What can an artist do when they’re too large for small local venues or the Holland Center or Orpheum Theater but not big enough to play an arena show?
With Omaha’s lack of a mid-size venue with a 1500-3K capacity, they were bypassing Omaha on tour routes because there was nowhere they could play.
2019
Announcing a new venue to fill the gap
- In October, O-pa announces plans to expand its downtown campus with a new mid-size live music venue. After studying similar successful venues in other parts of the country, it was clear this new facility would provide quality of life and economic benefits to Omaha.
2020
Site preparations begin
- Site preparations begin in June. The venue will be built across from the Holland Center, between Dodge Street and Capitol Avenue from 11th to 12th Streets. Kiewit Building Group will construct the venue with project management by TRI Project Solutions.
- The building design was created by NYC-based architecture firm Ennead Architects, original designers of the Holland Center. Other project team members included Holland Basham Architects, Threshold Acoustics, and Fisher Dachs.
2021
Breaking ground for Steelhouse
- The name Steelhouse Omaha is announced for the new venue at its official groundbreaking on May 20. The concept of steelhouse and its metal-clad facade harkens back to the manufacturing history of the area. Designer Stephen Chu said: “In some ways, it's taking that aesthetic and giving a bookend to the old downtown district over there, and giving it new presence and revitalizing that typology as a place for people to gather, to be together and to produce something creative.”
2022
Things get real
- In January, the world’s leading live entertainment company Live Nation is announced as the exclusive promoter for bringing shows to Steelhouse Omaha.
- In July, O-pa announces the grand opening of Steelhouse Omaha will be Friday, May 12, 2023, followed by a week of activities.
- In October, Steelhouse Omaha’s signage lights turn on for the first time.
- In November, the large and small marquees are lifted by crane into place at the main entrance on the Southeast corner.
2023
Steelhouse Omaha opens its doors
- Steelhouse Omaha opens its doors on May 12. A sold-out concert with The Killers kicks off a week of opening celebrations including an open house with performances by Central High School Jazz Band, Nebraska All Stars, Omaha Girls Rock, Salem Baptist Church Choir, and Enjoli and Timeless, as well as the launch of Hip Hop Lab and Family Weekend featuring Compagnia TPO’s “Butterflies” and Squonk Opera’s “Hand to Hand.”
- By December, it is already an award-winning venue. Steelhouse is named by major industry publication Pollstar as one of six nominees nationwide for “New Concert Venue of the Year.” The venue’s project partners are recognized for excellence in construction and engineering by the AGC Nebraska’s Build Nebraska Award for 2023 and 2024 ACEC Texas Engineering Excellence Awards.
2024
Celebrating year one
- Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Duran Duran play a sold-out anniversary concert on May 17 closing out an exciting first year full of amazing shows like Fleet Foxes, Flaming Lips, Elvis Costello, Counting Crows, Colter Wall, $not, Bryson Tiller, Ilana Glazer, Baby Metal, and so many more.
