Lucas: A Tar Heel's Guide To Omaha

By Adam Lucas

Just a reminder: Carolina's last visit to Omaha was 2018, so these recommendations date to that experience. A lot has happened since then, including COVID, so it's entirely possible that some details have changed.

Gameday Necessities
The team hotel is the Embassy Suites closest to Charles Schwab Field. All team send-offs and impromptu welcome backs will take place there. Check the various Carolina baseball social outlets for more details.

The Tar Heels have an open practice on Thursday at Charles Schwab Field. There's a FanFest area around the stadium every day that games take place.

Zesto across from the stadium has been a Tar Heel must-stop for almost 20 years for either a pregame milkshake or a postgame celebratory milkshake. Don't forget that they will mix flavors--the king is peanut butter mixed with hot fudge, AKA "the Mandy Forbes."

What to Do
The off day between games is the perfect opportunity to pay homage to the dearly departed Rosenblatt Stadium. What's left of the original Omaha College World Series facility is out near the zoo, roughly a 15-minute drive from Charles Schwab Field. There isn't much left, but it's fun to wander around the Infield at the Zoo, a miniature stadium with a handful of artifacts from Rosenblatt. Even in 2018, the neighborhood was starting to change, and you'll likely have to use an extreme amount of imagination to picture the surrounding blocks abuzz with fans waiting in line for bleacher seats and local store fronts hawking t-shirts and other souvenirs. Stadium View Sports Cards was a CWS institution when the games were played at Rosenblatt and is worth a stop to chat about what used to be.

While you're there, you should go to the zoo. That's partially because every single Omaha resident is legally obligated to ask you if you've visited the zoo. Trust me—they're going to ask. Just go ahead and go so you can say yes and move to the second level of their recommendations.

Likely to be included in that second group of suggestions is the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which they're sure to tell you is the first walking bridge to connect two states (Nebraska and Iowa). Try to go earlier in the morning or at twilight when it's not quite as hot. Oh, and about the weather: at some point during your stay, there will probably be thunderstorms. And that twilight is going to be much later than you might think, because it stays light longer in Omaha. Sunset during the CWS will be around 9 p.m.

If you're looking for an off day journey that will eat up the whole day, the site of Field of Dreams is five hours away. Lincoln, Nebraska is just an hour away if you want to see the University of Nebraska.

Where to Eat
This category starts and ends with The Drover, the legendary Omaha steakhouse. Get the whiskey filet and enjoy the chilled pewter plates at the salad bar. It's not necessarily convenient to the downtown area, but it's worth the drive. They do take reservations and especially now that game dates and times have been released, it's worth booking a slot.

At some point you might have to eat somewhere else. Most of the restaurants near the stadium will be centered around the Old Market, which is about a mile walk away (it doesn't sound very far until you do it in a massive thunderstorm). Spaghetti Works is a longtime Omaha favorite that most locals will eventually suggest to you. Upstream Brewing is a good gameday stop with plenty of televisions to watch the games. Ted and Wally's Ice Cream has an Old Market location; eCreamery will sometimes create team-specific flavors for the eight participants. If you want a nice restaurant that isn't the Drover and is closer to the stadium, try M's Pub.

If you're looking for the home of the internet-famous Jell-O Shot Challenge, you can support Carolina's efforts on the leader board at Rocco's Pizza, just a block away from the stadium.

A bonus non-Old Market pick: Wheatfields for breakfast and lunch. This is a throwback to when the team hotels were scattered across Omaha. One year, the hotel was extremely close to Wheatfields and it became the go-to Tar Heel spot. Friendly people and great food, and sneakily not a bad choice for dinner, either. A definite challenge to leave the bakery without taking something home with you.

Reading back over this, it's very true that there aren't as many things to do in Omaha as we've become accustomed to with our major sports event hubs of 2024. Give it a chance. Talk to the locals—they're justifiably proud of the event and are extremely welcoming to fans from every school. Having the College World Series in Omaha is very much like having the ACC Tournament in Greensboro. It's true that there might be newer, shinier options. But no one loves it like Omaha.

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