U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:55:12 GMT

The below message is from Erin Sullivan of Omaha, for those going to the Olympic Trials (as spectators): Hi All, I have been looking in Omaha for workout time for Masters swimmers during the week of the Olympic Trials. I need some feedback from you. I have found a pool that currently has lanes available from 5:30 am 8:00 am. I thought I would shoot for a 1 hour workout although we could go for 1 ½ hours. I can reserve 5 lanes from 6am 7am (someone already took one of them). We could have all 6 lanes for the first 30 minutes if we start at 5:30am. Also, how many days? I can reserve for 8 days (Sunday June 29th through Sunday, July 6th). How many folks do you think would show up? How much do you think I should charge? If I charge $5/hour I would have to be guaranteed that 15 swimmers show up so I do not lose any money. Also, do you think there should be a coach on deck each morning with a pre-determined workout (this definitely makes the most sense to me) like we have at convention? I am going to continue to check on other options and will let you know. Just wanted some feedback regarding how much interest you really think there is. Thanks, Erin Sullivan

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:12:04 GMT

Published Friday, September 21, 2007 Mini-ticket packages on sale for swimming BY RICHARD EGAN OMAHA WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER Ticket sales for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha are expected to get a boost with the release of mini-session packages. "We've just gone on sale with mini packages after quite a bit of feedback from people who were thinking we're sold out, and that's not the case," said Harold Cliff, the chief operating officer for the June 29-to-July 6 event at Qwest Center Omaha. Approximately 5,000 full-session packages have been sold, Cliff said. About 11,000 seats will be available for each session. Once installed, the temporary swimming pool will cover the first 10 rows usually used for Qwest Center events. "Until we released the mini-packages, the only tickets that were available were full-session," Cliff said. "Early sales have been really strong, and the full-session packages will still be available." There are three mini-packages available: • Sunday-Monday, four sessions (morning and night each day), $84 and $112 per seat. • Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday, six sessions, $126 and $168. • Friday-Saturday-Sunday, five sessions (no Sunday morning session), $105 and $140. Cliff didn't have any numbers on how the mini-packages were selling. "The intent," he said, "is to give local people who aren't into seeing that much swimming — eight days worth — a chance to come out and enjoy what's really going to be a great event." Cliff said single-session ticket sales are not planned. "We're hoping not to have to," he said. "We'll see how well the mini-session sales go, and then make that determination later on, much closer to the event." Cliff stressed that with preliminary heats beginning in the morning and the top eight swimmers in each day's event advancing to the finals at night, there is no "best day" to attend. "It makes a great Christmas present," Cliff said. "There's not a bad seat in the house." Cliff said he expects crowds to include far more out-of-towners than locals. "There will be at least 1,000 athletes," Cliff said. "We estimate that 3½ people will accompany each individual, including family and followers. There are 18,000 hotel rooms set aside for bookings, and that's a very large number of people for a city this size." The 2004 Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif., held in a parking lot near the Pacific Ocean with seating for 10,000 per session, sold a total of 110,000 tickets. The week will feature 26 events, but no relays. Generally the four fastest swimmers in a particular event will make up an Olympic relay team. Adding to the pressure facing participants, each country can enter only two swimmers per event in the Olympics. That means a third-place finish, which usually means a trip to the medals stand, won't cut it. Cliff said the sessions will be identical to the Olympic program, including the atmosphere. He declined to detail the plans. "That's a secret, but I can tell you: People will want to come back," he said. Cliff recently returned from a trip to the Myrtha pool manufacturing headquarters north of Milan, Italy. "We were checking out the newest technology for things like setting it up," he said, "and it was a good trip." ---

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Rob Copeland — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:51:32 GMT

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Omaha or Nebraska in general. I know that our fearless leader (Rob) would like to think he can answer all but he has been gone for so long that he probably will not even recognize Omaha.Thanks Erin!!!!!! And what do you mean I’ve been gone so long!?!?:cane: By the way does the Pony Express still have a station downtown?

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

erinswim — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:18:50 GMT

Don't think you will find any rooms at the hotels within walking distance of the Qwest. I am sure participating athletes and administrators took all long ago.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

erinswim — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:16:55 GMT

I am the President (for life) of the Omaha Masters Swim Club. I will move up on my list of things to do finding a pool for Masters to swim in while they are here in Omaha for the Trials next year. I will keep you all posted and will try to have some ideas before Convention. Look my at at Convention because I hope to have lots more information to share with you then. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Omaha or Nebraska in general. I know that our fearless leader (Rob) would like to think he can answer all but he has been gone for so long that he probably will not even recognize Omaha. I would guess that the hotels that are within walking distance of the Qwest Center were booked solid months ago.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Rob Copeland — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:21:32 GMT

The Omaha Masters have a very good program and a great coach (Todd Samland). Information can be found at www.omahamastersswim.com . There also used to be a Masters program (and probably still is) at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Check out USMS places to swim for more details. www.usms.org/placswim/placswimform.php?LMSCID=29

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:30:30 GMT

I did a little research and there is a masters team in Lincoln but they swim at the campus rec center not the bob devaney sports center. Too bad.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 06:33:54 GMT

I grew up in Nebraska & graduated from Univ. of Nebr for my undergraduate. Omaha is actually a really fun place with lots of fun bars, restaurants, etc. I'm not sure about Omaha's pools but Lincoln has the Bob Devaney sports center pool, which I got to swim it extensively in '83 and '84 for swimming camp. I remember that the gutters were enormous, and the lane lines were triple lines. No waves in that pool. I'm not sure if a master's team works out at the bob devaney pool but if so I would think it's worth the trip from Omaha because it's such a great pool. I would like to swim there again someday.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:28:13 GMT

Still trying to figure the whole thing out logistically....if I do go I can stay at my dad's over in Craig....not to far from Omaha....would like to take my son and let him see what a really big meet is like!!!!

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:51:42 GMT

Are the hotels in the area close enough to walk to the venue easily? For those of us who need to fly in, and are too young:p to rent a car? Morgan

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:18:30 GMT

Try the Pink Poodle Steakhouse, just over the river in Crescent, IA. And yes, I'll be there! Thanks, Rob. We'll try it.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:14:31 GMT

Are the hotels in the area close enough to walk to the venue easily? For those of us who need to fly in, and are too young to rent a car? Morgan Morgan, you may want to find a motel where some other USMS swimmers are staying (check Rich Abrahams post re the Hilton) and just see about bumming a ride. I'm sure that we or Rich could accomodate you if you can get a room at the Council Bluffs motel where we are staying. It also might be possible to find a way for someone you know just to pick you up and drop you off at whatever motel....

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:09:24 GMT

Mel, Thanks for the motel suggestion. It made me get off my butt and make a reservation at the Comfort Suites in Council Bluffs where you and Grace will be staying. I'm paying slightly over $100 (with 2 per room). Did you get some sort of geezer rate? According to Mapquest, it's only 2.6 miles from the Qwest Center. The other Comfort Suites on Bedford is over 16 miles away. I checked out the Hilton right next to the Center but, of course, it was sold out. See you Sept. 9 at Highlands Ranch? Rich Hi Rich, we probably got the over 50 rate. The interesting thing is that Susan told me that she got her room for about $80 a night. By the time we made the reservation (at Mission Viejo) it was already higher. So they must be smelling us coming and raising the rates as time goes on. As for Highlands Ranch, we'll be in Denver that day for Grace to do a run. I may see if we can get by for a couple of events after she is done running. However, it is billed as Colorado Masters vs UW and I'm now swimming for Arizona. I'll email Matt and see what he will allow. Otherwise, we are planning to do the Kevin Nash memorial meet at the end of October.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Rich Abrahams — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:37:54 GMT

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:57:37 GMT

As the event approaches, we'll have to organize some workouts and maybe some meals. I suspect that our Fearless Kitty-Leader, Mr. Copeland, will be there. Rumor has it that he knows one of the competitors... ;) Anna Lea

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:48:03 GMT

We're staying at the Comfort Suites in Council Bluffs, just three miles and a Miss River bridge cossing away from the pool. Got this tip from Susan von der Lippe & it turned out to be a pretty good choice. Not Anna Lea's low price, but under $100...

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Rob Copeland — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:18:55 GMT

AND, if you want a really great steak, where would you go? Try the Pink Poodle Steakhouse, just over the river in Crescent, IA. And yes, I'll be there!:banana::banana::banana:

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:36:20 GMT

:bump: For those of you going... You might want to think about getting hotel reservations now. I'm at the Comfort Suites at 10503 Bedford Avenue. $67.49/night for a king suite with microwave, fridge, and free high-speed Internet. Anna Lea

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Sat, 26 May 2007 07:23:27 GMT

Omaha, are you going to take that?

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:59:26 GMT

AND, if you want a really great steak, where would you go? Anyone who answers the Outback Steakhouse will NOT be dining with me at the Trials. I know the answer. But since we'll be three hours away from Kansas City, a locally-owned Omaha restaurant will have to do... ;) I'll be there July 3-6, Section 220, Row P. Anna Lea

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

knelson — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:08:00 GMT

I herebye nominate Paul 'Too Tall' Smith to be demonstration subject for all exercises, esp. 30lb medicine ball gut reflex drop. I hear he's pretty good at 12 oz curls, too!:drink:

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:47:29 GMT

Hey - let's keep the Nebraska jokes to a minimum! I grew up in Nebraska & graduated from Univ. of Nebr for my undergraduate. Omaha is actually a really fun place with lots of fun bars, restaurants, etc. AND, if you want a really great steak, where would you go? Anyone who answers the Outback Steakhouse will NOT be dining with me at the Trials. I'm not sure about the wine, so I'll probably bring my own bottles of Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estates Cabernets along just for safety.

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:25:53 GMT

Hey - let's keep the Nebraska jokes to a minimum! :mooning: I grew up in Nebraska & graduated from Univ. of Nebr for my undergraduate. Omaha is actually a really fun place with lots of fun bars, restaurants, etc. It is larger then people think because of all of the suburbs and Lincoln is only an hour away if you want to check out a great college town. :wine:

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 05:07:33 GMT

Rich, Grace & I got a pair of tickets in section 203, also by the start/finish line. Looks like we'll be able to lob beer cans and peanuts at you and your buddies from where we sit. Or, don't they do that at the Olympic Trials? Maybe I'm thinking of Wrestlemania...

RE: U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

Former Member — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:04:00 GMT

Rich, how did you find the right place on Ticketmaster? When I put in Omaha, it wouldn't let me fast forward to next year. I seemed to be limited to the next 60 days. I didn't see it anywhere else and USA Swimming wasn't specific. Grace & I are both hoping to go.