History of the Buy the Big O! Show

Buy the Big O! began in 1990 at the Kiewit Center with just 10 exhibitors and 100 attendees.

Originally named the Entrepreneurial Business Fair, the event was a resource for individuals interested in starting a business in Omaha. After three years at Ak-Sar-Ben, the show moved to the Holiday Convention Centre in 1994. By that time, the show had grown to 120 exhibitors and had evolved into a marketing event, emphasizing the importance of doing business locally. This evolution resulted in a new name for the event; Buy the Big O! Show.

During the years at the Holiday Convention Centre, the Show continued to grow. Use of one ballroom grew to include five adjacent meeting rooms and available hallways. All meeting space was used to capacity to accommodate 315 booths.

With the move to Qwest Center Omaha in 2003, around 400 exhibitors are able to take part in the Show. The bigger Show translates into more business to be done in the city of Omaha on Show day.