After serving as the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) for the last 25 years, Roger Dixon will be retiring at the end of the calendar year.
In his two-and-a-half decades at the helm of MECA, Dixon has overseen the design and completion of three major projects totaling $747 million: the CHI Health Center Omaha, Charles Schwab Field Omaha, and, most recently, The RiverFront. Under Dixon’s leadership, the three MECA-run properties have not only welcomed over 32 million people combined through their doors, but they have also generated over $2 billion in economic impact for the Omaha community.
“On behalf of the MECA Board of Directors, I would like to thank Roger for his years of dedication to the construction, activation, and success of three incredible properties in Omaha that have come to define the north downtown area,” said MECA Chairwoman Diane Duren. “His leadership, diligence, and vision have helped stimulate remarkable economic growth and activity in the community over the last two-plus decades.”
During Dixon’s time with MECA, MECA’s facilities have regularly hosted top concerts and coveted sporting events, such as the Men’s College World Series, volleyball and basketball NCAA Championships, and four consecutive Olympic team trials for USA Swimming.
“I’m honored to have had the opportunity to help build and operate Omaha’s premier arena and convention center and a world-class baseball stadium, along with modernizing 72 acres in downtown Omaha to serve as a vibrant epicenter for the city over the last 25 years,” said Dixon. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without my talented and driven team. They deserve praise for MECA’s success just as much as I do. We were also set up for success thanks to the opportunities given to us by our board over the years. I’m confident in the foundation that has been laid at MECA and look forward to seeing how it continues to grow in the years to come.”
The latest project Dixon has shepherded at MECA is the $200 million, 90,000-square-foot expansion of the CHI Health Center’s convention center, aimed at allowing Omaha to compete for larger conventions. The expansion, which is expected to be completed in summer 2027, is estimated to generate an additional $1.2 billion for the local economy.
Dixon has been in the convention, arena, and entertainment industry for nearly 50 years. Before coming to Omaha, he held management positions in various cities across the country, including St. Louis, Philadelphia, Miami, and Louisville, Kentucky. Dixon was also an executive with SMG (now ASM Global), which manages several major facilities throughout the country.
Dixon is a 1976 graduate of Southern Illinois University.
The MECA Board of Directors will be conducting a nationwide search to find its next President and CEO.