Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act

A Nebraska political subdivision may apply for state financial assistance through the Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR) to help acquire, construct, improve, equip, or finance an eligible sports arena facility.

There are several types of eligible sports arena facilities:

1. A publicly owned, enclosed and temperature-controlled sports arena with a permanent seating capacity of 3,000 to 7,000;
2. A racetrack enclosure licensed by the State Racing Commission;
3. A privately owned concert venue;
4. A privately or publicly owned sports complex, that includes multiple indoor or outdoor competitive sports venues such as baseball fields, softball fields, swimming pools, multipurpose fields, or indoor arenas; or
5. A large public stadium with permanent seating of 5,500 to 7,500 but not to exceed 10,000 seats.

The state assistance, or turnback, could include up to 70% of state sales tax collected within the arena, on ticket sales for events in the arena, and on all or a part of state sales tax collected by retailers located within 600 yards of the eligible sports arena facility, or up to 25% of the aforementioned sales tax collected if the facility is located in a second class city or village. See Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-3101 to 13-3110.

For information on applying for state assistance, a detailed description of the types of venues that qualify as an eligible sports arena facility, the procedures for approval, and how and when the state assistance that is approved will be distributed, see DOR’s information guide entitled The Sports Arena Facilities Financing Assistance Act.

Every person collecting and reporting sales tax for taxable sales or services made on the premises of or delivered to the Liberty First Credit Union Arena (formerly Ralston Arena) or the Kearney Indoor Sports Complex must remit this form.

For additional information regarding the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act, please contact both Sinway Bouzid at 402-471-5669 or sinway.bouzid@nebraska.gov AND Julie McNaughton at 402-471-1445 or julie.mcnaughton@nebraska.gov.