LINCOLN- Backers of turning Nebraska Crossing into a major, regional tourism destination for shopping and youth sports enlisted the help of a major state celebrity during a public hearing concerning the state's Good Life District Economic Development Act. John Cook, the University of Nebraska volleyball coach, told state senators that they should capitalize on the volleyball momentum in Nebraska and lure the Olympic volleyball training center to the state.

Cook told the Legislature's Revenue Committee that the current training site for the US's volleyball team is "abysmal," and that the head of USA Volleyball was "pretty fired up" about the possibility of moving to Nebraska. "They just fell in love with Nebraska," said Cook. Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates also told lawmakers that he was in "the final stages" of putting together an agreement to relocate the training facility to Gretna.

Yates said the facility would likely cost between $150 and $200 million, which would be financed via a voter-approved slice of sales tax proceeds from the expanded Nebraska Crossing. According to Yates, who cited Creighton University economic Ernie Goss, an expanded Nebraska Crossing could bring nearly 18 million visitors per year, and create 40,000 full-time jobs.

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