New Arena in 2013
Lincoln voted for bigger concerts and events, and now the Pinnacle Bank Arena is here.  Around it, the Historic Haymarket has expanded from being a hotspot to buzzing entertainment district.  Lincoln residents enjoy more restaurants, more options in downtown nightlife and more ways to enjoy time with friends.  What remains the same is the short walk downtown from UNL’s City Campus.
 
20-Minute Average Commute
Lincoln has one of the shortest commute times among mid-sized U.S. cities and 130 miles of biking, running and commuting trails.  Since 1971, Lincoln has had a city-owned public transit operation now called the StarTran bus service.
 
Beautiful Parks
Many people are surprised to learn that Lincoln has more parkland per capita than Austin, Texas; Portland, Ore.; and all but a handful of U.S. cities.
 
Industry
With a population of more than 250,000, Lincoln is the third largest city in the Big Ten Conference.  UNL is one of its largest employers, followed by state government, local medical centers and hospitals, and Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing.  Major industries are service/trade, manufacturing, printing/publishing, insurance and pharmaceuticals, in addition to the state’s largest industries of livestock and crop production.
 
Lincoln has earned accolades including:
* #1 U.S. City, Quality of Life(The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, 2012)
 “Best Small Places for Business and Careers”(Forbes.com)
 * #7 best downtown (Livability.com 2012) 
* Top 20 – America’s Thriving Cities(The Daily Beast, 2013)
 * 5^th Safest American City (Forbes, 2011) 

Low Cost of Living
Lincoln’s cost of living is consistently below the national average, with one of the nation’s lowest health care costs, utility bills and insurance rates.  Lincoln’s low crime rate, efficient transportation, stable business environment and advanced health care technology are a few reasons why Lincoln ranks high in livability studies and rankings.
 
Strong Public Schools
Lincoln Public Schools are renowned for their long-standing legacy of educational excellence, serving more than 34,000 students at 62 elementary, middle and high schools, one offering the International Baccalaureate.  There are also a number of parochial and private school options in the Lincoln area, including one school offering an elementary/junior high Montessori program.
 
Arts and Culture
The city and the UNL campus are home to many historical sites and museums.  UNL’s State Museum, Sheldon Museum of Art, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, a planetarium and observatory, the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, Great Plains Art Gallery, Hillestad Textiles Gallery and other sites offer art and natural history and cultural activities to view and enjoy.
 
Family Attractions
The Lincoln Children’s Museum and the Lincoln Children’s Zoo are two of the many options for family fun.
 
Sports
Sports enthusiasts including thousands of Husker fans enjoy football Saturdays at Memorial Stadium, volleyball at the Devaney Center, basketball at the Pinnacle Bank Arena and baseball at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
 
Weather
Lincoln and Nebraska enjoy four beautiful seasons of weather change.  Average highs are 32 degrees in January and 90 degrees F in July.  Average annual rainfall is 28.26 inches.