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Kiewit Cements Stadium Contract Save Email Print
HDR will be architect
Posted: 6:45 PM Aug 27, 2008
 Last Updated: 6:45 PM Aug 27, 2008
 Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
39 comments
A | A | A

Plans for the new downtown Omaha baseball stadium are moving forward. MECA announced Wednesday it has awarded the construction contract to Kiewit. The architect will be HDR.

MECA says it will cost $97.8 million. That does not include about $30 million in work the city will do like create extra parking around the Qwest Center.

The stadium should be ready in time for the 2011 College World Series.

Ken Stinson, who is the chairman of Kiewit, was also the chairman of the mayor's stadium committee.
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Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Jim Suttle's position at HDR was Exec VP (aka second in command of the whole company)
Posted by: Ben on Aug 29, 2008 at 03:56 PM
The taxes will be raised to cover this the same as the Qwest. Of course when the Qwest taxes come due, it will need remodeling too.
Posted by: Gee on Aug 29, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I bet NOBODY expected that. Also, bet they go over budget and blame it on material costs.
Posted by: Anon on Aug 29, 2008 at 09:02 AM
To REX - You act like building a stadium is rocket science, which it isn't. And when you got a lock on every project in town because you are the biggest and baddest, it doesn't mean you are the best. It shouldn't be legal to have a company create their own projects & profits at taxpayer expense without voter consent. The fact that both HDR and Kiewit recommended NO-DO and then profit from it with only 1 other non-competitive construcution bid raises tremendous suspicion on the entire project and everyone involved. And Omaha ISN'T NO-DO so if we are forgotten because we didn't build it, it would have happened anyway. And when you are talking 1 cent increases, that's the LEVY not the actual amount (which is multiplied by the exhorbant inflated property values we have incurred) and IS a considerable sum). Cities that race to PROGRESS usually end up with tremendous debt that take decades to recover from. In today's faltering economy and $800 million in debt, that isn't prudent.
Posted by: REX on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:26 PM
A response to my doubters . . . ell me who is better to build the stadium? Can you name another company in Omaha that builds more vertical buildings than Kiewit? Someone who will get the money and jobs here? And regarding the Qwest Center and taxes... I am sure than reported 1 cent tax increase is really going to place a strain on your budget. Progressive cities move forward, creare new jobs and stimulate there economies. Cow towns that sit on their hands and complain at any idea of change turn into dust to be forgotten.
Posted by: Josh on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Please buy a clue. The food taxes was what Fahey originally proposed and it got nowhere because people cried. There is no food or entertainment taxes. Get the facts. Secondly, I do not rent, I own my residence. This was the right thing to do, I was at Rosenblatt tonight for the Royals game and the place is a total dump. The new ballpark is on it's way folks, deal with it.
Posted by: To Josh on Aug 28, 2008 at 03:53 PM
If you're so tired of reading it, then quit because we want the The Truth. We ALL know that the money is going to come from the public in the form of higher taxes, and only the foolish believe that the rental tax and motel fees are going to cover it. It just doesn't add up. As a home owner, we have to look a the taxes. I suppose as a renter, it's not as important. This whole thing has been crooked from the start, and I hope an investigation gets done for illegal bids and contracts being awarded. Stinson should not have been on the board, thats a fact! Once onthe board, then they should have not bid. This whole thing stinks, like contanminated ground!
Posted by: Mickey on Aug 28, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Josh - If you believe the rhetoric that the taxpayer isn't going to eventually hold the bag on this, consider that the Qwest Center was purportedly NOT going to raise our taxes, that statement was even printed on the ballot ('cuz Daub did allow a vote) but guess what? Yepper! By 2013, the city is already planning on raising our taxes to cover the $300 million loan we haven't even begun to pay back on that project. And why is it that a well read individual like yourself doesn't know why we might be legitimately concerned?
Posted by: To Josh on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:43 PM
You forgot to add food service taxes (which we do pay) in your comment. If you are going to lambaste everyone, please be concise.
Posted by: To Josh on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Looks like you need to learn how to read - the money will also come from Keno funds which will be taken away from the county, thus an increase of property tax will happen.
Posted by: To REX on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:26 PM
So what you are saying is that we should reward these crooks for demanding that this worthless project be built in the first place & forcing us to pay for it against our wishes? Who cares what they have accomplished in the past, we are more concerned how they impact our future. NO-DO (which is going to be empty 50 weeks of the year) is taking our hard earned tax money which would be better spent on addressing our failing infrastructure and city services. And nobody is pettier than the city council when they recently approved a motion to make us financially responsible for their inability to prevent graffiti and arrest the guilty. Since HDR & Kiewit recommended NO-DO, they shouldn't be allowed to profit from it for reasons of conflict of interest (we all know they aren't interested in the opinion of the folks actually paying the bills). Simply put, they couldn't present an unbiased opinion while involved with the stadium committee because THEY wanted to build it. That's GREEDY!
Posted by: Me on Aug 28, 2008 at 01:17 PM
REX - As nobody trusts the ol' Weird Harold (which interestingly enough was bought by Kiewit roughly 35-40 years ago), it is possible that little tidbit slipped by us. Regardless, if only one other bid was submitted, what does that tell you about this entire process? Don't you agree that if this had been on the up-and-up several companies would have submitted competitive bids? No? In my opinion, no other firm beleived they had a any fair chance at getting this contract when the Chairman of Kiewit was also responsible for creating the worthless project in the first place, how fair can that be? And as far as 'petty point', no such thing when you believe (as most of us do)that this was a contrived and un-necessary taxpayer expense forced on us by the very companies who are going to profit from it. It's like having a pickpocket reaching in for your wallet while presenting you with a bill for services rendered. Yes, I would prefer ANY other company to the job honestly.
Posted by: Josh on Aug 28, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I'm so tired of reading comments like "Where's the $30 coming from?" and "Where are they going to build the extra parking?". ALL of this information about parking, financing, etc is out there and you'd know those answers if you learned how to READ. The money is coming from hotel and rental car tax increases, not property tax. Quit crying about it already.
Posted by: JJ on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Once upon a time I worked for a subcontractor who bid to Kiewit, and later as a GC who bid against Kiewit; the owner of the latter company was a former Kiewit man. Any of their competitors or subcontractors can tell you how they are always the low bidder when they want to be. They monopolize the big contracts by underbidding them, then they go back after winning the bid, and shop their subcontracts. The little guys who need the work to stay in business have no other choice but to accept the lowball subcontracts. The reason other generals who do operate fairly are not eager to bid against Kiewit is that it is a waste of time and energy to put together the bid; if you know Kiewit wants it, you know that Kiewit is going to get it. The one company which did submit a bid was either begged to do so or bored. Let's hope at least that this was a sealed-bid submission with a public opening; if it wasn't, that gets even more interesting...
Posted by: Lori on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:03 AM
There are other Nebraska and even Omaha companies who could have bid, but were more than likely scared off/paid off not to do so, so Stinson and his greedy cronies could reap the benefits.
Posted by: llr on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:44 AM
I agree 110%. This isn't "news", I could have told you 6 months ago Kiewit would get the contract. I think the voters of this city should demand a public scrutiny of ALL bids. Talk about conflict of INTEREST and closed door politics. But that's entirely what Fahey has represented during his tenure. He can't leave too soon in my opinion, and I HOPE he moves out of state.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:44 AM
What makes this even more interesting is that Councilman Jim Suttle was in upper management at HDR (can't remember what exact position) back in the 90's.
Posted by: Dave on Aug 28, 2008 at 08:51 AM
I wonder if we can force the city to relesase all the names of the other companies and their bids,and if they were lower,why they choose Kiewit and HDR?
Posted by: REX on Aug 28, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Do you guys even read the news? Only ONE other bid was submitted. It was between Kiewit and 1 other company. Wouldn't you want one of the nation's best construction companies building the stadium? A company that will keep the money in Nebraska? A company that has experience in building major league baseball stadiums? A company that built the Qwest Center and is well aware of all the infrastructure in NODO? Or all are of you so short sighted that to prove a petty point you would rather have a second no-name company do the job? Get over yourselves.
Posted by: Bill on Aug 28, 2008 at 05:13 AM
No surprises here. This has been a joke from the start. Thanks Mayor Fahey, Ken Stinson and all of your cronies. Nice to see your pockets will be getting lined at the expense of Omaha tax payers. All of you should be real proud of yourselves. To mTm they may have credibilty, but they are a bunch of crooks!
Posted by: TO mTm on Aug 27, 2008 at 10:10 PM
If they are so great, why did they have to serve on the stadium committee in order to secure the project before the bid? They are most definitely not the most qualified as other companies can easily provide the same quality of work for less $$. Don't forget that without their unwanted and obviously biased input, NO-DO would be just a bad memory for the taxpayers instead of a retching reality. Nope, you won't convince me this deal was above board.
Posted by: 2Puzzled on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:59 PM
How can this even be legal when HDR and Kiewit were on the inside track all along? If I were one of the opposing bidders, I would look at a possible lawsuit over unfair competition and compensation by the city! Only in the most warped minds could this be considered a fair deal.
Posted by: To Ozarks on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Where will the 30M come from? Two words: Parking fees. I suspect the current $6 at Qwest will seem like a bargain when this thing is built.
Posted by: mTm on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Seriously .... Who can do better than Kiewit from the midwest?? I'd rather keep the $$$ here. I saw them building several major league stadiums during my past business travels.[Seattle and others] Yes - the other is also obvious but they do have credibility.
Posted by: E on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:21 PM
I hope they have enough white paint for this white elephant stadium -- when the Royals leave, it will only be used two weeks per year! And just where exactly is that "extra parking" going to go??
Posted by: Tony on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:10 PM
People let's say it in unison, "WE TOLD YOU SO!" We don't even want NO-DO (and we voted it down in 2003) but if HDR and Kiewit recommend it over the protest of the GOOD PEOPLE in this city then by golly let's give them those big money contracts as well! This was never about what was best for Omaha but these special corporate interests who really run this city. How disgusting!
Posted by: HA! on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Witness the power of closed-door city government at it's best where the voters have no voice. They sit behind closed doors planning this for months and expect us to be surprised that the two biggest proponents for a new stadium are going to make a ton of cash at our expense for a project we don't need or want. I am amused that the city budget this year includes $50K for "Rosenblatt renovations", aren't you? What's next? How about appropriating the money earmarked for the public safety auditor and giving themselves those 3% raises they want so badly for the next few years! With just 5 votes, the city council can do anything they want with that money, including padding their pockets without ever having to hire a safety auditor. Neat trick, isn't it? All council meetings should be open to the public but there is no way the political engine in this city would let that happen unless the voters take back their city and demand it. Else the joke we call our leaders will always be on us..
Posted by: Bill on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:56 PM
The 30,000,000 will come from taxpayers fopr the most part,some from keno funds even though that is dropping due to the smoking ban,and I am sure they will allocate the Police auditors monies to that too.
Posted by: Catherine on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:43 PM
I believe it is time to look at the records behind this entire project. With secret meetings how can it be reasonable that Kiewit & HDR get the contracts. These people had inside information making the bidding process quite stacked against others. I still see no mention of how much the cleanup down there will cost. HDR lied about having a plan approved with the EPA last year when the covenants were brought to the attention of the public. EPA will not hold a public comment period until plans are filed. Will this be the surprise for tax payers using the excuse we would have to do it anyway? These corporate men always knew who would get these contracts. I just wonder if there is anyway to bring light to the almost illegal business practices being used here. Unless of course the charter has been changed in regards to this as well. I was told by the city council we were not allowed a vote, because the charter made it illegal to do so. I have read the charter, they have changed alot.
Posted by: Beth on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:35 PM
It seems quite convenient that Kiewit goth the contract given that the chairman of Kiewit is also the chairman of the stadium committee. Ken Stinson should have stepped down from the committee in order to avoid any appearances of improprieties. Regardless if he had a say or not, as chairman of the committee there is an underlying force to go with Kiewit. What would happen to other committee members if another company such as Weitz construction got the bid. Would these committee members lose their perks on opening day? I think their needs to be full disclosure into the decision process.
Posted by: Moby on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Now we all know how much Stinson's 'free' time that he donated to the mayor's unbiased stadium committee was worth, exactly 98 million dollars! And as predicted by everyone and their brother, Keiwit & HDR are going to vastly benefit from the demise of the 'Blatt at the lowly taxpayer's expense without our voice being considered. Yeh, right, we have all heard how magnanimous donors are going to alleviate our burden but any whim can erase those promises as we witnessed with the recent Sokol fiasco during the last CWS. How can it be legal for Corporate Omaha to have such influence in a city government that is SUPPOSED to represent the people over everything else? This is the legacy of our present closed-door city governing policy that needs to change or we risk the abuse of power demonstrated consistently during this administration. There are so many loopholes that the common man has NO VOICE nor fair representation in our government anymore. To even get HEARD, we have to call WOWT!
Posted by: J on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Is ANYone surprised?
Posted by: woody on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:01 PM
WELL,Kiewit got the contract,,IMAGINE THAT!!!!
Posted by: Dave on Aug 27, 2008 at 07:13 PM
What is this actually a surprise? Thsi was signed sealed and delivered when FAhey put him on the board...It was planned from the beginning.
Posted by: hmmm on Aug 27, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Wow, that was a surprise. Did they even have to bid?
Posted by: Ozarks on Aug 27, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Where does the 30M come from?
Posted by: M on Aug 27, 2008 at 06:55 PM
This shouldn't surprise anyone-Kewitt had the contract when Kewitt's CEO was appointed to the stadium committee.
Posted by: Jarbeau on Aug 27, 2008 at 06:54 PM
I bet NOBODY expected that.
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