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MLV Holdings, a newly formed investment group, today announced the launch of Major League Volleyball, a women’s professional volleyball league supported by more than $100 million in committed funding. Launching in January 2026, MLV will feature 10 teams including the Omaha Supernovas, which won the Pro Volleyball Federation championship last year and has set national attendance records. In addition to Nebraska, Major League Volleyball will launch with teams in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, Ohio and Washington, according to an MLV press release. Franchises will be independently owned and operated, with MLV creating ownership standards and operational playbooks to ensure major league standards are upheld at every level. The founding partner group includes Danny White, founder of the Supernovas; Vivek Ranadivé, owner and chairman of the Sacramento Kings; Jason Derulo, partner in the Omaha Supernovas; Kerri Walsh Jennings, a three-time...

Hilton Omaha, Nebraska’s largest hotel, has announced the upcoming addition of a 15,000 sq. ft. outdoor, multi-purpose event space known as Cass Street Green. Opening will occur early this year. The outdoor space is in addition to Hilton Omaha’s 41,000 sq. ft. of indoor event space, which includes 16 meeting rooms. The hotel is located at 10th & Cass Street in North Downtown. “The addition of Cass Street Green marks a significant milestone in Hilton Omaha’s commitment to providing versatile meeting spaces, enhancing our ability to accommodate and cater to a wider range of events,” said Robert Sabin, general manager, Hilton Omaha. “We are thrilled that we’ll be able to offer our guests an outdoor venue that seamlessly combines innovation and exceptional service.” Cass Street Green is being constructed as an open-air venue with an eye for high-speed assembly, offering versatile tent building options that can span the event turf from 1,000 to 15,000 sq. ft. The advanced design, by...

The City of Omaha’s 72nd Street project between F Street and just south of Interstate 80 will continue in 2025. The improvements, once completed, will increase capacity and safety while decreasing congestion. The project will be constructed in multiple phases. Because of the high traffic volume in the corridor, delays are expected. The city recommends drivers look for alternative routes. Beginning on Monday, January 13th, southbound 72nd Street will be closed at I-80, creating a full closure of 72nd Street from I-80 to F Street. Construction is expected to take approximately six months. Local access to businesses between L Street and F Street will remain open. When the northbound bridge is complete in mid-2025, 72nd Street will have one lane open northbound and two lanes open southbound through the construction zone. Construction of the new southbound bridge is anticipated to last through the fall of 2025. Construction schedules and operations are subject to change based on weather...

The first phase of Eppley Airfield's temporary terminal split begins today – Monday, January 5th – with the closure of the central portion of level 1. During this phase, travelers will still be able to walk between the south terminal and north terminal using level 2. Travelers can expect updated wayfinding to help them navigate the closed areas. Eppley’s terminal will be split into two separate terminals, enabling construction on major parts of the project, including the central pavilion, where the future centralized security checkpoint and terminal concessions will be located. Beginning February 17th, the entire central portion of the terminal, including level 2, will be closed for construction. Until the new central pavilion opens in 2027, the airport will operate with two, separated terminals. During this time, travelers who need to navigate between the terminals will use the outdoor terminal drive walkways and lower level of the south garage. As Eppley Airfield enters this new...

For the past several months, Grow Omaha team members have been saying that Omaha is entering a golden age. There’s good reason for this optimistic statement as the metro area is experiencing record amounts of construction, healthy business growth and accelerated population gains. It’s an exciting time to live, work or visit Omaha. Today, we look back at the major development happenings in the city during calendar year 2024. Eppley Terminal Expansion Back in January, the Omaha Airport Authority released long-anticipated plans to expand and renovate Eppley Airfield’s outdated passenger terminal. The nearly $1 billion plan caused a lot of jaws to drop. The project will nearly double the terminal’s square footage while adding two new gates and an international arrivals hall. Other highlights include a centralized security and ticketing area, one long concourse instead of satellite terminals, and substantially more restaurants and retailers beyond the security checkpoint. Completion is...

The 25th annual Holiday Lights Festival will celebrate its grand finale Tuesday, December 31st with a fireworks spectacular show starting at 7:00 p.m., according to Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority. The fireworks will light up the sky near Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront. There is no set parking or designated viewing area, which means you can enjoy the show from virtually any spot in downtown. Thanks to Park Omaha, parking meters will be free on New Year’s Eve after 5 p.m. Tune into STAR 104.5 The Christmas Station at 7 p.m., either in your car or on your phone. The fireworks are choreographed to a musical score, created just for this event by J&M Displays. Photo credit: Brad Williams

The first year of construction on Eppley Airfield’s $950 million terminal expansion and renovation is nearly in the books. Progress has been substantial. The steel superstructure for the future terminal is already rising, but next year promises to bring even more significant construction. After the winter holiday travel rush ends, the expansion project – known as “Build OMA” – will enter a phase of construction that will create the biggest impact on travelers thus far. In early 2025, Eppley’s terminal will be split into two separate terminals, enabling construction on major parts of the project, including the central pavilion, where the future centralized security checkpoint and terminal concessions will be located. On January 6th, the first phase of the terminal Split will begin with the closure of the central portion of Level 1 in the terminal. During this phase, travelers will still be able to walk between the south and north terminals using Level 2. Travelers can expect updated...

The Light the World Giving Machine, a vending machine that works in reverse, is open at Westroads Mall through December 31. Three machines are located in the Von Maur Court’s lower level. Omaha is one of 106 cities on five continents to host one of these giving machines. The annual initiative is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the time it takes to swipe a credit card, anyone can donate items, such as clothing, food, hygiene products, school supplies and even livestock (goats, pigs, chickens), for those in need. “Giving Machines are customized red vending machines with a twist,” said Rachael Chappell, communication director for the Nebraska Region of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “The Giving Machine is a unique, fun and memorable way to do an instant act of kindness for someone in need, whether they live around the world or down the street.” Local nonprofit organizations that will participate in this year’s Light the World Giving...

The 50 Mile March Foundation has purchased 7 acres of property in Bellevue as part of its effort to establish the Community of Hope campus. The project aims to provide essential resources, shelter and support services to veterans and their families in the Greater Omaha area. The Community of Hope campus represents the Foundation’s commitment serving those who serve for us. The 50 Mile March Foundation’s mission is to empower veterans facing mental health challenges and homelessness by fostering a community of hope and relentless support. Through its signature annual ruck march, the Foundation raises awareness, funds, and resources to support the veteran community in the Omaha metro area. “This is a significant step forward in our mission to end veteran homelessness and increase availability of mental health services in the area,” said Brianne Schuler, executive director of the 50 Mile March Foundation. “We believe the Community of Hope will be a beacon for individuals who need a hand...

The holiday travel period is one of the busiest every year, and Eppley Airfield is preparing for a few busy weeks ahead. Officials at Omaha’s airport expect approximately 277,000 travelers between December 19th and January 6th, a similar level of activity to 2023. Eppley’s four busiest travel days of the holiday season are expected to be Friday, December 20; Monday, December 23; Friday, December 27; and Monday, December 30. To assist passengers in preparing for their travel, Omaha Airport Authority officials recommend you arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to departure to allow for enough time to park,check-in at the airline ticket counter and process through the security checkpoints. Stay up to date with your airline via their website or app. You can keep up with security checkpoint wait times, airport parking availability or reserve your parking at least 12 hours in advance at FlyOMA.com or on Eppley’s mobile app. Keep in mind that the airport is going through a...

Woodbury Corporation, the Salt Lake City company now in charge of developing of the Crossroads site, will officially take ownership tomorrow, December 18th. The closed transaction will allow the first phase of construction to begin this spring. Woodbury became a partner in The Crossorads redevelopment in 2023 and is under contract to purchase the remaining Crossroads property from KJ Ventures. The redesigned development is now estimated to cost $900 million. “We believe this is the best piece of real estate in all of Nebraska,” said Jeff Woodbury, senior vice president of development and acquisitions for Woodbury Corporation. While it might not technically be the busiest intersection in the state (that honor belongs to 90th & Dodge), Woodbury said 72nd & Dodge is the region’s most important “retail intersection.” Woodbury described Omaha as “a city that continually reinvents itself” and also praised the city’s leadership: “Omaha’s commitment to progress and innovation is...

By Isaiah Ang and Jeff Beals Many commercial real estate professionals across the country have downplayed the idea that a substantial number of urban office buildings could be transformed into residential properties. The conventional wisdom is that office buildings are simply too difficult to renovate into apartments, at least in a cost-effective manner. In the era of hybrid schedules and remote workers, that has led some real estate developers in major cities such as New York, Chicago and San Francisco to say, “We are under-demolished.” Well, that is not the case in Omaha, where several office buildings have been or currently are being transformed into highly desirable residential properties. Much of the credit for Omaha’s office-to-residential success goes to NuStyle Development, owned by Todd and Mary Heistand. According to the Omaha World Herald, NuStyle is adding another project to its growing list of downtown properties. NuStyle plans to turn the older First National Bank of...