Michael Smith became the General Manager of Baxter Arena in March 2022. Smith previously served as the Interim General Manager from July 2021 – February 2022, the Assistant General Manager from July 2019 – June 2021, and the Director of Event Services from July 2016 – June 2019. Smith oversees all operations at Baxter Arena and Maverick Park. He has oversight of all booking and all post-event booking functions. He works along a team of twelve dedicated professionals and hundreds of part-time and on-call workers.
Smith brings more than 25 years of experience in event services and personnel management. He previously worked at the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) where he oversaw event services and event staffing for CHI Health Center Omaha, Charles Schwab Park Omaha and the former Omaha Civic Auditorium. Michael also helped open and staff Charles Schwab Park Omaha in 2011.
Smith has worked and planned some of Omaha's biggest events from the USA Olympic Team Trials for Curling, the USA Olympic Swim Trials to the NCAA Division I Men's College World Series and countless concerts, sporting events, family shows, conventions, trade shows and expos.
Smith has also assisted with several national championship events, including the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships in 2006, 2008, and 2016, and several NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships, including the regional tournament in 2018.
Smith is also a graduate of the International Association of Venue Manager's (IAVM) Academy for Venue Safety and Security. He has also attended IAVM's Guest X Guest Experience and Crowd Management Conferences where is working on obtaining his certification as a Certified Venue Professional (CVP).
Smith is a current member of the UNO Staff Advisory Council (SAC), representing Omaha Athletics and Baxter Arena. Smith also serves as a member of the UNO Incident Command System, the UNO Parking and Transportation Committee, and the UNO Parking Appeals Committee. Smith is certified American Red Cross instructor and oversees lifesaving training for all coaches and support staff.
An Omaha native, Smith graduated from Omaha Central High School and UNO with a bachelor’s of business administration with a concentration in personnel management, management and marketing.
In college, he sat on the UNO University Committee on Athletics and served on the 2007 UNO Athletic Director Search Committee.
Smith is currently working on his MBA at UNO with a concentration in human resources.
Smith resides in the Dundee neighborhood.
