Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha: The Complete Legacy Guide for 2026

It’s a warm June evening in South Omaha, and if you know where to look, you can still feel Rosenblatt Stadium. The home plate is still there. So are the bases, a replica of the iconic sign, and a few rows of original seats. All preserved at the memorial site just outside Henry Doorly Zoo. For 60 years, Rosenblatt Stadium was Omaha’s most beloved sports landmark and the cathedral of college baseball. This guide covers everything you need to know about its history, what happened after it closed, and exactly where to experience Rosenblatt’s enduring legacy in Omaha in 2026.

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Quick Reference: Rosenblatt Stadium Fast Facts

• Original name: Omaha Municipal Stadium
• Renamed: Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium (1964)
• Opened: 1948
• Demolished: 2012
• Peak seating capacity: Approximately 23,000–25,000
• College World Series host: 1950–2010
• Current CWS home: Charles Schwab Field Omaha (since 2011)
• Memorial site: 1202 Bert Murphy Ave S, Omaha, NE 68107 (adjacent to Henry Doorly Zoo)

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The Rich History of Rosenblatt Stadium

Omaha opened Municipal Stadium in 1948 as a minor league baseball park on a bluff in South Omaha, roughly three miles south of Midtown. The city built it for $1 million, and it immediately became a focal point for the community. Hosting the Omaha Cardinals, later the Omaha Dodgers, Omaha Royals, and eventually the Omaha Golden Spikes, all at various points in the stadium’s six-decade run.

Two years after opening, the NCAA’s College World Series landed in Omaha for the first time, in 1950. That partnership would define the stadium, and the city, for the next six decades.

Johnny Rosenblatt: The Man Behind the Stadium’s Name

The stadium’s namesake, Johnny Rosenblatt, served as Mayor of Omaha from 1954 to 1961 and was one of the key figures responsible for bringing the College World Series to the city permanently. A passionate community builder and baseball advocate, Rosenblatt negotiated aggressively to keep the CWS in Omaha during the 1950s when the event’s future in the city was far from guaranteed. His tireless work paid off, and the NCAA planted its college baseball roots in South Omaha for good.

In 1964, the city renamed Municipal Stadium in his honor. It was a fitting tribute. Rosenblatt had essentially given the city its most beloved summer tradition.

Rosenblatt Stadium Seating Capacity and Design

At its peak, Rosenblatt Stadium could seat roughly 23,000 fans, with temporary expansions pushing capacity even higher during the College World Series. The stadium sat on a natural rise in South Omaha with the Henry Doorly Zoo immediately to its east. A geographic quirk that made it one of the most unusual ballpark settings in the country. CWS attendees could hear the animals from the zoo between innings. That’s not something you get at most ballparks.

Over the decades, the stadium underwent multiple renovations to expand seating and modernize facilities, but it always retained its neighborhood ballpark character. The grass was real, the sightlines were excellent, and the intimacy between fans and the field was something the players noticed.

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Rosenblatt Stadium and the College World Series: A Shared History

For 60 years, Rosenblatt Stadium and the College World Series were inseparable. The CWS came to Omaha in 1950 and never left. Until it had to. During those six decades, the tournament grew from a modest college baseball showcase into one of the most celebrated events in all of college sports.

The numbers tell part of the story. Attendance records were set and broken repeatedly. Teams from USC, Arizona State, LSU, Texas, Miami, and Nebraska built dynasties at the tournament. Thousands of Omaha families built annual traditions around the two weeks of June when the CWS took over South Omaha. The city essentially became college baseball’s summer capital.

College World Series Traditions Born at Rosenblatt

The CWS culture that exists today, the tailgating along 13th Street, the packed sports bars in the Old Market, the out-of-town fans mixing with locals in South Omaha neighborhoods, all of it traces back to what Rosenblatt Stadium created. The stadium’s relatively compact footprint meant that the fan experience was intensely communal. You were close to the field, close to other fans, and close to the neighborhood.

The tradition of fans making the pilgrimage to Omaha, treating the CWS as a bucket-list baseball experience, grew directly from the Rosenblatt era. Teams’ fan bases would descend on South Omaha and essentially take over local restaurants and bars for the duration of their run in the tournament. That communal spirit is the most enduring thing Rosenblatt gave to Omaha.

The Last Game at Rosenblatt Stadium: A Farewell Season

The 2010 College World Series served as Rosenblatt Stadium’s farewell, and Omaha sent it out properly. South Carolina won the national championship that year, defeating UCLA in the final. The final game was played on June 30, 2010, before a packed house of fans who knew they were witnessing the end of an era. It was an emotional send-off for a stadium that had meant so much to so many.

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What Happened to Rosenblatt Stadium After the CWS Moved?

After the 2010 College World Series, the NCAA and the City of Omaha transitioned the tournament to the newly constructed TD Ameritrade Park, now known as Charles Schwab Field, in Downtown Omaha, beginning with the 2011 season.

The Demolition of Rosenblatt Stadium: A New Era for Omaha Baseball

Rosenblatt Stadium was demolished in 2012. The Henry Doorly Zoo, which had long been its neighbor to the east, purchased the land and expanded its grounds onto the former stadium site. It was a practical decision, but not an easy one emotionally for longtime Omaha residents who had grown up watching games there.

The Omaha Storm Chasers, who had been playing at Rosenblatt as a minor league affiliate (previously as the Omaha Royals), relocated to the newly constructed Werner Park in Papillion for the 2011 season. The same year the CWS moved downtown. Practically overnight, South Omaha went from hosting both the region’s top minor league club and the country’s most celebrated college baseball tournament to hosting neither.

Does Rosenblatt Stadium Still Exist in Omaha?

Rosenblatt Stadium no longer stands. The physical structure was demolished in 2012 and the land was absorbed into Henry Doorly Zoo’s campus. What remains is a carefully maintained memorial on the site and a tremendous amount of community memory.

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Visiting the Rosenblatt Stadium Memorial in Omaha

This is where you go when you want to feel it again. The memorial at the former stadium site is a genuine, tangible tribute to what stood here. Not just a plaque on a wall.

Memorial to Omaha Rosenblatt Stadium

The memorial preserves several original elements from the stadium itself, including the original home plate, base markers, a replica of the iconic Rosenblatt sign, and original stadium seats. There’s also a small whiffle ball field on the grounds called “Johnny Rosenblatt’s Infield at the Zoo,” which gives kids a place to play in the footprint of history. For anyone who attended games at Rosenblatt or anyone who simply wants to understand what Omaha lost and what it preserved. This is worth the short drive from Midtown.

During the College World Series in June, locals frequently make a stop here before or after heading downtown to Charles Schwab Field. It functions as an unofficial pilgrimage site for the CWS faithful.

• Location: 1202 Bert Murphy Ave S, Omaha, NE 68107 (South Omaha, adjacent to Henry Doorly Zoo)
• Hours: Open 24 hours (public space)
• Cost: Free
• Google Rating: 4.3/5 stars (54 reviews)

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Charles Schwab Field Omaha: The CWS’s New Home and Rosenblatt’s Successor

When the College World Series moved from Rosenblatt to its new downtown home in 2011, skeptics were plentiful. Could a modern stadium replicate the community atmosphere that had defined the tournament at Rosenblatt? Fifteen years in, the answer is a qualified yes — with some deliberate choices made to honor what came before.

Charles Schwab Field was designed with the same outfield dimensions as Rosenblatt Stadium, a direct architectural nod to continuity. The “Road to Omaha” statue, one of the most recognized pieces of public art associated with the CWS, was relocated from the Rosenblatt site to the new stadium, maintaining its role as the landmark photo opportunity for players and fans. The stadium’s capacity of 24,000 (expandable to 35,000 for the CWS) significantly exceeds Rosenblatt’s footprint while retaining a strong fan-to-field connection.

College World Series Statues and Memorials at Charles Schwab Field

The “Road to Omaha” sculpture, depicting players rounding a base, stands outside Charles Schwab Field as a direct link between the Rosenblatt era and the present. For fans who made the journey to South Omaha for decades, finding this familiar landmark at the new stadium was an important gesture of continuity.

If you’re visiting during the College World Series in June, the area surrounding Charles Schwab Field comes alive in ways that echo the old 13th Street scene outside Rosenblatt, food trucks, fan zones, and the unmistakable energy of a tournament that draws teams and fans from across the country.

• Location: 1200 Mike Fahey St, Omaha, NE 68102 (Downtown Omaha)
• Phone: (402) 546-1800
• Website

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Where to Find Rosenblatt Stadium Memorabilia in Omaha

The stadium is gone, but the artifacts aren’t. A few key Omaha institutions keep Rosenblatt’s memory alive in tangible form.

The Durham Museum

The Durham Museum is Omaha’s premier history institution, housed in the beautifully restored Art Deco-era Union Station in the Old Market neighborhood. Its permanent and rotating collections regularly touch on Omaha sports history, including the College World Series and Rosenblatt Stadium. If you’re looking for historical photographs, artifacts, or context-rich exhibits that place Rosenblatt within Omaha’s broader cultural story, the Durham is your best bet. It’s also one of the most consistently well-reviewed attractions in the entire city, making it a worthwhile stop regardless of your interest in baseball.

• Location: 801 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68108 (Downtown Omaha, Old Market)
• Phone: (402) 444-5071
• Website

Omaha Storm Chasers Team Store at Werner Park

The Storm Chasers have played at Werner Park in Papillion since 2011, but their organizational history runs directly through Rosenblatt. The club played at Rosenblatt for decades as the Omaha Royals before becoming the Storm Chasers, and the team store occasionally carries commemorative and historical merchandise that nods to that lineage. Werner Park is about 15 minutes southwest of Midtown Omaha. It’s worth combining with a Storm Chasers game if you’re making the trip.

• Location: 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, NE 68046
• Phone: (402) 738-5100
• Website

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Omaha’s Baseball Heritage: Beyond Rosenblatt

Rosenblatt was the crown jewel, but Omaha’s baseball identity runs deeper than one stadium.

The Omaha Royals, now the Storm Chasers, have been a AAA affiliate since 1969, initially affiliated with the Kansas City Royals and currently with the Kansas City Royals again after a stint with the Colorado Rockies. Minor league baseball in Omaha predates even Rosenblatt, with professional ball in the city stretching back to the 1880s. The team has carried names including the Omaha Cardinals, Omaha Dodgers, and Omaha Royals before settling into Storm Chasers branding in 2011.

Werner Park, the Storm Chasers’ current home in Papillion, is a comfortable, well-run minor league ballpark with great sightlines and an easy family-friendly atmosphere. It’s not Rosenblatt, but it’s a genuinely good night out — and the connection to Omaha’s long baseball history is very much alive there.

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The Unique Fan Culture of Rosenblatt Stadium and the CWS

The College World Series has always done something remarkable in Omaha: it turns the city into a host town for two full weeks every June. That culture began at Rosenblatt, where the compact South Omaha setting meant that fans from across the country mixed with local residents in a neighborhood setting that few major sporting events could replicate.

The CWS isn’t just a baseball tournament to Omaha. It’s a civic event. Local businesses mark their calendars around it, restaurants create CWS specials, and sports bars that might otherwise show national games pivot entirely to college baseball. That culture is alive and well at Charles Schwab Field today and the bars and restaurants that built reputations during the Rosenblatt era continue to benefit from CWS season in Omaha.

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Tips for Experiencing Rosenblatt’s Legacy in Omaha

• Time your visit during the CWS. The College World Series runs in mid-to-late June each year. Omaha during CWS week is the closest you’ll get to the electric atmosphere that defined Rosenblatt summers, The energy at Charles Schwab Field and the surrounding downtown area is genuinely special.
• Visit the memorial early or late. The Rosenblatt memorial sits adjacent to Henry Doorly Zoo, so parking and foot traffic in the area spike during zoo hours. Early morning or evening visits give you more time to take in the space without crowds.
• Book hotels months in advance for CWS week. This isn’t an exaggeration, rooms in the Old Market and Downtown fill up quickly once the CWS bracket is announced. If you’re planning a trip specifically for the tournament, six months out is not too early.
• Combine the memorial with a zoo visit. Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the top-ranked zoos in the country. Since the zoo now sits on the former Rosenblatt grounds, combining a zoo day with a stop at the memorial makes for a full South Omaha afternoon.
• Wear layers for evening games. Omaha June evenings can get breezy, especially at Charles Schwab Field, which sits in a slightly more exposed downtown location than the old South Omaha site.
• Look for CWS specials at local restaurants. Many Omaha restaurants, particularly in the Old Market and Blackstone District , run CWS week menus and specials. Ask your server or check local social media accounts leading up to the tournament.
• Parking downtown during CWS week is competitive. The Old Market parking garages fill quickly on game days. Consider using the paid surface lots east of Charles Schwab Field or arriving by rideshare if you’re coming from the Midtown area.

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FAQ: Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha

Where was Rosenblatt Stadium located in Omaha?

Rosenblatt Stadium was located in South Omaha at what is now 1202 Bert Murphy Ave S, adjacent to Henry Doorly Zoo. The site sits on a bluff in South Omaha, roughly three miles south of Midtown. After demolition in 2012, the Henry Doorly Zoo expanded onto the former stadium grounds, and a memorial was established to mark where the ballpark once stood.

When was Rosenblatt Stadium torn down?

Rosenblatt Stadium was demolished in 2012, two years after hosting its final College World Series in 2010. The NCAA moved the CWS to the newly constructed TD Ameritrade Park (now Charles Schwab Field) in Downtown Omaha beginning with the 2011 season. The Omaha Storm Chasers also relocated to Werner Park in Papillion for 2011, leaving the South Omaha site without a tenant.

What happened to Rosenblatt Stadium after the CWS moved?

After the 2010 College World Series, Rosenblatt Stadium sat vacant for two years before being demolished in 2012. Henry Doorly Zoo purchased the land and incorporated it into the zoo’s campus. A memorial was established on the site preserving original elements of the stadium, including the home plate, base markers, a replica sign, original seats, and a small whiffle ball field called “Johnny Rosenblatt’s Infield at the Zoo.”

Who was Johnny Rosenblatt?

Johnny Rosenblatt served as Mayor of Omaha from 1954 to 1961 and was instrumental in bringing the College World Series to Omaha permanently in the early 1950s. His advocacy and negotiating work secured the NCAA’s long-term commitment to the city, establishing Omaha as the permanent home of college baseball’s national championship. The stadium was renamed in his honor in 1964 in recognition of his contributions to the city.

What are the best ways to experience Rosenblatt Stadium’s legacy in Omaha today?

The best starting point is the Rosenblatt Stadium memorial at 1202 Bert Murphy Ave S in South Omaha, which preserves original elements of the ballpark and is free to visit. From there, the Durham Museum in the Old Market has historical exhibits on Omaha sports culture. Attending a College World Series game at Charles Schwab Field in June connects you directly to the tradition Rosenblatt built. The “Road to Omaha” sculpture outside the stadium is a direct link between the two eras.

Does Rosenblatt Stadium still exist?

No. Rosenblatt Stadium was demolished in 2012 and the physical structure no longer exists. The land was absorbed into Henry Doorly Zoo’s campus. What remains is a public memorial at the former site that preserves several original stadium elements, and the broader legacy of the CWS tradition the stadium created, which continues today at Charles Schwab Field in Downtown Omaha.

What is the College World Series and when does it happen in Omaha?

The College World Series is the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, the culminating event of the college baseball season. It has been held in Omaha every year since 1950, first at Rosenblatt Stadium (1950–2010) and now at Charles Schwab Field (2011–present). The tournament typically runs for approximately two weeks in mid-to-late June, drawing teams and fans from across the country to Downtown Omaha.

Where can I find Rosenblatt Stadium memorabilia in Omaha?

The Durham Museum is your best bet for historical artifacts and photographs related to Rosenblatt Stadium and the CWS. The Omaha Storm Chasers Team Store at Werner Park in Papillion occasionally carries commemorative merchandise connected to the team’s Rosenblatt-era history as the Omaha Royals. Online marketplaces and local vintage shops in the Old Market and Benson neighborhoods are also worth checking for stadium-era collectibles.

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Rosenblatt Stadium may be gone, but its fingerprints are all over the city it helped shape. From the home plate preserved in South Omaha to the packed stands at Charles Schwab Field every June, the culture that 60 years of college baseball created in this city hasn’t gone anywhere. Whether you’re visiting the memorial for the first time or planning your annual CWS pilgrimage, Omaha knows how to honor what it built here.

For more things to do in Omaha, check out more on Hurrdat ONE!