Crews Begin Rosenblatt Demolition

Historic Stadium Will Be Gone By Year's End

By Paul Gutierrez

CREATED 3:22 PM

Omaha, NE - It's the beginning of the end for historic Rosenblatt Stadium.  An iconic symbol for more than sixty years, the process is well underway to tear down the ball field.

Spectators watched in disbelief Wednesday.

"It's a piece of my childhood.  It's Omaha," said Mary Dilley next to her young daughter Jesse May.

"It's a sad day for Omaha's chapter," added Councilman Garry Gernandt.

Gernandt, also a lifetime resident, can still smell the popcorn and hear the crack of the bat.

"I remember when I was growing up you could hear the response when somebody hit a home run or made a great play.  You could hear that from my neighborhood," said Gernandt.

As cranes moved in to demolish the stadium, spectators stood together sharing memories to KMTV Action 3 News.

"I had been going to games for 40 years.  I just don't want to see them take it down," said Dilley.

Others are also sad to see Rosenblatt go, but are looking forward to the future as Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo begins its expansion on the historic piece of land.

"It will be good for the zoo and good for its future," said spectator Vicki Kellogg.

Crews tell us the demolition will take at least until the end of the year.  As for those iconic red, blue and yellow seats?  They'll be on display at a comemorative park.