History
Designed by Leo A. Daly and built by Kiewit after voter-approved bonds, the auditorium was dedicated in January 1955. Its arena seated about 9,300 for basketball alongside a music hall and exhibit space.
Creighton basketball played there from 1960 to 2003, and the NBA's Kings split home games between Omaha and Kansas City in the early 1970s. The building hosted a Frazier title fight, one of Elvis Presley's final concerts, and the 1988 vice-presidential debate.
Newer arenas drew away its tenants, and the auditorium closed in 2014. It was demolished in 2016 and the site has awaited redevelopment.
Why it matters: It brought NBA basketball to Omaha and was Creighton's home court for over four decades.
Timeline
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Vacant; slated for the mixed-use Civic Square development[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Creighton Bluejays men's basketball | NCAA · 1960–2003 |
|---|---|
| Kansas City-Omaha Kings | NBA · 1972–1975 · secondary |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 1804 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE, Omaha, Nebraska[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | NBA, NCAA |
| Opened | January 2, 1955[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | June 2014[1,2] |
| Demolished | 2016[1,2] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Final capacity | 9,300[1] |
| Capacity notes | Arena: 9,300 for basketball, 10,960 for concerts (Wikipedia). |
| Architect | Leo A. Daly[1,2] |
| Construction cost | About $5 million (Wikipedia estimate) |
| Owner / operator | City of Omaha; operated by MECA |
| Closure | After Ralston Arena opened in 2012, the remaining teams moved and the building lost its regular tenants. |
Documented details
- Elvis Presley performed one of his last concerts here on June 19, 1977.[1]
Sources
- Omaha Civic Auditorium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, teams
- Omaha's Civic Auditorium, Douglas County Historical Society. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: architect, closed, demolished, opened, teams
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Wikipedia's infobox gives 1954 as the opening year and its text mentions a 1951 unveiling; the Douglas County Historical Society gives the January 2, 1955 grand opening used here.
- Wikipedia's infobox lists the Kings 1972-1978; its text and the Historical Society give 1972-1975.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.