Archive for the ‘Olympic Swim Trials’ Category

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U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming Will Return to Omaha in 2016

Monday, April 29th, 2013

USA Swimming, in collaboration with the United States Olympic Committee, announced Saturday that Omaha, Neb., has been selected as the host city for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming.

The 2016 Olympic Trials ranks as the biggest swimming event in the country and will select the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Team, which will represent Team USA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The competition will take place at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and that dates will soon become available on www.usaswimming.org/trials.

For the first time, the host city selection was announced via a live webcast from the USA Swimming Board of Directors Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. The USA Swimming Board approved the selection of Omaha as host city today prior to the live announcement.

“We are thrilled to bring Olympic Trials back to Omaha in 2016,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming executive director. “The Olympic Trials is a spectacular event, offering a great experience for our athletes, fans, families and coaches. Trials is our sport’s signature event and in announcing Omaha as the 2016 host city today, we are lighting the fuse for literally hundreds of thousands of young swimmers who will be setting their sights on qualifying to participate in the greatest swimming event in the country.”

The 2016 bid city evaluation period opened in January 2013 and included site visits to six finalist locations. An internal evaluation team from USA Swimming, along with a member of the USA Swimming board, visited each location and selected finalists from the group. Three finalist cities were announced at the end of March and included Omaha, Nebraska, St. Louis, Missouri and San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to reviewing the bids and making site visits, this team asked follow-up questions of each city and evaluated all information and responses before ultimately making a recommendation to Wielgus, the USA Swimming Board of Directors and the USOC.

“On behalf of the Omaha Sports Commission, the citizens and corporations of Omaha, I wish to thank USA Swimming and the USOC for having the confidence in our abilities to deliver the goods for a third consecutive Trials,” said Harold Cliff, president of the Omaha Sports Commission. We are ecstatic for the opportunity to host the world’s best swimmers in their quest to represent Team USA in Rio 2016.”

Two temporary 50-meter pools for Trials will be installed by Myrtha Pools in the CentruryLink Center Omaha, the state-of-the-art, 17,000-seat sports and entertainment venue in downtown Omaha. The convention center will once again serve as the home for the award-winning, 100,000 square-foot USA Swimming Aqua Zone, a sponsor and fan experience area.

USA Swimming is coming off a year in which it saw its most successful Trials event in history. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, held in Omaha, Neb., saw over 164,000 fans in attendance and the eight days of competition were broadcast LIVE on NBC television every night.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming was also nominated in the category of “Sports Event of the Year” for the illustrious Sports Business Awards. Olympic Trials is in the company of three other major sporting events, including the Ryder Cup, the Stanley Cup Finals and the United States Grand Prix. The winner will be announced next month.

Since 2004, USA Swimming has consistently expanded the reach of the Olympic Trials. Attendance numbers have soared; and the Aqua Zone, a fan and sponsor experience area, has grown to bring swimming to a wider audience.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for all sports is a collaborative, three-way partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee, the National Governing Bodies and the local organizing committee

Posted in Century Link Center, Events, Olympic Swim Trials, Omaha Sports Commission, Swimming, USA Swimming | No Comments »

MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION PEOPLE ATTEND RECENT OMAHA SPORTS COMMISSION EVENTS

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

The three major sports events hosted by the Omaha Sports Commission (OSC) over the past eight months are paying dividends to the city and state. Omaha Sports Commission President Harold Cliff said the three events – the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming, 2013 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships and Mutual of Omaha’s Battles on Ice – provided unique sporting opportunities while showcasing Omaha on the national stage.

“Attendance for these three events totaled 271,368 and generated a combined estimated economic impact of more than $50 million,” Cliff said. “Just as important was the national exposure the events provided Omaha and the State of Nebraska. The Olympic Swim Trials and U.S. Figure Skating Championships had 16 hours of live or taped coverage on NBC, while dozens of national newspapers carried stories.”

  • The Olympic Swim Trials, held June 25 to July 2, 2012, drew 167,048 fans and generated an estimated economic impact of more than $30 million. NBC broadcast the Trials live for eight straight nights, while a national cable channel aired coverage during the day. More than 250 media were credentialed for the Trials.
  • The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held January 20 to 27, 2013, drew 90,760 fans and generated an estimated economic impact of nearly $20 million. NBC aired eight hours of live or tape-delayed coverage of the weekend championships. More than 120 media were credentialed for the championships.
  • Mutual of Omaha’s Battles on Ice on February 9, 2013, drew 13,560 fans and had several million dollars of estimated impact as large number of North Dakota and Lincoln fans attended the event. It was the first USHL hockey game ever played outdoors, and one of the only outdoor college hockey games played this season.

Omaha Sports Commission Board Chair Lisa Roskens said OSC has more events planned for 2013.

“We are very proud of the significant contributions these three events have made to our community and state, and our efforts will continue,” Roskens said. “Later this month we’ll host the Short Track Speedskating Championships and our goal is to provide people a wide variety of sports championships throughout the year.”

Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority President and CEO Roger Dixon said Omaha has become known as one of America’s great amateur sports communities.

“It all started with the NCAA Men’s College World Series, but in the past 10 years we have taken sports championships to a new level,” Dixon said. The results once again demonstrate the wisdom of community leaders and the public to build CenturyLink Center Omaha, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, and create the Omaha Sports Commission. We have the organization and facilities to compete on a national scale for major sporting championships.”

Robert Watson, general manager of Hilton Omaha, and Joe Gudenrath, executive director of the Downtown Improvement District, said OSC events were a tremendous boost to the local economy, especially downtown businesses.

“Hilton Omaha experienced outstanding business from Omaha Sports Commission events, as have many other area hotels,” Watson said. “The two events in 2013 were held during a traditionally slow time for our industry, so the activity was greatly appreciated.”

“Restaurants, retail stores and attractions benefitted from OSC events the past eight months,” Gudenrath said. “Few cities in the country can attract thousands of fans to sports such as swimming and figure skating, but people consistently support these events.”

Posted in Century Link Center, Figure Skating, Hockey, Mutual of Omaha, Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice, Olympic Swim Trials, Omaha Lancers, Omaha Sports Commission, Swimming, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, U.S. Figure Skating, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA Swimming | No Comments »

2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Nominated for a SportsTravel Award

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Omaha is pleased to announce that the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament have been nominated by the readers of SportsTravel magazine for the 2012 Sports Travel Award. Events are nominated by the readers of SportsTravel, the sports world’s event magazine. Criteria for nomination and voting include superior organization of and attendance at the events, a superior experience for the competitors and/or spectators at the events, and how the site or venue served to enhance the events. Final balloting is open through August 15, 2012. Winners will be announced at the TEAMS ’12 Conference & Expo, October 1-4, 2012, in Detroit.

Official ballots are available in the July and August issues of SportsTravel magazine. Readers may also find more information and vote online at http://www.SportsTravelMagazine.com. The ballot includes nominees in amateur, collegiate and professional categories. Awards in those three categories will be given for best single-sport event, best multi-sport or multi-discipline event, and best sports event series or circuit. Voters will also pick the best new sports event and an overall Sports Event of the Year from among the nominated events.

The TEAMS ’12 Conference and Expo is the world’s largest annual gathering for the sports event and sports-related travel industry. For further information or to register, visit http://www.TEAMSconference.com.

TEAMS and SportsTravel are owned by Schneider Publishing, the Los Angeles-based company that also publishes Association News magazine. The group travel markets served by Schneider Publishing generate 106 million room nights annually. For further information, please call toll-free (877) 577-3700.

Posted in Century Link Center, Olympic Swim Trials, Omaha Sports Commission, Swimming, USA Swimming | No Comments »

Tickets Available June 25 for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials –Swimming

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

The public will have a chance to purchase tickets to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Swimming beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 25. Tickets will be available at the Qwest Center Omaha box office or ticketmaster.com. In recognition of Visas long-standing support of USA Swimming, the organization is proud to accept VISA exclusively.

Mike Unger, assistant executive director for USA Swimming, said the 2012 Trials promises to be the most competitive swimming competition ever held in the United States.

“More than 1,200 swimmers are expected to compete in Omaha, but the U.S. Olympic Team traveling to London will consist of just 50 swimmers,” Unger said.  “We would not be surprised to see a number of American and perhaps world records established in Omaha. The greatest names in our sport – Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Jason Lezak, Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni and many more are anxious to show the world the strength of the 2012 U.S. Team.”

Harold Cliff, president of the Omaha Sports Commission , said a record 160,000 people attended the 2008 Trials in Omaha, and he expects ticket demand to be much higher in 2012.

“ For many of the Omaha locals, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials were their first exposure to a swim meet so we had to educate people on what a swimming event was about, but once people saw the action they were hooked,” Cliff said.  “We strongly urge people to buy all-session tickets early so they can see all the action and witness these American stars as the vie to make Team USA…  .”

Currently, only all-session tickets will be available for purchase. These tickets guarantee a person the same seat for seven morning preliminary sessions and eight evening finals. Ticket prices are $525, $425 or $325 for the 15 sessions.  Tickets can be shared with family, friends or co-workers.

New this year, a limited number of “VIP” all session tickets are available for $1,000, This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will give 140 fans the chance to sit directly on the pool deck, with the closest view of the greatest swimmers in America.

Olympic gold medalists Aaron Peirsol and Rowdy Gaines attended the press announcement and were on hand to talk about their Olympic experiences. Peirsol swam in three Olympics and won a total of seven medals (five gold, two silver).  He currently holds three world records. Gaines won three gold medals in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and was elected to the U.S. Swimming Hall of Fame. He is a television commentator and is expected to be part of the NBC announcing team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Hotel reservations can also be made starting at 12:00 pm CST on Saturday, June 25th via www.usaswimhousing.com.

Posted in Olympic Swim Trials, Omaha Sports Commission, Qwest Center, Swimming, USA Swimming | No Comments »

2012 Olympic Trials Pools for Sale

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Myrtha Pools, USA Swimming and the Omaha Sports Commission would like to introduce the availability of the 2012 Olympic Trials Pools.

Two 50-meter, top quality pools will be installed at Qwest Center Omaha for the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials for Swimming event that will take place June 25-July 6th. One pool will reside in the arena for competition and the other in the adjacent convention center for warm-ups and practice.

The pools, which can be taken down and reassembled, are for sale.

Myrtha’s State of the Art Technology has the capabilities for virtually any size, shape, and depth. The pools will come with the best aquatic products in the market which includes headwalls, starting blocks (track start), mechanical systems, filtration, pipe fittings, Stralenturbulents, and many more premiere products.

Your swimmers deserve a Myrtha Pool! More world records than anyone in the industry.  Be a part of swimming history!

For more information regarding the sale of previous Trials pools as well diagrams of the 2012 pools click here:

http://www.myrthapools.com/news-dettaglio.asp?NEWS_ID=72&type=B

For further information and pricing details, please call us at 877.MPUSAPool or info@myrthapoolsusa.com.

Posted in Olympic Swim Trials, Omaha Sports Commission, USA Swimming | No Comments »

U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming Will Return to Omaha in 2012

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Officials from USA Swimming and the Omaha Sports Commission announced today that the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming will return to Omaha, Neb., in 2012. The competition will take place from June 25 to July 2 in a temporary indoor pool at Qwest Center Omaha.

The competition dates for the 2012 Trials were developed through consultation with the USA Swimming National Team, the United States Olympic Committee, the Omaha Sports Commission, NBC, College World Series of Omaha, Inc., the NCAA, ESPN and Qwest Center Omaha (MECA).

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Posted in NCAA, Olympic Swim Trials, Olympics, Qwest Center, Swimming | No Comments »

2008 Direct Economic Impact of Three Omaha Sports Commission Events Estimated at $29 Million

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

STUDY INDICATES MEDIA EXPOSURE FROM OLYMPIC SWIM TRIALS WORTH MORE THAN $97 MILLION

2008 was the year of sports in Omaha, and the direct economic impact to the City of Omaha and State of Nebraska from the three athletic events sponsored by the Omaha Sports Commission (OSC) is estimated at $29,340,000. Two of the state’s leading economists – Dr. Ernie Goss of Creighton University and Dr. Eric Thompson of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln—conducted a study of the economic impact of the NCAA Men’s Division 1 First and Second Round Basketball Tournament, U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming, and NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Championships.

The Olympic Swim Trials also provided the City of Omaha an additional $97 million in national/international media exposure from coverage of the Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha ($23.9 million), and media exposure of Omaha during the Beijing Olympics ($73.8 million).

Key study findings of each sporting event include the following.
Olympic Swim Trials (Eight-Day Event)
• More than 95,000 tickets were sold to out-of-state visitors, who came from an estimated 36 states and seven foreign countries.
• Swim Trials fans spent more than $6.9 million on lodging, food and beverages.
• The Olympic Swim Trials generated more than $1.3 million in state and local tax collections.

NCAA Regional Basketball Tournament (Two-Day Event)
• More than 21,000 tickets were sold to out-of-state visitors.
• Basketball fans spent more than $1.1 million on lodging, food and beverages.
• More than $256,000 was collected in state and local taxes.

NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship (Two-Day Event)
• More than 2,600 tickets were sold to out-of-state visitors.
• Volleyball fans spent nearly $440,000 on lodging, food and beverages.
• Nearly $184,000 was collected in state and local taxes.

Harley Schrager, chairman of the Omaha Sports Commission board of directors, said the economic impact figures demonstrate the important role the OSC plays in supporting Omaha and the State of Nebraska.

“2008 was a great year for sports in Omaha and has elevated our city to a new and higher level of national prominence when it comes to hosting great sporting events,” Schrager said. “The OSC has worked very hard to make Omaha one of America’s leading amateur sports cities, and we are proud of the numerous contributions we have made to the local and state economies.”

“While the direct economic impacts of the amateur sporting events that we examined were quite impressive, the spillover or indirect impacts were even more noteworthy once again putting Omaha in the national spotlight. I expect these impacts to grow in future years as the city’s support businesses expand to meet the rising demand,” Dr. Goss said.
“The surge in spending at area restaurants, stores and hotels during these three events was an important contribution to the local businesses,” Dr. Thompson said.

Harold Cliff, president of the Omaha Sports Commission, said the tremendous media exposure Omaha received in 2008 was almost as valuable as the direct economic benefits to the city and state.

“The Olympic Swim Trials was broadcast live on NBC four nights and the USA Network an additional four nights, and Omaha’s name was prominently mentioned throughout the Beijing Olympic coverage,” Cliff said. “In addition, NCAA basketball games were carried live on CBS and the NCAA volleyball championships were live on ESPN. The national and international media exposure Omaha received in 2008 will pay numerous dividends to our city for years to come.”

Cliff noted the report does not include the economic impact to Omaha of the annual NCAA College World Series. That event is not sponsored by the Omaha Sports Commission.

Posted in Olympic Swim Trials, Olympics, Omaha Sports Commission, Qwest Center, Swimming | No Comments »

2008 Olympic Trials Posters Available Now!

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Receive your Olympic ovation with the same cheers heard by your favorite swimmers. Entering the arena to thunderous applause, can you feel the excitement in the air? This print is actually a 360o view of the 2008 USA Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. This is the same view that the greatest Olympic swimmers in the world shared on their way to excellence in Beijing.

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2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming wins national award

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials- Swimming voted by Sports Travel Magazine as Best Amateur Multi-Sport/Multi Discipline Event for 2008

News: For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Sarah Caminker at (310) 577-3700 

Winners Announced for 2008 SportsTravel Awards

SportsTravel magazine announced the winners of the 2008 SportsTravel Awards at the TEAMS 2008 Conference & Expo held last week in Pittsburgh. TEAMS: Travel, Events And Management in Sports, is the world’s largest gathering of event organizers and travel planners from the sports industry. The 2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship won the top prize as Sports Event of the Year. 

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Posted in Olympic Swim Trials, Publications, Swimming | No Comments »

Swim Trials CEO named president of the Omaha Sports Commission

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

By Rich Kaipust
World-Herald Staff Writer

Harold Cliff came to Omaha for 18 months but now will be staying for at least 36 more.

The chief operating officer for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials has been named president of the Omaha Sports Commission. Cliff recently returned from the Summer Olympics in Beijing and officially takes over Monday.

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Posted in Olympic Swim Trials, Omaha World Herald | No Comments »

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