[star_gazer]

There shouldn't be any doubt about where Omaha stands where big time concerts/entertainment is concerned. Pollstar ranked the Qwest Center >>#5<< in the nation in 2007 concert ticket sales.

Here's what's coming so far in 2008

Van Halen, February 4th

AVP Hot Winter Nights Tour (Volleyball), February 7th

Linkin Park, February 12th

Bon Jovi, February 18th

Toby Mac and Jeremy Camp, February 22nd

Matchbox 20 with Alanis Morissette and Mutemath, February 26th

Lipizzaner Stallions, March 2nd

Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood, March 7th

Bruce Springsteen, March 14th

Men's NCAA Basketball tournament, March 20-22nd

Blue Man Group, March 30th

Professional Bull Riding, April 11-12th

Santana, April 22nd

World Wrestling Entertainment Judgement Day, May 18th

US Olympic Swim Trials, June 29-July 6th

Celine Dion, November 17th

[Raphael07]

wow qwest center is doing awesome 5th in the nation that really rocks. this will really help omaha expansion

[star_gazer]

A couple I missed...

Cirque du Soleil Saltimbanco, April 1-6

Tom Petty, July 20th

[ehenningsen]

Reported in the OWH today, the committee is stunned by the response here and we are five months away from the event.

The tickets are pretty expensive, and they said that there still are some good seats left, and that we should not be dissapointed that we haven't sold out yet like we normally do with everything else as this is an eight-day event with very expensive tickets..

We beat out Long-Beach, CA who now holds the second highest count of tickets sold..

We still have five more months to sell more!

<a href="http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10241691">link to the article</a>

Olympic swim trials already breaking records
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALS STAFF WRITER



Ticket sales for the U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming have reached 106,000, assuring that the 2008 meet will be the best-attended Olympic Trials in history.

Qwest Center Omaha will be hosting the eight-day, 15-session event that determines the American team for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"It's exceeding our expectations at this point," said Matt Farrell, managing director of business development for USA Swimming. "This is well beyond where we want to be in terms of ticket sales, so we couldn't be happier."

Approximately 105,000 fans watched the 2004 Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif. That meet was held outdoors in a temporary venue at the city's convention center.

Several USA Swimming officials attended a press conference today at the Qwest Center. The organization is holding its quarterly meeting in Omaha on Saturday.

"The response in Omaha has been fantastic," said Executive Director Chuck Wielgus. "We are truly impressed with the efforts of the organizing committee and the enthusiasm of the fans surrounding this historic event. There will undoubtedly be some record-breaking swims in Omaha this summer, and we encourage everyone to come out and witness what we believe to be one of the most talented groups of swimmers ever assembled."

Five months remain before the Olympic Trials start June 29, allowing Omaha the chance to inch closer to selling the 163,000 tickets available. Currently, all-session and mini-packages are being sold.

"I'd say we're right on target," said Harold Cliff, chief operating officer for the 2008 Olympic Trials. "Maybe some people expected it to sell out right away, but that wasn't going to happen. We're satisfied with where we are, but there's a lot of work to do.

"The thing we're trying to push is there are good seats still available."

Cliff said one goal for Omaha is to have capacity crowds for night sessions, which each includes finals. The Qwest Center is expected to hold about 13,100 fans.

To accommodate the size of the portable pool, the first 10 rows of the arena pool are removed. That, however, is expected to leave the upper-bowl seats closer to the action.

"We know that people in Omaha are accustomed to the Qwest Center selling out quickly, but we're not talking about a one- or two-day event here," said Harley Schrager, chairman of the Omaha Sports Commission. "We're selling tickets to an event that lasts eight days, with an Olympian chosen each and every night."

Of the 1,100 swimmers coming to Omaha, no more than 52 will make the Olympic team. ?