{{Short description|Sports arena in Kearney, Nebraska, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Viaero Center | nickname = | image = File:Viaero Center logo.png | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_label = | fullname = | location = 609 Platte Road<br>[[Kearney, Nebraska]], U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|40.667014675858816|-99.09254376737702}} | broke_ground = November 1999 | built = | opened = November 18, 2000<ref>{{cite news |title=Tri-City Arena May Be Worth Wait|author=Dale Miller|url=http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2000/11/17/storm/20001117-archive.txt|newspaper=The Independent|date= November 17, 2000}}</ref> | renovated = | expanded = | owner = Storm Hockey, LLC | operator = Storm Hockey, LLC | architect = | construction_cost = $10.5 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|10500000|2000}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | former_names = Tri-City Arena (2000&ndash;2004)<br>Kearney Event Center (2004&ndash;2006)<br>FirsTier Event Center (2006&ndash;2009) | tenants = [[Tri-City Storm]] ([[United States Hockey League|USHL]]) (2000–present)<br>Tri-City Diesel ([[National Indoor Football League|NIFL]]) (2001–2004)<br>[[Nebraska Cranes]] ([[United States Basketball League|USBL]]) (2005–2006)<br>[[Kearney Hawks]] ([[Midwest Professional Indoor Football|MPIF]]) (2016–2017) | capacity = 5,000 }}

'''Viaero Center''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kearneyhub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20323083&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577571&rfi=6|title=Now call it the Viaero Center|date=2009-05-29|publisher=[[Kearney Hub]]|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref> previously known as the '''Kearney Event Center''' and '''Firstier Event Center''', is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Kearney, Nebraska]]. The arena was announced as the '''Kearney Arena''' in 1998, before changing its name to '''Tri-City Arena''' upon opening in November 2000. The arena adopted its current name in 2009, after the naming rights were purchased by Viaero Wireless.

It is home to the 2016 [[United States Hockey League|USHL]] Clark Cup Champions [[Tri-City Storm]] [[ice hockey]], and former teams, the [[Nebraska Cranes]] [[basketball]] and Tri-City Diesel [[arena football]]. [[Seating capacity]] for hockey, basketball and arena football is 4,047. The arena features 20 [[luxury suite]]s and also plays host to [[concert]]s, trade shows, conventions and other events.

== History == In August 1998, plans were announced to build a hockey arena in Kearney, Nebraska.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-08-26 |title=Hockey rena eyed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-hockey-rena-eyed/179260857/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Kearney Hub |pages=1}}</ref> Plans were supercharged by a $3 million investment offer to help build the arena.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-10-01 |title=Investors offer $3 millio toward hockey arena |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-investors-offer-3/179260652/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |pages=14}}</ref> During development, a dispute between developers and [[Buffalo County, Nebraska|Buffalo County]] over if the county could have involvement in development began. It was ruled in 1999 that the county can have involvement in the project.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-04-13 |title=Attorney: County can be involved in Kearney Arena |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-attorney-c/179261407/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=The Grand Island Independent |pages=14}}</ref>

Ground was broken in November 1999 with construction commencing shortly after.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-11-10 |title=Chamber leader: Arena will unlock convention potential |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-chamber-leader-arena-will-u/179261788/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Kearney Hub |pages=1}}</ref> By early 2000, the private investment group involved in the project announced their intent to pull out of the project, largely due to the dispute with Buffalo County.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-02-08 |title=Private group wants out of Kearney arena deal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-private-group-wants/179261915/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |pages=19}}</ref> The Kearney Arena officially opened on November 18, 2000 as the Tri-City Arena.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-11-28 |title=Arena an asset that provides new attractions for community |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-arena-an-asset-that-provides/179262238/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Kearney Hub |pages=4}}</ref>

The arena lost $2.1 million between 2001 and 2003. By 2004, their contract with the Tri-City Storm came into question, as they were unsure on if the arena would close or not. In 2004, the Tri-City Arena rebranded to the Kearney Event Center.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-12-27 |title=Kearney Event Center undergoes evolution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-kearney-event-center-undergo/179279783/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Kearney Hub |pages=1}}</ref> Additionally, two firms, [[Global Entertainment Corporation|Global Entertainment Corp.]] and Compass Facility Management Incorporated, would take over as managers for the arena.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-09-05 |title=Iowa, Arizona firms retained to manage Kearney Events Center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-iowa-arizo/179279980/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=The Grand Island Independent |pages=13}}</ref>

In 2009, it was announced that the arena would change its name to Viaero Event Center, after failed negotiations with FirstTierBank and then-owner Kirk Brooks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-05-29 |title=Now call it the Viaero Event Center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-now-call-it-the-viaero-event/179280446/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Kearney Hub |pages=1}}</ref>

== Events == Since its inception in 1998, Viaero Center was meant specifically to house sports teams. The 2016 [[United States Hockey League|USHL]] Clark Cup Champions [[Tri-City Storm]] have used it as its home arena since their founding in 2000. The arena also housed the former indoor football team, Tri-City Diesel from 2001 to 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-01-08 |title=Tri-City Arena loses indoor football team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-tri-city-arena-loses-indoor-fo/179334454/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |work=Telegraph |pages=11}}</ref> The arena was also home to the basketball team Nebraska Cranes from 2005 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-04-21 |title=Nebraska Cranes to make debut tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-nebraska-cr/179334896/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |work=The Grand Island Independent |pages=17}}</ref> Viaero Center has also been host of an annual Freedom Fest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cobler |first=Ariana Joy |date=2025-07-01 |title=No volunteers, no festival: Freedom Fest cancelled |url=https://nebraska.tv/news/local/no-volunteers-no-festival-freedom-fest-cancelled |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=KHGI |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.kearneyevents.net Official site]

{{USHL Arenas}} {{Music venues of Nebraska}} {{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Ice hockey venues in Nebraska]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Kearney, Nebraska]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Buffalo County, Nebraska]] [[Category:Sports in the Tri-Cities, Nebraska]] [[Category:2000 establishments in Nebraska]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 2000]] [[Category:Basketball venues in Nebraska]] [[Category:Convention centers in Nebraska]] {{Nebraska-stadium-stub}}