Mid-America Center
Encyclopedia
The Mid-America Center is an arena
and convention center
located in Council Bluffs, Iowa
, just five minutes from downtown Omaha, Nebraska
. The arena's maximum capacity is about 8,000 for concerts and 6,700 for ice hockey and arena football. The arena continues to provide free parking.
It is the home of the Iowa Blackhawks
of the APFL
. From 2002-2009, it hosted the Omaha Lancers
of the USHL
. Beginning February 19, 2011, it will host roller derby
bouts for the Omaha Rollergirls
of the WFTDA
.
From rock shows to family shows to USHL hockey to community events, the arena has hosted top names such as Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Cher, John Mellencamp, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty Black Eyed Peas, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kenny Chesney, Tool, B.B. King, Reba McEntire, Kings of Leon, Def Leppard, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Counting Crows, Monster Jam, Playhouse Disney Live. The convention center has hosted the Omaha Press Club Show, Peel's Salon Shows, OWH Bridal Ideas Shows, River City Hunting & Fishing Expo, Nebraska State Bridge Tournament which hosts Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
Arena:
30,000 square feet (pillar free),
12 Luxury Suites,
2 Party Rooms,
Convention Center:
24500 square feet (2,276.1 m²) Exhibition Hall,
120-150 Exhibit Trade Show Booths,
23,000+ square feet of Ballroom/Meeting Space,
90-112 Exhibit Trade Show Booths in Ballroom,
8 Meeting Rooms,
15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) in Pre-Function Area,
Free Parking:
2,600 open surfaced spaces surrounding the complex
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
and convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
located in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, just five minutes from downtown Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. The arena's maximum capacity is about 8,000 for concerts and 6,700 for ice hockey and arena football. The arena continues to provide free parking.
It is the home of the Iowa Blackhawks
Iowa Blackhawks
The Council Bluffs Express formerly known as the Iowa Blackhawks are an indoor football team in the American Professional Football League. They have been around since 2004...
of the APFL
American Professional Football League
The American Professional Football League is a Midwestern United States-based indoor football league founded in 2003. The league consists of professional and semi-professional teams, with a few core teams that play a full 10 game schedule and other teams that play partial schedules. At the end of...
. From 2002-2009, it hosted the Omaha Lancers
Omaha Lancers
The Omaha Lancers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .From 2002-2009, the Lancers' home ice was the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. Until the 2001-2002 season, the Lancers played at...
of the USHL
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. Beginning February 19, 2011, it will host roller derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
bouts for the Omaha Rollergirls
Omaha Rollergirls
The Omaha Rollergirls is a roller derby league based in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 2006, the league currently consists of two teams, and two mixed teams which compete against teams from other leagues....
of the WFTDA
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is an association of women's flat track roller derby leagues in the United States. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501 business...
.
From rock shows to family shows to USHL hockey to community events, the arena has hosted top names such as Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Cher, John Mellencamp, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty Black Eyed Peas, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kenny Chesney, Tool, B.B. King, Reba McEntire, Kings of Leon, Def Leppard, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Counting Crows, Monster Jam, Playhouse Disney Live. The convention center has hosted the Omaha Press Club Show, Peel's Salon Shows, OWH Bridal Ideas Shows, River City Hunting & Fishing Expo, Nebraska State Bridge Tournament which hosts Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
Arena:
30,000 square feet (pillar free),
12 Luxury Suites,
2 Party Rooms,
Convention Center:
24500 square feet (2,276.1 m²) Exhibition Hall,
120-150 Exhibit Trade Show Booths,
23,000+ square feet of Ballroom/Meeting Space,
90-112 Exhibit Trade Show Booths in Ballroom,
8 Meeting Rooms,
15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) in Pre-Function Area,
Free Parking:
2,600 open surfaced spaces surrounding the complex