Creighton leaders announce $300 million Fly Together initiative
By Micah Mertes
At a Sept. 18 press conference and special event, Creighton University announced a nearly $300 million investment in recreational and athletic facilities that will connect the campus with the Builder’s District rising east of 17th Street.
The historic project will encompass 11 new or upgraded facilities and outdoor spaces covering roughly 700,000 square feet of campus. (Learn more about Fly Together.)
Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, was joined by McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Marcus Blossom; Trent Demulling, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Kiewit Corporation; and Scott and Cindy Heider, trustees of the Heider Family Foundation, which provided a $100 million lead gift, the largest in Creighton’s history. (Read about the Heider family’s longtime partnership with Creighton.)
Guests of the Fly Together announcement event included Omaha mayor John Ewing, Jr.; Creighton Board of Trustees chair Diane Duren, BSBA'81; various community and University leaders; Creighton Athletics coaches and staff; and multiple early lead donors of the Fly Together initiative.
Father Hendrickson with the Heider family: Courtney, BSBA'23, Scott, Cindy and Grant, BSBA'24.
Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD:
“We know that students are not only searching for excellent academic programs, but a living environment that will support their active lifestyle. Fly Together offers top-tier spaces for student fitness, intramurals, club sports, and the recently added premier club sports, which will provide students with an elevated level of intercollegiate competition."
Fr. Hendrickson: “Attracting and retaining students is not only important to Creighton, but to Omaha, as well. In all likelihood, Fly Together will contribute to the impact that Creighton makes in ‘brain gain’ for the city and the state.”
Scott and Cindy Heider.
Scott Heider:
“I’m thankful to be a part of this and to continue the work that my mother and father started. I know this is the right thing to do for Creighton University, and it’s the right thing to do for the city of Omaha.” (Read about the Heider family’s contributions to Creighton.)
“What I would say to Bluejay Nation, Omaha and the state of Nebraska, I assure you that Fly Together will have this University flying at a new elevation, and I can assure you that north downtown Omaha will never be the same.”
McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Marcus Blossom:
“For Creighton Athletics, for all of Creighton, Fly Together is a capstone to decades of historic momentum. Fly Together will enhance the student experience significantly. It will help us continue to recruit some of the best student-athletes in the country and help us win against our toughest competitors.
“Our vision is to be the model program in the Big East Conference. Fly Together will help Creighton realize this vision.”
Trent Demulling
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Kiewit Corporation:
"Fly Together bridges Creighton and downtown Omaha to create a high-density blend that ties the University’s east campus border with a $650 million urban village developed by Noddle Companies and backed by Kiewit Corporation.
"As we continue to work with Father Hendrickson and his team to identify how this reimagined area can benefit students and the broader Omaha community alike, Kiewit is extremely proud to join Creighton at this time, in this way, in this great city.”
