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The possibility of UNO holding an outdoor hockey game next season at TD Ameritrade Park was one topic addressed briefly by UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts during a question-and-answer session Thursday at the Omaha Press Club.

"(UNO coach) Dean (Blais) has mentioned outdoor hockey at TD Ameritrade, and certainly it's an opportunity for us," Alberts said. "Those are the sort of community assets that we have available that we'd like to take advantage of, and certainly it's our goal and aspiration, and we'd like someday for that to come to fruition."

Speculation has been that UNO, in conjunction with the Omaha Lancers, would host outdoor games in early February 2013, with UNO playing against North Dakota and the USHL's Lancers facing the Lincoln Stars, potentially in a doubleheader.

Outdoor games have gained popularity in recent years, with the NHL having hosted several Winter Classics and college teams also picking up on the trend. Michigan and Ohio State squared off in an outdoor game earlier this month at Progressive Field, home of baseball's Cleveland Indians.

"We're looking for new and creative ways that we can advance our brand," Alberts said.

"We are working on a number of different things and certainly will be happy to share them publicly when they are finalized. They just simply aren't finalized."

Among other questions from the crowd that Alberts answered Thursday:

Question: What is the possibility of practice ice or a new arena for the hockey team?

Alberts: Our objective has always been to try to define, first of all, what are UNO's needs. ... We have to understand what's possible. We don't want to limit our vision. If 92 percent of the total revenue we generate (in the athletic department) is hockey ... we've got to do everything we possibly can to protect our ability to make sure our hockey program is successful long term. There are community assets available. We have a good relationship with the CenturyLink Center. I don't have any definitive conclusions on practice ice.

"I think since 2006 that four or five studies have been done based on what could or should happen, and that's one alternative. I'm confident that at some point in the foreseeable future that we'll gain a clear path forward in terms of what makes sense.

Question: If there were to be a new arena, what would be the ideal size?

Alberts: That's part of what makes the whole conversation interesting. We are going into a new conference. How will that impact? What's the historical impact been? How many tickets did we sell when we were at the Civic? How many did we sell at the (CenturyLink) Center? There are a lot of things that go into it and we have a lot of really intelligent people working on it. I believe the right thing is going to happen for UNO.

Question: Despite having some of the best attendance in (college) hockey, there have been years that UNO hockey has lost money. What is the status now, and when is the contract up for renewal at the CenturyLink?

Alberts: I believe by June we have to state our intentions with the CenturyLink. There's been a lot of benchmarking and I don't want to get into all that data. I would only suggest that there's a pretty substantial difference what our public-private partnership is, in terms of rent, and what many of our competitors' are. We know what those numbers are.

"It's a world-class facility, and they've treated us well. We're fourth in the country in attendance and we average about 8,300 fans, and the reality is there are 16,000 seats, so you can draw your own conclusions. Rent is one thing. Lost revenue is also, in essence, an expense. So you're not looking at rent alone.

Question: Why does it seem so difficult for UNO to raise money (for athletic facilities) when UNL seems to have no difficulties with its capital campaigns?

Alberts: We've had great success ... without even being able to communicate an overall vision of facilities. That's our biggest challenge. I believe people will support us. ... This is a pretty substantial effort. It takes a lot of time and a lot of thought. We get one chance at this.

Question: Where do you see UNO (athletics) in five years?

Alberts: I think an investment on our campus in athletic facilities will happen by then. I think our students deserve it. And I think more students living on our campus will be actively participating in athletic events (as spectators). I'd like to think our men's basketball program ... it'll take all five of those years to gain traction. I absolutely know it's going to take a long time for men's basketball. You have to understand what we're asking them to do. In our efforts to stabilize the department, we're asking men's basketball to do what isn't best for them, to go out for the department and raise $300,000 a year in game guarantees.

"Game guarantees will always be a part of what we do, that's our model. But then (once the finances are stabilized) we've got to help our coaches start moving away. Do we give them a little of that guarantee (money) to bring in a team we have a shot at beating? Maybe. In five years, when we're fully Division I, hopefully you'll be able to be really competitive consistently in men's basketball. I think women's basketball has a great opportunity, and I think volleyball is sitting there with a great opportunity as well.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

twitter.com/RWhiteOWH

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