CHI Health Center Omaha

Omaha's arena and convention center, formerly the CenturyLink Center

CHI Health Center Omaha is the city-owned arena and convention center at 455 North 10th Street, on the north edge of downtown Omaha. Its main tenant is Creighton University men's basketball, and it is the region's largest indoor stop for concerts, NCAA tournament games, rodeo, wrestling and family shows. It seats 18,320 for basketball. For a Creighton game, the best seats are the lower midcourt sections 105 and 121; for value, the front rows of upper midcourt sections 205 and 221 give the same centered angle from higher up.

The building has had three names. It opened in 2003 as the Qwest Center Omaha, became the CenturyLink Center Omaha on July 15, 2011, and took the CHI Health name effective September 1, 2018. The seats, section numbers and parking lots did not change with the names, so an older CenturyLink Center seating chart still matches the room. The nonprofit Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) runs it for the city.

How the bowl is laid out: 100 level, 200 level and the floor

The arena is a two-level bowl: a lower bowl the venue calls the Main Level, and an Upper Level above the concourse. Section numbers below come from the RateYourSeats section directory and match the section references on the arena's own guest-services pages.

Lower level: sections 101–129

The 100 level wraps the court. Section 105 sits at midcourt on one sideline and 121 faces it from the other side. The sections on either side of those (103–104 and 106–108 on one side, 119–120 and 122 on the other) are the rest of the sideline seating. Higher-numbered and lower-numbered sections past those wrap the corners and the baselines. The arena's Guest Services desk sits outside Section 116.

Upper level: sections 201–232

The 200 level repeats the pattern above: 205 and 221 are the upper midcourt sections, directly above 105 and 121. The upper level is where the price drops most, and the sideline sections in its first rows are the best value in the building.

Floor and suites

For concerts the floor is sold in lettered blocks (Floor A, B, C and so on), with B and E listed as the center floor blocks for an end-stage show. Premium suites hold up to 33 people, and the Lexus Club on the main concourse is limited to ticket holders with club access.

Best seats for Creighton games, concerts and big events

Creighton basketball

Midcourt is the pick: 105 and 121 downstairs, then the sideline sections beside them. Mid-level rows in those sections see over the courtside seats without losing the sense of speed. The baseline sections behind the baskets are cheaper but foreshorten the far end of the court, and the stanchion sits in the line of sight from the lowest rows. For the overview at a lower cost, take a low row in 205, 221 or the upper sideline sections next to them.

Concerts

Capacity is 18,100 for an end-stage show and 18,975 for a center-stage show. For end stage, the floor straight back from the stage gives the most direct view, and the lower side sections closest to the stage (the 103–107 and 120–123 ranges) are the nearest elevated seats. Side sections along the stage end look at the performers from an angle and can miss video screens. For a center-stage or in-the-round show, the lower sideline seats are the closest raised view and the floor depends on how the promoter splits it.

Seats to avoid

• End-stage concerts, sections beside or behind the stage: partial views of the stage and screens, when they are sold at all.
• Top rows of the upper corners: the farthest seats in the building, with a sharp angle to the court.
• Low baseline rows at basketball: the basket support blocks part of the court.

CHI Health Center parking and getting there

The arena controls four surface lots, A through D, plus an attached garage. Lot A is on the southeast side next to the garage, Lot B is beside the Hilton Omaha, Lot C is next to Charles Schwab Field one block west, and Lot D is across the street from Lot C. As of 2026, the arena lists surface lots and the garage at flat per-entry rates, with RVs and buses charged more; prices and availability vary by event, so check the event page.

• Accessible parking: first come, first served in the garage and every lot, with a valid hang tag or plate.
• Closing time: lots close 90 minutes after an event ends, and vehicles left overnight may be towed.
• Drop-off: use the zones along 10th Street on the west side or Capitol Street on the south side; parking there is not allowed.
• Tailgating: Ticketmaster's venue guide reports that tailgating is allowed in all lots.

The Hilton Omaha is linked to the building by skywalk, and Eppley Airfield is roughly three miles away, which makes this one of the easier arenas in the region for out-of-town fans.

CHI Health Center bag policy and entry rules

As of 2026, the arena enforces a clear bag policy for arena events. Each ticket holder may bring one bag: a clear, uncolored plastic tote, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch or wallet no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Medical bags must be searched and tagged by security, and diaper bags must be clear. The arena cannot hold bags, so a non-compliant bag goes back to the car.

• Screening: everyone passes through metal detectors.
• Re-entry: arena events are no re-entry; see Guest Services first in an emergency.
• Water: one empty clear plastic bottle of 20 ounces or less is allowed.
• Doors: usually 60 to 90 minutes before the event.
• Smoking: the building is smoke-free, including e-cigarettes; outdoor areas are near Sections 110 and 204.

Convention center events may follow different rules. Read the arena's clear bag page before you go.

Food, accessibility and the box office

Concession stands circle both concourses. Lower-level stands sit near Sections 101, 108, 116, 119 and 124, and the upper level has stands near 204, 206, 220 and 222, according to the Ticketmaster venue guide. Free assistive listening receivers are available at Guest Services outside Section 116, and complimentary wheelchair escorts can be requested from security on arrival. Elevators and escalators serve every public area. The box office is inside the west entrance on 10th Street and does not take cash.

Capacity and history of the Qwest Center building

CHI Health Center seats 18,320 for basketball, 17,100 for hockey, 18,100 for an end-stage concert and 18,975 for a center-stage concert. When it opened, the bowl was smaller; a 2006 expansion added about 1,500 seats.

Ground was broken on March 1, 2001, and the arena opened on September 12, 2003, with a private Grand Funk Railroad concert, followed by the full complex on September 20. DLR Group designed it and Kiewit built it, at a cost of about 291 million dollars. The adjoining convention center has a 194,000-square-foot exhibition hall. The arena hosted the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021 in temporary pools, NCAA men's basketball tournament games including the 2018 Midwest Regional and 2024 opening rounds, five NCAA women's volleyball Final Fours, and the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, usually on the first Saturday in May. The UNO Mavericks played hockey here from 2003 to 2015 before moving to Baxter Arena. Omaha voters approved bonds for a convention center expansion in November 2024, with construction starting in 2025.

Sources

• Wikipedia – CHI Health Center Omaha
• CHI Health Center – Arena clear bag policy
• CHI Health Center – Guest services FAQ
• Ticketmaster – Step Inside: CHI Health Center
• RateYourSeats – CHI Health Center sections