Union Omaha Unveils $114M Stadium and Mixed-Use District Vision

Union Omaha just announced a major step forward for professional soccer and urban development in Nebraska.

The club, in partnership with the City of Omaha, has reached an agreement to develop a new professional soccer stadium and 20-acre mixed-use district in north downtown Omaha. If approved, groundbreaking is planned for 2026, with the stadium opening ahead of the 2028 season.

This project is set to become a transformative anchor for the city - adding a walkable, vibrant, transit-oriented destination that connects downtown to the surrounding neighborhoods. The stadium will be visible from Abbott Drive, creating a new "wow factor" as visitors enter the city.

The venue will serve as the home of Union Omaha, a two-time USL League One champion and Nebraska's premier professional soccer team, while also laying the foundation for a future women's professional team. The surrounding district will include retail, dining, housing, green space, and community-focused infrastructure.

City leadership is calling this a catalytic moment for Omaha's growth - one that strengthens the urban core, attracts talent, creates jobs, and elevates the region's position among emerging soccer markets across the Midwest.

This is exactly the type of public-private alignment that the most successful USL projects share. Early collaboration between city leadership and club ownership is often the difference between stalled concepts and executable projects.

From the development team - Hines, HOK, RDG, JLL - to the long-term vision for community engagement, youth programming, and professional growth, this project reflects the momentum we're seeing nationwide as cities invest in soccer-specific infrastructure.

The involvement of firms like HOK, one of the world's leading sports architecture practices, signals serious intent. This is not a speculative announcement. It is a structured, professionally managed development with institutional backing.

Union Omaha's stadium project is part of a broader national pattern. Across the USL, clubs are increasingly being built as infrastructure platforms rather than standalone teams. The most successful projects integrate stadiums, real estate, entertainment districts, and community programming into a single investment ecosystem.

Key signals from this development: stadium-led mixed-use districts are becoming the standard for USL expansion and growth markets; land control and real estate integration are emerging as the most durable value drivers in soccer investment; and community-rooted clubs with strong city partnerships continue to lead on infrastructure ambition.

This project reflects the momentum building across American soccer - cities investing in soccer-specific infrastructure, clubs becoming urban development catalysts, and the line between sports and real estate continuing to blur.

Excited to follow this development and the impact it will have on the region's soccer culture and downtown landscape.