As the City of Omaha prepares to welcome fans and players from around the country for the NCAA Men’s College World Series, the Omaha Police Department is diligently coordinating an increased, proactive police effort to help best ensure the public’s safety.
Throughout the series Omaha Police will have additional officers patrolling the riverfront as well as Omaha’s Old Market area.
Below is information about the stadium's clear bag policy along with details pertaining to transportation, traffic, security and tickets.
METRO STADIUM CIRCULATOR
The Stadium Circulator connects the ballpark with downtown Omaha hotels, public parking, the Old Market and other attractions. The Stadium Circulator operates on a 90-minute schedule prior to the last inning of each game. The one-way fare is 25 cents. Signs with a baseball illustration located at each bus stop will make the route even more visible.
The Stadium Circulator will run continuously for the 2018 Opening Celebration Day on Friday, June 15th from 9:30 a.m. until 30 minutes after the festivities end. Metro Transit also operates more than a dozen routes that offer scheduled stops within walking distance of the stadium. More details on Metro’s Stadium Circulator or regular bus services can be found at www.ometro.com or by calling 1-402-341-0800 or 1-402-341-0807 TTY.
TRAFFIC AND PARKING
- Law enforcement personnel will be patrolling TD Ameritrade Park Omaha and directing traffic. For everyone’s safety, we urge both pedestrians and vehicular traffic to follow the directives of law enforcement personnel.
- Vehicles parking in MECA managed surface parking lots will be allowed to tailgate. Tailgating will be allowed inside the lot – but all grills and other personal property will need to be kept in close proximity to your vehicle and should not extend into drive lanes or additional parking spaces. Tailgating is NOT allowed in the CenturyLink Center Omaha garage. Law enforcement personnel and security officers will be monitoring activities within and surrounding all MECA managed parking lots. All personal property must be removed from parking lots at the end of each night. All MECA managed lots will open at 8 a.m. and close 90 minutes following the conclusion of the last game.
- Lot D is a “pass lot” for CWS season-ticket holders, with the exception of Opening Celebration Day, when there is limited availability for parking due to location of the fireworks set-up.
- Lot B also is a “pass lot” for CWS game days. MECA advises it will be available for paid public parking only for Opening Celebration Day on June 15th with limited availability.
- There are various private parking lots in the downtown area where vehicles are subject to private tow. Fans are encouraged to visit ParkOmaha.com or the CWS website at www.NCAA.com/CWS for information on available parking. CWS visitors should leave early and plan to arrive at least one (1) hour before the start of each game.
- If you prefer to travel on two wheels, the city is offering dedicated parking for both motorcycles and bicycles. Motorcycle parking is available on the south side of Mike Fahey Street, between 13th and 14th Streets. If you ride a bicycle, free valet service is available on the north side of Mike Fahey Street between 13th and 14th Streets. There are also additional individual bicycle racks located throughout the Old Market and North Downtown. Bicycle racks and bicycle valet parking locations are indicated on the attached map.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking is available on a first-come, first served basis in MECA managed parking lots. There is no charge for vehicles displaying the appropriate hang tag or license plate. (ADA) Parking is available, but limited in Lots A, B, and D (with a lot D pass) on the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha/CenturyLink Center Omaha campus. Those needing ADA parking should plan to arrive early to secure a spot.
- AAA Nebraska is offering free tow, lockout, and jumpstart service to any patrons at the CWS from noon to 10 p.m. each game day. To receive service, call 1-800-AAA-HELP or contact an officer stationed near TD Ameritrade Park.
Persons with disabilities may be dropped off on the southwest side of the stadium near the corner of 12th and Mike Fahey Streets. Elevators are located south of the ticket windows near Gate #2 as well as south of Gate #1 at the Suite/Club Entrance on 13th Street.
Please, do not leave any valuables inside your vehicle.
Taxi Stand: Taxi stands will be located at 12th and Cass and between Capitol and Cass on 10th Street and on Cuming Street next to the Holiday Inn. Numerous taxis will be available for transportation.
Pedicabs: Pedicabs will stage on 12th and Mike Fahey Street, across from TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. A link to the city ordinance regarding pedicab operation is below. Pedicab Ordinance
Ride-Share: The ride-share pickup and drop-off will be located towards the north end of the cutout along 10th Street in front of CenturyLink Center Omaha. Signs will be posted.
SECURITY
Law enforcement personnel and security officers will be at all entrances of the stadium to screen fans and employees. Guests should anticipate a brief “wanding” before entrance is permitted into the stadium.
A clear and small bag policy is currently in effect at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha and will be enforced throughout the NCAA Men’s College World Series.
Bags that adhere to this policy include:
- Clear, uncolored plastic bags.
- Small or clutch-sized purses or wallets, not exceeding 4.5 inches tall by 6.5 inches long.
- One-gallon, clear plastic freezer bags are permitted.
- Diaper bags must be clear plastic.
- Exceptions will be made for bags of medical necessity after a brief search.
Members of the media will be permitted to bring necessary camera or computer bags through the Gate 4 entrance after inspection. For more information or a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit TD Ameritrade Park Omaha’s website at: http://www.tdameritradeparkomaha.com/Information/ClearBagPolicy.aspx
If you see something, say something. Omaha Police encourage all patrons to practice extra vigilance throughout the CWS and urge the public to immediately report any suspicious behavior or unattended items to nearby officers, or by calling 911.
Additionally, per Nebraska State Law open containers of alcohol are not allowed on public streets. Officers will be enforcing “open container” and “minor in possession” violations.
ITEMS NOT ALLOWED IN THE STADIUM
- Oversized, opaque bags of any kind (with the exception of medically necessary bags).
- Bottles or cans.
- Outside food or drink (20-ounce or smaller, empty, clear-plastic bottles will be allowed for water).
- Food or drink coolers.
- Frisbees or beach balls.
- Large umbrellas.
- Laser pointers.
- Noise-making devices of any kind (i.e. bells, whistles, horns, etc.)
- Fireworks.
- Illegal drugs or alcohol.
- Weapons of any kind, including lawfully concealed firearms.
- Commercial signs or banners without the prior approval of MECA.
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drones) are not permitted on MECA’s campus
- Selfie-sticks.
- Hoverboards.
- Any item deemed to challenge public safety.
Banned items must be disposed of before an individual may gain entrance to ballpark.
Cameras ARE permitted for still photography and video for personal use, but lens length must be no longer than approximately one inch and no additional detachable lenses will be permitted.
The FAA mandates that a five-mile radius from an airport is a controlled air space. The FAA created controlled air spaces for the purpose of protecting national security and public safety. The area including TD Ameritrade Park and the CenturyLink Center falls within the five-mile zone surrounding Eppley Airfield. As a consequence, anyone wishing to operate an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) within this controlled air space must comply with all regulations mandated and enforced by the FAA. These requirements include (but are not limited to) filing for and receiving an exemption to the controlled air space, registration of the UAV, navigation of the device by a licensed pilot and notifying the airport operator and control tower.
Low-speed vehicles and motorized cart restrictions: the operation of “motorized carts” is prohibited in Omaha.
Motorized cart: All four-wheel vehicles which are motor driven and no more than 76 inches in overall length and no more than 26 inches in height. For the purposes of this article, the terms "karts," "carts," "go-carts," "go-karts" and motorized cars coming within the above specifications shall be included and are intended to be included in the definition of "motorized cart."
60-6,380. [KE2] Certain “low speed vehicles” are allowed on Omaha streets:
A low-speed vehicle may be operated on any highway on which the speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour. A low-speed vehicle may cross a highway on which the speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour. Nothing in this section shall prevent a county, city, or village from adopting more stringent ordinances governing low-speed vehicle operation if the governing body of the county, city, or village determines that such ordinances are necessary and in the interest of public safety. Any person operating a low-speed vehicle as authorized under this section shall have a valid, Class O operator's license and shall have liability insurance coverage for the low-speed vehicle. The Department of Roads may prohibit the operation of low-speed vehicles on any highway under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of public safety.
Low-speed vehicle means a four-wheeled motor vehicle (a) whose speed attainable in one mile is more than 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour on a paved, level surface, (b) whose gross vehicle weight rating is less than 3,000 pounds, and (c) that complies with 49 C.F.R. part 571, as such part existed on January 1, 2011.
Low-speed vehicles are considered “Motor Vehicles”; therefore, must be registered in accordance with 60-383.02. The fee for such registration is $15.
Since low-speed vehicles are classified as “Motor Vehicle”, they must comply with the “Rules of the Road” the same as any other motor vehicle.
All Statutes pertaining to the Rules of the Road will be enforced.
Low-speed vehicles can NOT be used as a “taxi” type service. This includes charging an actual “fare” or any gratuity based transportation service. These vehicles however, can be used as a hospitality/courtesy transport (where no money is exchanged).
DIETARY CONCERNS
Guests with special dietary needs or concerns are urged to email guestservices@omahameca.com prior to entering the stadium. You can call TD Ameritrade Park Omaha at 402-546-1800 the day of the game with any questions about what’s allowed into the stadium.
OTHER STADIUM INFORMATION
- Gates open 2 hours in advance of game time (parking lots open at 8 a.m. for all game days).
- Fans must leave between games. Gates will reopen either two hours before the next game, or if less than two hours, once the stadium had been cleared.
- Anyone needing to leave and then re-enter the stadium must be screened again before re-entry.
- No overnight parking will be allowed in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha parking lots.
- Parking lots will close 90 minutes after the last game of the day. Any vehicles left overnight will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- Due to security measures and limited parking availability, please allow extra time to find parking and your seats.
- TD Ameritrade Park Omaha is a smoke-free facility. Any person who refuses to comply with the policy shall be subject to ejection from the facility. Smoking areas are located outside all entry gates. Smokers must stay 20 feet away from the gate entrance. Electronic or vapor cigarettes are also prohibited.
- A temporary AM Radio station will be established to broadcast CWS info. The channel, at AM 1670, can be heard within three miles of the stadium.
- Emergency alerts and other public safety information specific to the CWS and the area around the stadium will be sent using the Ping4 mobile app, http://www.ping4.com/.
CWS TICKETS
Tickets may not be resold for more than face value on the grounds of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, or within a ½ mile radius of the stadium. The Omaha Police Department will be actively enforcing all scalping laws.
- Reserved tickets for games 1-4 and finals games 1-3 show a face value of $37.00, $40.00 or $43.00.
- Reserved tickets for games 5, 7, 11, show a face value of $32.00, $35.00 or $38.00.
- Reserved tickets for games 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 show a face value of $35.00, $38.00 or $41.00.
- Club seat prices are $70 for games 1-4, $65.00 for games 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12, and $60 for games 5, 7, 11,
- The “if necessary games” on Saturday are called Bracket 1 and Bracket 2. The prices for reserved seats are $32, $35, $38. Club seat prices for these “if necessary games” are $60.
- A book of 10 general admission tickets is $90.
- General Admission individual tickets purchased at the box office are $15.00.
For more information or assistance, call the CWS of Omaha Inc. hotline at (402) 554-4404.
Please note that the box office will use dynamic pricing for all games, therefore day of game ticket prices may be higher than the advance sale prices. Tickets will be electronically scanned. Once scanned, the ticket is cancelled. The only way to ensure tickets are valid is to purchase them through the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha Box Office (once the College World Series begins), Flash Seats or the NCAA Ticket Exchange. Click on http://ncaa.com/cwstickets for more details.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
The line for fans with general admission tickets will begin near Gate 3 (on the southeast side) along 10th Street. Signage and stadium staff will help guide line formation. Maps are also available at the box office.
RESERVED SEATING TICKET PURCHASES
There will be a limited number of reserved-seating tickets available for each game being played that day. Those who wish to purchase tickets will need to assemble near Gate 2 (southwest corner) at the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha box office.
Starting at about 9 a.m., a random drawing will be held every game day to determine the order in which fans may line up to purchase reserved seat tickets. The random drawing process is in place to provide the fairest ticket sales process possible to all fans. By removing the incentive to arrive early, the random drawing saves time for ticket purchasers and significantly decreases the chance for scalpers to be the first in line. Scalpers have historically paid people to arrive hours before a sale in order to ensure a space at the front of the line.
About 30 minutes before tickets go on sale, each person 16 years of age or older will be assigned a number. That number will also be put into a box. A box office member will then randomly draw a number from the box. The person holding that number becomes the first person in line. The remaining guests will fall in line behind according to their number. For example, if No. 5 is drawn, the person assigned No. 5 becomes the first in line; followed by numbers 6, 7, 8 and so on. This continues until the highest number originally handed out is reached. After that, the person newly assigned No. 1 will join the line, followed by the remaining people in the order of the numbers they are holding with the person having No. 4 becoming the last in line. Anyone who arrives after the numbers are handed out would join the line behind the last person holding a number.
We recommend that the general public visit the CWS websites at www.ncaa.com/CWS or www.CWSomaha.com for additional information. You can also contact TD Ameritrade Park Omaha at 402-546-1800 (once the College World Series begins) if you have any questions during the CWS.