Who else is going? http://www.omahaworldcup2017.com/
A few of us got together, ordered tickets, and booked a hotel room within easy walking distance.
Before doing so, I contacted the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau: http://www.visitomaha.com/event/fei-world-cup™-jumping-%26-fei-world-cup™-dressage-finals/22564/, as well as spoke with an individual with the Omaha Equestrian Foundation: http://www.omahaequestrian.com/
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, and I was pleasantly surprised that ones that I consider the equivalent of Plaza Level tickets at last year’s WC in Las Vegas, are only $190 in Omaha (which is significantly less). On the other hand, a lot of them were already sold (or at least held back for now). TM is mailing the tickets 45 days in advance of the event.
When looking at the arena seating chart, be aware that the first four rows of seating will not actually be present (according to the OEF representative), as that area is needed for the dressage arena space. The next five rows (Rows 5 through 9) are reserved for VIP seating. The Club areas are also shaded out at this time; the rep said that the CenturyLink Arena Club seatholders have first right of refusal for those seats (as I understand it); if and when those seats open up, some may go on sale, but he said some (most?) would probably be reserved for VIPs, competitors, etc.
I asked about the seats themselves, and was told that they are all physically the same actual seats, except that the Club ones are an inch wider.
The rep informed me that there are three levels of VIP; a table of eight is $14K, individual VIP seats are $1200 for the Dressage Finals. VIP seats include meals and drinks in the Grand Ballroom attached to the CenturyLink Arena. Those wanting VIP tickets need to contact the OEF.
He also said that the vendors will be in the Exhibition Hall (also attached to the arena), not on the Concourse; that there will be a 20,000 s.f. restaurant there, as well - along with a stage and the Warm-up Arena - so that patrons can sit, eat, drink, and watch the warm-ups.
He stated that Omaha was going for more of a “European experience,” as far as shopping, VIP amenities, etc.
As far as booking the hotels, I was unable to book the Hilton connected to the arena (which hotel was recommended to me in Las Vegas last year by Omaha vendors). The rep told me that entire hotel has been reserved for the title sponsor (Longines), competitors, etc.
The hotel link on the WC site goes back to the Omaha site, where the hotels are listed, according to distance from the venue or alphabetically, etc., viewer’s choice. Both the OEF rep and the VisitOmaha staffer to whom I spoke said that the best rates were on this website. All I know is that two of us were consistently blocked out of the WC dates when trying to access rooms through the hotel chains’ main sites (we both tried multiple hotels).
The VO person told me that was because the FEI had negotiated the best rates, and part of the contract was that the hotels could not also advertise the same low rates on their own sites; she said that the FEI had blocks of rooms, but not entire hotels. Didn’t really explain what we were running into, however.
The OEF guy stated that weather in late March in Omaha could be anywhere from 30 to 75, from wintry to a nice, sunny spring day. He also said that the downtown is very walkable and safe, that hotel airport shuttles were available, and that we needn’t rent a car.
Did my best to keep the info I learned straight on this thread; if I’ve somehow misunderstood or misquoted, I apologize in advance.
