Every major downtown area in the United States needs a good soccer stadium as a gathering place for footy fans in our opinion. A new $60 million Omaha soccer stadium will now provide Nebraska with one of its own.
USL 1 club Union Omaha only came into existence five years ago and began playing in 2020. In a few short years the Owls have achieved major landmarks and have revealed plans for a state-of-the-art 7,000-seater stadium.
Omaha soccer stadium
️ Today, the Club announces plans for a 7,000-seat downtown stadium at Abbott Drive near the Missouri riverfront.
Home to our men's and future women's teams, the development will also include retail, lodging & outdoor entertainment.https://t.co/S5AgGuoKjz#OneMeansAll pic.twitter.com/BeiwPPluFm
— Union Omaha (@Union_Omaha) January 25, 2024
Omaha is getting a $60 million downtown stadium for Nebraska's only pro soccer team — USL1 club Union Omaha ️
• 7,000 seats
• 330 residential units
• 100,000 sq. ft. of retail
• Part of a $300M, 18-acre projectIt's set to open Spring 2026. pic.twitter.com/MNffOfSJ8b
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 25, 2024
Construction on the stadium will begin this year with the project aimed to be completed in spring 2026. The new home of Union Omaha soccer will be just a five-minute drive from downtown and down the street from the airport.
Around the stadium will be 330 residential units consisting of apartments and townhomes, a 100,000 square foot retail space and a 140-key hotel.
This project is part of a larger $300 million, 18-acre mixed-use project in the area and the soccer stadium is the main attraction.
Union Omaha have big ambitions with their new stadium including plans of a professional women’s team.
“This project will move professional soccer forward in Omaha and across the state,” Union Omaha president Martie Cordaro said in a statement. “We anticipate 150 to 200 events a year will take place in the district including 20+ Union Omaha pro soccer matches, 15+ women’s team soccer matches, 20+ high school/college soccer matches, and 100+ community events for everyone to enjoy.”
There are also hopes of hosting international games at the stadium in the future.
Union Omaha currently play games at the same stadium used by the city’s Triple-A baseball team.
In just four seasons Union Omaha have been crowned 2021 USL League One champions, finished first in the 2023 regular season and made a deep run in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.
Union Omaha’s run to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup in 2022 is fondly remembered as the Owls defeated MLS sides Chicago Fire and Minnesota United.