Banquet Hall offers 10,000 square feet of event space.
Lincoln Airport is located just four miles from downtown, making transportation quick and easy. Served by Delta and United, the airport offers daily connections to Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver.
Rich in Activities
It’s not unusual for a midsize city to have an art museum, a local history museum or a zoo. However, Lincoln has accumulated a collection of off-the-wall attractions you won’t find anywhere else. This is not to say that Sheldon Museum of Art doesn’t have its share of Andy Warhols and Georgia O’Keeffes, or that the red panda and Amur leopard at Lincoln Children’s Zoo fail to delight, simply that the unique museums of Lincoln are a little off the beaten path.
"There are few cities you can visit that have museums dedicated to telephones, roller skating, tractors, red wing pottery, quilts and the immigration of Germans from Russia just to name a few," Feyerherm says. "The Museum of American Speed, featuring the world’s largest collection of antique racing engines, is a one-of-a-kind collection, with a few surprises thrown in as well. There truly is something for everyone in Lincoln."
Golfers won’t go greenless in Lincoln, and many local courses offer meeting space to boot. The highly rated Wilderness Ridge Golf Course & Restaurant offers event space for groups as large as 230. The 27-hole HiMark Golf Course in southeast Lincoln can welcome gatherings as large as 400. Quarry Oaks in nearby Ashland has a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse available for events.
Groups can also wet their whistles at any of eight nearby wineries that form the Southeast Nebraska Wine Trail. Collectively, these vintners produce more than 100 wines, many of which are award-winning. James Arthur Vineyards, just 10 miles away in Raymond, is one of the largest wineries in the state. Groups of 20 or more can book meeting rooms for events.
September through November, groups can hit the gridiron with UNL’s mighty Cornhuskers. One of the winningest college football teams in the country, the Huskers inspire an enthusiastic fan base that fills Memorial Stadium with a "sea of red" for every home game and makes it a treat to attend.
Kelly Crumrin is a frequent contributor to Meetings MidAmerica.
