For the people behind Nemaha Sports Construction, the projects are so much more than physical structures. The work they do becomes the catalyst for community and connection in towns cities across the United States, bringing people together to share in the joy of recreation, athletics and sport.
Nemaha is a General Contractor of athletic facilities and venues with hundreds of highly successful projects on the high school, collegiate, and municipal levels under its belt. Although the scope of services has changed over its three decades in business, the goal has always remained: provide clients the ultimate fan experience.
What began as a commercial tree sales and planting operation in 1991, Nemaha Sports Construction has since grown into one of the Midwest’s leading athletic facility construction companies, its name synonymous with building high-quality sports venues. Its current status as a top-tier sports construction firm, is a testament to hard work, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence
The company’s first major sports project, Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska, was completed in 2000. This project proved to be a turning point in Nemaha’s history. “That project turned the course of Nemaha’s history as we transitioned 99% of our work to athletic venue construction,” says President Jeff Emanuel. Today, Nemaha’s expertise spans a wide range of facility types, including stadiums, post-tensioned running tracks, synthetic and natural grass fields, and courts. From concessions to locker rooms and support buildings, Nemaha provides comprehensive services to ensure the success of every project.
Nemaha’s focus is on building relationships as much as facilities, working primarily with high schools, colleges, cities, and municipalities, both in the public and private sectors. The company’s mission is clear: enrich communities through exceptional sports facilities. But what makes Nemaha truly stand out is its collaborative approach to client relationships.
“The ideal client for us values collaboration and involves us early in the planning stages. A sports construction project is a major investment, and we take the time to listen carefully to each client’s needs,” says Emanuel. This partnership-driven approach ensures that every project not only meets but exceeds client expectations.
And while business is booming today, starting a construction company from scratch came with its own set of challenges and those early days were not without hardship, navigating the complexities of running a construction company—managing operations, building client relationships, and ensuring financial stability.
Transitioning from a subcontractor to a general contractor brought new obstacles, particularly around document control and managing trade partner relationships. But, as trying times often do, the company’s resilience shone through, taking every challenge as a learning opportunity to get stronger. “Being a successful subcontractor gave us a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed as a General Contractor. We were able to take real data and ‘hand on the burner’ experiences to refine our processes.”
One of the key lessons Nemaha learned along the way was the importance of putting the right people in the right roles. Emanuel credits this focus on leadership and development for the company’s success. “We’ve invested in leadership coaching and development to ensure our team and company are well-equipped to thrive in the future.”
Even in 2024, challenges persist. This year, Nemaha faced the difficulty of navigating a particularly rainy construction season while simultaneously handling more projects than ever before. Despite these hurdles, Nemaha has remained on track thanks to what Emanuel describes as the company’s strong internal culture of “radical candor.” This culture fosters open communication and extreme ownership, helping the team address issues head-on and maintain progress despite adverse conditions.
Decades of experience and strong relationships with vendors and subcontractors have also played a crucial role in keeping projects on course. “We’ve stayed on course by relying on our strong company culture and decades of experience working with trusted vendors and subcontractors.”
“Radical Candor, trust, extreme ownership, servant attitudes, and humility” are the core values that permeate the organization, empowering every team member to foster an environment of accountability and trust—both among the team and with clients.
In addition to these values that guide the way, its highly qualified workforce also sets Nemaha apart, with the company boasting tenured employees with decades of experience and American Sports Builders Association Certified builders who specialize in the unique demands of sports construction. This in-house expertise assures that Nemaha can consistently rise to the challenge of even the most complex projects.
Complex projects, like for example, the Gale Wickersham project. This involved multiple phases and fields, with a significant impact on the community. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Outdoor Track and Field project also stands out because despite unexpected challenges like COVID-related delays, Nemaha’s team navigated the project to completion, earning a World Athletics Class 2 Certification and an ASBA Outdoor Track Award in the process.
Looking ahead, Nemaha’s future is bright. The company is focused on continued growth, with a vision to expand its reach and take on larger, more complex projects. Emanuel notes, “Our goal is to expand our reach by taking on larger and more complex projects, while maintaining the high standards and personal touch that have become our hallmark.”
“Our goal is to expand our reach by taking on larger and more complex projects, while maintaining the high standards and personal touch that have become our hallmark.”
Nemaha’s commitment to methodical, debt-free growth ensures a stable foundation for quality and excellence as the company continues to expand and take on new large-scale projects.
For over thirty years, Nemaha Sports Construction has been involved in every step of sports facility development, from planning to watching the first athletes take the field. Their deep experience and passion for sports facilities have made them a trusted partner for schools, cities, and municipalities across the Midwest.
For Nemaha, the future is all about building stronger communities—one sports facility at a time. Think Nemaha could be a fit for your next project? Get in touch by filling out the online contact form.
