Lincoln Approves Arena

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic department is saving about $30 million, thanks to Lincoln voters who approved a new downtown arena.

Athletic director Tom Osborne said Wednesday that having the men’s and women’s basketball teams move into the 16,000-seat arena in 2013 will allow Nebraska to scale back its renovation of the 34-year-old Devaney Sports Center. The plan now calls for $20 million in repairs rather than a $50 million update.

Osborne says the arena, along with a new on-campus practice facility, will put the Cornhuskers among the top 10 percent nationally in basketball facilities.

He also says the arena should help the struggling Huskers’ men’s team become more competitive.