‘Fly Together’ project expects to strengthen Creighton athletics and engage broader Omaha
By:Cindy Gonzalez
Nebraska Examiner
OMAHA — A roughly $300 million donor-funded plan is poised to reshape a 12-block recreational and athletic corridor on the east side of Creighton University — further meshing the private institution into the downtown of Nebraska’s largest city.
Creighton calls the initiative “Fly Together” and says it involves 11 new or upgraded facilities and outdoor spaces covering about 700,000 square feet of the Bluejays’ east campus.
Planned additions and improvements include a new Student Fitness Center, upgrades to the Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center and the creation of the Jaywalk, a new pedestrian passageway linking Creighton to the Builder’s District, which is a separate office, entertainment and housing site under development by Noddle Companies.
Fly Together also includes a new Sports Performance Center for Creighton’s 300 student athletes, improvements to current athletics buildings and a team facility to complement new baseball and softball fields.
Construction on some elements, including the softball competition field, baseball practice field and Sports Performance Center, have already started.
$100 million lead gift
Leading the initiative’s private contributions is a $100 million gift from the Heider Family Foundation, which Creighton described as the largest in its history. Other funders include Don Scott, CL and Rachel Werner and Larry and Linda Pearson.
The Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, Creighton’s president, highlighted what he hopes to be a stronger student body connection to downtown and broader Omaha
“This gift, and our campus master planning, is comprehensive of our people and programs,” he said. “It benefits everyone. It enhances student life, intramurals, premier club sports and intercollegiate athletics.”
Creighton, which this year welcomed the largest freshman class in history, touts a rigorous academic environment for its 8,914-member student body. But Hendrickson noted a recent focus on building that enhances “the experience” of the Creighton community.
Scott Heider, a trustee of the family foundation and a member of Creighton’s board, said the improved corridor ties Creighton’s east campus with the Builder’s District, providing a “front door” to the university.
The Builder’s District is a multimillion-dollar, mixed-use district southeast of 17th and Cuming Streets designed to include an urban park and community space, hotel, retail, restaurants, entertainment and 600 apartments. Its anchor is the new seven-story Kiewit Corp. headquarters completed in 2021.
Noddle, whose company also was master developer of Aksarben Village, said the goal is a seamless connection that blurs the line between Creighton and downtown Omaha.
“These developments are an innovative partnership,” Hendrickson said. “They bring the life of the university and the life of the city closer together than ever, continuing to build on Creighton’s investment in the urban core.”
‘The Quad’
Creighton also recently announced a nearly 6-acre “Creighton Quad” project, a 252,500-square foot quadrangle gathering space with a stage, amphitheater near 22nd and Burt Streets.
Cindy Heider, the foundation’s president, mentioned her family’s generational ties to Creighton. “That’s one of the biggest reasons we’re supporting Fly Together. Creighton is an amazing community, and we want to invite more people to be a part of it.”
Marcus Blossom, CU’s athletic director, said in a statement that he expects the investment to “help us win and help us compete with some of the best programs in the country.”
Creighton athletics has put the university in a national spotlight, supporters said, noting that it was the only school in the country to advance to the Elite Eight in men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball in the last four years.
But men’s basketball head coach Greg McDermott said Creighton competes with institutions and conferences “that have astronomical TV contracts providing support for their students.”
He said the Fly Together investment helps keep the university competitive.
Creighton leaders expect the new Student Fitness Center and upgrades to the Rasmussen Center to further build fitness, intramurals and club sports programs. This year, Creighton added six premier club sports, women’s and men’s programs for ice hockey, golf and lacrosse.