Here are some of our photographs and descriptions of the CWS food sampled at the College World Series Food Tasting 2022 at Charles Schwab Field Omaha:
So how can you have more than one favorite? Go the the College World Series this year and find out for yourself and sample these restaurant quality offerings.
Up next? More food and interviews! Please visit back later to view.
OmahaNebraska.com interviewed Omaha mayor, Jean Stothert, after the College World Series Pre-Game Press Conference.
There have been many changes over the last many years from Rosenblatt to here. What are some of the more noticeable changes and what were your favorite changes?
Well, I mean we built a brand-new stadium, a brand-new state of the art stadium to keep the College World Series for 25 years. And so there’s been just a multitude of changes. But I think the most important thing is working with the CWS and the NCAA and MECA that we were able to create a state of the art stadium that will keep the College World Series here for years.
What my parts are my favorite? I would say I love this out here [motions to the entire stadium] that it gives people a lot more room to walk around. I love the big screen. I love how the seating is. It’s just a beautiful stadium so it all works together.
Do you have any favorite baseball memories? I am sure that it’s hard to pick just one or two.
I can’t say that I have one favorite memory. I enjoyed coming in College World Series when it was at Rosenblatt.
I was here for the first game in the new stadium. I think from Omahan perspective, I think one of my favorite memories would have to be sitting in this stadium for the first time.
That’s wonderful. I know that it contributes quite a bit to the economic development of Omaha.
It’s estimated that the College World Series brings in between 75 and 80 million dollars.
And so you know, those years that we didn’t have it because of the pandemic . . . the trickle down was enormous because the hotels weren’t filled, the restaurants weren’t filled, bars weren’t filled. It made a big impact. I thought last year showed that because the first year was back in person we had record breaking crowds, and everybody just wanted to get out and be outside and enjoy some activity. And so, it really just encouraged people to be out again, and the College World Series is something that I think Omahans love and can’t wait for every year.
It’s been wonderful to watch all these things grow and develop and now Gene Leahy Mall is getting its refresh. Can you tell us a little about what is coming up please?
Sure, there’s 90 acres of city owned property. It’s the Gene Leahy Mall. Go east Heartland of America Park and then you go north to Lewis and Clark Park Landing. That whole area. We are working in cooperation with the private sector. And when it’s all done, it’s going to be about a $400 million project and the city put in $50 million and the rest is private. And so that just really shows that the good public private partnerships that we have in Omaha and the investment that is going on in Omaha right now.
The Gene Leahy Mall will open the first of July, and it’s fantastic. We’ve raised it up to the street level so it’s usable. It’s usable for events. The old mall was pretty, but you couldn’t use it for anything. I think when people get in it, they are going to love it.
I toured it the other day and it’s gorgeous. It has something for everybody. And then it will go on down to Heartland of America Park which will connect us right to the river. That’s our most important geographic feature we have. We live on the river, so that park will go all the way down to the river and then north to Lewis and Clark Landing where a beautiful new STEM museum will be down there that Kiewit is the major funder. That portion of it, Heartland and Lewis and Clark Landing, should be open by August of next year. So everything is moving along. They are right on schedule. They’re keeping it within budget. And it will be done. And it’s going to just spur development downtown and it already has. With Mutual of Omaha coming downtown now and there’s a new hotel in the Landmark. There’s a lot of other investors looking at downtown because of what we are building downtown. We are pretty much building a new downtown.
It looks so different, but then a lot of the favorite features are still there.
Yes.
Everyone is so happy that you kept the arch and the slides.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, we wanted to incorporate everything in there and it will remain the Gene Leahy Mall.
Thank you.
Hurray! The College World Series is back and it’s time for another interview with the Executive Director for College World Series of Omaha, Inc. This is one of my favorite Omaha events and Omaha interviews.
Thank you to Kathryn Morrissey, Executive Director, College World Series of Omaha, Inc. for the interview for CWS 2021 update on 11 June 2021.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
Kathryn Morrissey, Executive Director of College World Series of Omaha. This is my 33rd year working on the College World Series and we are thrilled that we are actually playing baseball this year.
I am so looking forward to it as well.
What new changes have there been with either equipment or the facility?
You know in terms of the facility, one of the biggest changes is that we through the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority-They have gone campus-wide to digital tickets-in other words, anyone attending the Swim Trials or were attending the basketball Creighton games this last winter. All the tickets are digital as they are TD Ameritrade Park.
That is a change but it just reflects what is happening nationally. Everybody whether it is an airline ticket or a ticket to a play or something along those lines. It seem like everything is going digital. So, we are joining that group too.
How will that work?
You know at this point, all of our season tickets have been offered to season ticket holders in a digital format. We had our advanced sale that started this last Monday, June 7th, and those were also offered online on https://www.ncaatickets.com/championship/college-world-series . So far we’ve even had one event sold out that would be Saturday night. So, apparently people figured out how to make that work.
That’s good.
Yes.
Are there any new security or safety measures or changes that the fans might need to be aware of ahead of time?
Well, MECA is certainly the experts in terms of commenting on which changes have been made during the age of COVID. Certainly, one of the ones that I am aware of that fans will want to know about is that the concessions are cashless now. That means that obviously you’ll want to bring your credit card to the ballpark but also and if you are a fan that likes to use cash, there will be a revers ATM available. So, you can bring in cash and convert it into a debit type card that can be used at the ballpark and used else where after the College World Series.
Wow. That’s the first time I have heard of that. How does the reverse ATM work?
Basically for example, you will take, for example, a $20 dollar bill and feed it into the machine and then out pops something that looks and functions like a credit card but it is obviously limited to the amount of money that you load it on.
Thank you.
Any other changes for the fans?
You know there will be some other changes. For the first time and only for this year, the general admission-the outfield spaces will not be sold in the traditional general admission format. There are a lot of good reasons for that relating to the health and safety of the fans attending still in the age of COVID; recommendations that have been put in place from the NCAA’s advisory team.
So this year, those will be our lowest price reserve seats and the prices will vary depending on popularity of the game. But for example, the first weekend and the finals are the most popular. Those are $30 dollars this year plus ticket master fees. During the week nights, they will be $25 and then during the weekday afternoons they will be $20. The advantage, of course, is to have a reserve seat that we will actually be assigning people to specific section, row and seat number and the bench-style seats do have seat numbers. We actually utilized those as recently as the Major League Baseball game in 2019.
[To read OmahaNebraska.com’s interview with MLB Tiger’s GM Al Avila’s 2019 visit for that game, go to www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omahanebraska-com-interview-with-al-avila-vp-and-gm-of-the-detroit-tigers]
Thank you. What changes are there for the players?
Student athletes will be in a COVID tested zone. They’ll try to restrict their movements so that they are protected as much as possible to protect them from any environment in which they might be exposed to COVID. So, their movements will be more restricted this year. So as a consequence, we won’t be hosting an opening ceremony-type celebration for them this year. That’s another thing that we expect to have coming back in 2022.
Tell me more what will be different for celebrations or events at the College World Series.
I think this year the focus is on, “Isn’t it great that we are just back playing baseball again!”
[Interrupts] Yes! Yes!
It’s a kind of back-to-basics year. There will be a handful of other activities that will be occurring to enhance the fan experience. Of course we will have the opportunity for fans to bring their kids on a particular day, that’s Monday afternoon and where some kid’s music and concessions will be featured. We’ll have a throw-back day on Thursday where we hope to have basically fans wearing their most vintage College World Series apparel. And then Friday is a country night. Probably boots and cowboy hats or whatever attire- if you want to participate in that.
What does the College World Series mean to you and to Omaha?
I think this will be a huge emotional boost for Omaha that we have the College World Series back. In a way, it was a little bit last year like trying to image a Christmas without Santa Claus to image summer without the College World Series. I think we were all a little bit let down by the fact that we could not gather together and celebrate college baseball and celebrate the beginning of our Summer. And this year with that coming back, I think it is going to be a huge morale boost for the community.
I am so excited to have it come back and to be able to go and or course to be able to visit with you for the interview.
The last question is why is this “The Greatest Show on Dirt”?
“The Greatest Show on Dirt” is one of those iconic phrases that is associated with the College World Series and I think just reflects not only the fan experience but just the way the student athletes feel when they enter that field and play what could be the last games of their baseball careers and certainly their college baseball careers. They give it their complete 100 percent effort. They play with a lot of heart and I can’t imagine anything better to watch in the summer.
The one other thing that I didn’t mention that I think might be really helpful for people this year is there is a College World Series app that is put out by the NCAA. So, “NCAA Men’s College World Series” is how I believe how it is listed in the app stores. [Here is the link http://on.ncaa.com/MCWSApp] It’s probably the easiest way for fans to follow their favorite team, check the weather, get bracket and scoring information. It’s going to be a real asset for fans who kind of want to be kept up to date to the minute.
Thank you very much.
Would you like to read more stories and interviews about the College World Series? Visit later for new posts and check out the CWS posts below.
No CWS.
College World Series Fans-Have You Seen the Scooters? (13 June 2019)
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/college-world-series-fans-have-you-seen-the-scooters
Omaha Event: College World Series Interview with Chris Myers, Executive Sous Chef, Levy Restaurants (12 June 2019)
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omaha-event-college-world-series-interview-with-chris-myers-executive-sous-chef-levy-restaurants
College World Series Food Tasting, 12 June 2019
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/college-world-series-food-tasting-12-june-2019
Omaha Event: College World Series Interview with Jack Diesing, President, College World Series of Omaha Inc.
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omaha-event-college-world-series-interview-with-jack-diesing-president-college-world-series-of-omaha-inc
Omaha Event: College World Series Press Conference, 12 June
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omaha-event-college-world-series-press-conference-12-june
CWS Interview with Kathryn Morrissey, Executive Director, College World Series of Omaha, Inc. (5 June 2019)
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/cws-interview-with-kathryn-morrissey-executive-director-college-world-series-of-omaha-inc
2018 Interview with Kathryn Morrissey, Executive Director of CWS Omaha Inc.
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/cws-interview
What’s new in CWS food for 2018
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/cws-media-tasting-2018-great-food-meets-the-greatest-show-on-dirt
2018 Interview with Chef Chris Myers
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omaha-interview-chris-myers-with-levy-restaurants-at-td-ameritrade-park-for-college-world-series
Tigers to Play Royals in Omaha! MLB Comes to Omaha!
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/tigers-to-play-royals-in-omaha-mlb-comes-to-omaha
OmahaNebraska.com Interview with Al Avila, VP and GM of the Detroit Tigers
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omahanebraska-com-interview-with-al-avila-vp-and-gm-of-the-detroit-tigers
Al Martinez Hits First Home Run for College World Series- Before the First Game is Played!
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/al-martinez-hits-first-home-run-for-college-world-series-before-the-first-game-is-played
Omaha Interview with Kristi Andersen, Director of Communications at MECA
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omaha-interview-with-kristi-andersen-director-of-communications-at-meca
Omaha Interview with Marty Bilek at the College World Series Press Conference
https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omaha-interview-with-marty-bilek-at-the-college-world-series-press-conference
Omaha Interview: College World Series of Omaha, Inc. (9 June 2017)
http://omahanebraska.com/omahainterviewcollegeworldseries
Thank you to Chef Victor Bock (left) and Chef Igor Kokozov (right) for their interviews for our Omaha blog. The interviews took place at The Farnam, a new Omaha hotel on 21 May 2021.
OmahaNebraska.com: We wanted to learn a little bit about you, how you came into the restaurant industry and your journey of how you ended up here at The Farnam.
Victor Bock: My name is Victor Bock, I’ve been a chef for about 36 years. Done pretty much every facet of the market except cruise ships, primary resort divisions. Most recently I was corporate chef and food and beverage director for a casino company overseeing properties in three different states and the Caribbean, as well.
I have have long standing relationship of one of the owners of Greenwood Hospitality and when this opportunity came up to come out here and do some task force work, COVID had caused my corporate chef position to be eliminated which I know affected a lot of people, of course. So, I came to Omaha back in the beginning of February.
We shared different ideas as far the food concept goes and what they are looking for. The kitchen was not even built yet. But between Bill Kohl, who was one of the magic partners from Greenwood, and Angie and Jason Fisher, the owners of the property, we had quite the collaboration of what the food was going to be.
I then put together the menus and recipe development and then brought on Chef Igor as the permanent executive chef and we continue from there.
OmahaNebraska.com: Thank you.
Chef Igor Kokozov: Alright, my turn.
My name is Igor Kokozov, I am the executive chef at the Farnam hotel at Omaha, Nebraska.
I start my culinary journey, long, long time, well about 18 years ago and what get me to it is that it has no boundaries. That is why I decide that I have passion for cooking. I realize there is no boundaries in cooking and you pretty much can do and exercise your creativity you know and that is what brought me to cooking.
Also while I join the restaurants and Four Seasons Hotel for fifteen years, I’ve traveled the world, you know, and I have been almost everywhere and that is what really got me excited. Working with different types of cuisines, there is no stamp, a pattern of knowledge. You keep always learning.
What brought me to Omaha, Nebraska? It’s pretty much that I travel anywhere. One day I just picked up and went to Middle East to open Four Season Hotel and I was thinking why not Nebraska? Is there something wrong in Nebraska? There is still American people living in this state like you go to New York, Los Angeles ,the cosmopolitan cities, no one pays attention to each other.
Small cities tend to greet you with more warmth. Kind of experiencing this Midwestern hospitality in … since April 15th in my almost a month you know.
After I came here, I met the owners. I saw Jason and Angie Fisher. I saw how much involved they were in the hotel. Like you see Jason carrying water and he’s doing something. Angie was always taking pictures.
I said to myself when people put in so much heart and soul in something like this, I want to be part of this family, you know. So I brought my family here and we closing on a house on the May 28, so we gonna become Nebraskans you know and that’s the deal right now.
OmahaNebraska.com: You probably won’t laugh (but I know other people but, um, my eyes are starting to tear up) when I finally got my driver’s license that said I was a Nebraskan because we moved around a lot. I was so happy I cried.
Chef Igor Kokozov: Yes, it’s a warming city. You don’t see it much in the weather but you see it in the people, oh my gosh.
I used to live in Florida, seven years I used to come out to the door everyone great each other and everyone was smiling you know and this is what I am experiencing here.
One friend of mine he came to Nebraska many years ago. He described it like this, ” It’s almost like a Switzerland you know. People are very courteous, respectful you know and Swiss hospitality- only in the US!”
OmahaNebraska.com: I haven’t been to Switzerland so I’ll see if they are like Nebraskans when I go.
Chef Igor Kokozov:
You should compare Nebraska to Switzerland all the time but Swiss they know hospitality and I think most of the world they follow them. They start the hospitality industry they been there for a while and they know what it is all about.
OmahaNebraska.com: Thank you
Chef Igor Kokozov: You are welcome.
Thank you to Angie Fisher for her interview for our Omaha blog. The interview took place at The Farnam, a new Omaha hotel, on 20 May 2021 after the ribbon cutting.
OmahaNebraska.com: Congratulations on your new hotel!
Angie Fisher: Thank you..we really are so proud and humbled honestly by the support we have gotten and that’s from all places in the city and even out of the city people who are just excited to have something new and fresh and something that I think exemplifies Omaha, so well.
OmahaNebraska.com: I was amazed because I got tour [Tour was 4 May] … the attention to detail on everything and no room the same! It’s just gorgeous!!
Angie Fisher: Thank you, so much. We definitely tried hard to make it interesting, layered, textural, comfortable and just add a lot of touches to that really are unique and special.
For instance, like this paneling. behind me. Did you learn about that?
OmahaNebraska.com: Yes, but forgive me…I do not remember all the details.
Angie Fisher: It’s recycled sawdust from our projects.. and they pressed into panels and put it up representative of like farm quarter sections.
OmahaNebraska.com: That part I remember.
Angie Fisher: Yes, so it’s been really a passion project You know. I like to say it’s my hobby t because I am a physician in real life.
OmahaNebraska.com: Oh, I did not know that.
Angie Fisher: But it’s a pretty big hobby and we really just jumped in with both of our feet honestly because neither of us has any experience with building a hotel or a hospitality project especially something this big and special and you know just to do that and bring it to life and to see it with people enjoying it. It’s so great. We are so grateful.
OmahaNebraska.com: How long did the project take from the first little inkling?
Angie Fisher: About three years. Initially we did some market research to figure out what to do with this building. The Landmark building is a beautiful tool.
OmahaNebraska.com: I know and I kept seeing business leave …
Angie Fisher: Exactly.
OmahaNebraska.com: ... and leave …
Angie Fisher: Exactly.
OmahaNebraska.com: … but … I am very happy to be here why aren’t you [other businesses] happy to be here? [Both Little Mountain Web Design and OmahaNebraska.com are located in the Landmark building where the new hotel is located.]
Angie Fisher: So, unfortunately that’s been kinda the Omaha urbran sprawl and we are hoping to bring more attention and more focus down here along with the park and along with the Holland and along with all the other projects that are happening down here to revive interest in downtown Omaha from a business perspective, for people who want to live down here and that kind of thing.
It’s been really fun but how the project started. We did market research though initially thought we’d be getting into apartments but there wasn’t really a need.
So we then looked at a boutique hotel and Jason and I love to travel. We love boutique hotels and we love details. And so we got to put all of that into this process and this package with a great design team, a great construction team and that was vital because we certainly could not do something like that on our own. So we are very happy to have such great people such great experience to help us on our way.
It’s our baby, so we just love being able to want to present this to Omaha and want to present Omaha like this. And so looking forward to having travellers and- to the College World Series, for instance, they get to experience Omaha at a different level I think then what you are used to.
OmahaNebraska.com: We also have the swim trials coming up.
Angie Fisher: Yes. We have the Golf Senior Open. Just a lot of really great things happening this summer. And now that we are getting out cages and out of our masks.
OmahaNebraska.com: This [your new hotel] comes at a tremendous time in history of Omaha and the country. You are just poised to where we want to enjoy things.
Angie Fisher: We are just ready to take off with the rest of the world. We are so excited. We are here. We are new. Let’s all live life and get out there and have fun and experience this!
It was a great day for a ribbon cutting with a nice crowd in attendance for this auspicious occasion on 14 July 2019. The Historic Florentine had completed its renovation and became ready for tenants to occupy this grand place!
The Historic Florentine was one of the apartments built by Vincent Chiodo from 1911-1912. Vincent was born in Calabria, Italy. That city is where many of our Omaha Italian ancestors and relatives came from. (Please see Omaha Interview: Little Italy for more information on Italian immigrants in Omaha and reference to Vincent Chiodo.)
Over the years, the building experienced decline until it was sold an auction to an architect, John Schmidt. He had the best bid-and the only bid! No one else came to bid!
Fast forward ahead over five million dollars (and more stories) and it is ready for you to rent at 907 S. 25th St. (Please return for these stories later here on our Omaha blog.)
Amenities include:
Washer/dryer
Stove
Microwave
Dishwasher
Soundproofing between apartments
Large soaking tub
Looking for an apartment in Omaha, Nebraska?
Visit the Historic Florentine with tbe best of both worlds–Old World charm and architecture and New World modern apartments and appliances.
Contact:
NP Dodge
402-255-5099
Visit Online at:
https://www.npdodge.com/apartments/florentine
Historic Florentine Apartments
907 S. 25th St.
Omaha, NE 68105
There is still time to get in on the fun so head on down to this fun Omaha festival at:
KROC Center
2825 Y St.
Omaha, NE 68107
(402) 905-3500
before 5PM.
Thank you to everyone at the Kroc Center for a great time and some great photos.
Enjoy!
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Here are just some of the vendors that came:
Approach Climbing Gym
US Cellular
AA Windows N Doors
Red Cross
Metro Omaha Tobacco Coalition
Anthony’s Steakhouse
NRG Media
Hy-Vee
For more on the KROC Center check out our interview with Madeline Moyer at http://omahanebraska.com/southomahakroccenter. The Kroc Center is located in South Omaha.
