KEARNEY, Neb. — Visit Kearney officials say the city continues to hold its own against larger Nebraska markets — and they’re determined to keep it that way.


During this week’s annual Visitors Bureau report to city officials, Director Sarah Focke outlined how Kearney’s lodging tax revenue and event bookings continue to rival comparable counties across the state.

Buffalo County’s tourism income now closely tracks with Sarpy County, home to Papillion and Bellevue, and regularly outpaces Grand Island and North Platte.

The bureau credits ongoing investments in sports and convention facilities, such as the Kearney SportsPlex, Patriot Park, and the Buffalo County Fairgrounds, for helping attract new events and visitors to the area.

City leaders say that competitive drive is what keeps Kearney growing.

“The competitiveness that you show is real and right in the right way,” said Kearney Major Jonathan Nikkila. “It inspires your staff to keep up, keep going, and keep getting more people here. You could settle, but we don’t. We keep growing and getting bigger.”

The Visitors Bureau also reported that recent state-level events including NSAA cross country, wrestling, speech and six-man football brought an estimated $5 million economic impact to the greater Kearney area.

Officials say they’ll continue collaborating with nearby communities, including Grand Island, Hastings, and North Platte, through the Nebraska Flyway Coalition to promote Central Nebraska’s wildlife viewing and travel destinations.