# Viaero Center

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Viaero_Center
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Viaero_Center.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viaero_Center
> Source revision: 1335779165
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Sports arena in Kearney, Nebraska, U.S.

Viaero Center Interactive map of Viaero Center Former names Tri-City Arena (2000–2004) Kearney Event Center (2004–2006) FirsTier Event Center (2006–2009) Location 609 Platte Road Kearney, Nebraska, U.S. Coordinates 40°40′01″N 99°05′33″W / 40.667014675858816°N 99.09254376737702°W / 40.667014675858816; -99.09254376737702 Owner Storm Hockey, LLC Operator Storm Hockey, LLC Capacity 5,000 Construction Groundbreaking November 1999 Opened November 18, 2000[1] Cost $10.5 million ($19.6 million in 2025 dollars[2]) Tenants Tri-City Storm (USHL) (2000–present) Tri-City Diesel (NIFL) (2001–2004) Nebraska Cranes (USBL) (2005–2006) Kearney Hawks (MPIF) (2016–2017)

**Viaero Center**,[3] previously known as the **Kearney Event Center** and **Firstier Event Center**, is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose [arena](/source/Arena) in [Kearney, Nebraska](/source/Kearney%2C_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 [USHL](/source/United_States_Hockey_League) Clark Cup Champions [Tri-City Storm](/source/Tri-City_Storm) [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey), and former teams, the [Nebraska Cranes](/source/Nebraska_Cranes) [basketball](/source/Basketball) and Tri-City Diesel [arena football](/source/Arena_football). [Seating capacity](/source/Seating_capacity) for hockey, basketball and arena football is 4,047. The arena features 20 [luxury suites](/source/Luxury_suite) and also plays host to [concerts](/source/Concert), trade shows, conventions and other events.

## History

In August 1998, plans were announced to build a hockey arena in Kearney, Nebraska.[4] Plans were supercharged by a $3 million investment offer to help build the arena.[5] During development, a dispute between developers and [Buffalo County](/source/Buffalo_County%2C_Nebraska) over if the county could have involvement in development began. It was ruled in 1999 that the county can have involvement in the project.[6]

Ground was broken in November 1999 with construction commencing shortly after.[7] 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.[8] The Kearney Arena officially opened on November 18, 2000 as the Tri-City Arena.[9]

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.[10] Additionally, two firms, [Global Entertainment Corp.](/source/Global_Entertainment_Corporation) and Compass Facility Management Incorporated, would take over as managers for the arena.[11]

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.[12]

## Events

Since its inception in 1998, Viaero Center was meant specifically to house sports teams. The 2016 [USHL](/source/United_States_Hockey_League) Clark Cup Champions [Tri-City Storm](/source/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.[13] The arena was also home to the basketball team Nebraska Cranes from 2005 to 2006.[14] Viaero Center has also been host of an annual Freedom Fest.[15]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Dale Miller (November 17, 2000). ["Tri-City Arena May Be Worth Wait"](https://www.theindependent.com/articles/2000/11/17/storm/20001117-archive.txt). *The Independent*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-inflation-US_2-0)** 1634–1699: [McCusker, J. J.](/source/John_J._McCusker) (1997). [*How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda*](https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44525121.pdf) (PDF). [American Antiquarian Society](/source/American_Antiquarian_Society). 1700–1799: [McCusker, J. J.](/source/John_J._McCusker) (1992). [*How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States*](https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44517778.pdf) (PDF). [American Antiquarian Society](/source/American_Antiquarian_Society). 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. ["Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"](https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator/consumer-price-index-1800-). Retrieved February 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Now call it the Viaero Center"](https://www.kearneyhub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20323083&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577571&rfi=6). [Kearney Hub](/source/Kearney_Hub). May 29, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Hockey rena eyed"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-hockey-rena-eyed/179260857/). *Kearney Hub*. August 26, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Investors offer $3 millio toward hockey arena"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-investors-offer-3/179260652/). *Lincoln Journal Star*. October 1, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Attorney: County can be involved in Kearney Arena"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-attorney-c/179261407/). *The Grand Island Independent*. April 13, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Chamber leader: Arena will unlock convention potential"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-chamber-leader-arena-will-u/179261788/). *Kearney Hub*. November 10, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Private group wants out of Kearney arena deal"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-private-group-wants/179261915/). *Lincoln Journal Star*. February 8, 2000. p. 19. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Arena an asset that provides new attractions for community"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-arena-an-asset-that-provides/179262238/). *Kearney Hub*. November 28, 2000. p. 4. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Kearney Event Center undergoes evolution"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-kearney-event-center-undergo/179279783/). *Kearney Hub*. December 27, 2004. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Iowa, Arizona firms retained to manage Kearney Events Center"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-iowa-arizo/179279980/). *The Grand Island Independent*. September 5, 2004. p. 13. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Now call it the Viaero Event Center"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-now-call-it-the-viaero-event/179280446/). *Kearney Hub*. May 29, 2009. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Tri-City Arena loses indoor football team"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-tri-city-arena-loses-indoor-fo/179334454/). *Telegraph*. January 8, 2005. p. 11. Retrieved August 20, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Nebraska Cranes to make debut tonight"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-nebraska-cr/179334896/). *The Grand Island Independent*. April 21, 2005. p. 17. Retrieved August 20, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Cobler, Ariana Joy (July 1, 2025). ["No volunteers, no festival: Freedom Fest cancelled"](https://nebraska.tv/news/local/no-volunteers-no-festival-freedom-fest-cancelled). *KHGI*. Retrieved August 20, 2025.

## External links

- [Official site](http://www.kearneyevents.net)

v t e Current arenas in the United States Hockey League East Division Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena Covelli Centre Fox Valley Ice Arena ImOn Ice Arena L. C. Walker Arena Mystique Ice Center Resch Center USA Hockey Arena West Division Buccaneer Arena Denny Sanford Premier Center Gateway Arena Ice Box Liberty First Credit Union Arena Scheels Arena Viaero Center Young Arena

v t e Music venues of Nebraska Outdoor venues TD Ameritrade Park Omaha Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater Theaters and clubs Holland Performing Arts Center Lied Center for Performing Arts Orpheum Theater Slowdown Steelhouse Admiral Theatre (Omaha) Zoo Bar Arenas CHI Health Center Omaha Omaha Civic Auditorium Pinnacle Bank Arena Viaero Event Center Baxter Arena Liberty First Credit Union Arena Festivals Maha Music Festival Red Sky Music Festival Historic venues Ak-Sar-Ben Cog Factory Jewell Building Peony Park Pershing Center

Authority control databases: Geographic MusicBrainz place

[40°39′59″N 99°5′32″W / 40.66639°N 99.09222°W / 40.66639; -99.09222](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Viaero_Center&params=40_39_59_N_99_5_32_W_type:landmark)

This article about a sports venue in Nebraska is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Nebraska-sports-venue-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3ANebraska-sports-venue-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Nebraska-sports-venue-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Viaero Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viaero_Center) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viaero_Center?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.