UPDATED 9:19 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – No decision has been made yet, but the public is urging the Peoria Civic Center Authority to help keep the Peoria Rivermen just where they are, and do whatever needs to be done to fix the plant that makes Carver Arena’s ice.
The supporters came out in force at Thursday’s board meeting — supporters like Jared O’Brien, who says he sponsors the team.
“The Rivermen are a local team, providing local jobs,” said O’Brien. “Most of the money stays right here in our town, supporting our city — unlike a lot of the big acts coming through town.”
O’Brien questioned a priority list that put upgrades to the ice plant at number 20 in importance, below new scoreboards, which he says seem to be unnecessary at the moment. The list would put the ice plant below the line for potentially budgeted-for items.
“The Downtown Development Corporation this year has decided that our major focus will be the Central Business District,” said Michael Maloof, DDC board chairman. “I say to you taking something away that draws people to Peoria is concerning; whereas, keeping the Rivermen here, and the ice rink, should be a draw to bringing people to downtown, and helping our merchants and Peoria residents.”
Peoria City Manager Patrich Urich told WTVP’s “At Issue” Thursday given other city locales, the Rivermen being in downtown may not be all that necessary.
“We have the Louisville Slugger sports complex, which draws thousands of people a year to Peoria,” said Urich. “We have the Park District facilities throughout the city, and beyond the city’s borders, that provide recreational activities and opportunities for people in the community. Maybe there’s opportunities we just haven’t thought of yet that we can build upon.”
Other business owners suggested they might pull support of the Civic Center, or the Rivermen, if they leave the Civic Center.
Some residents say they came to Peoria because of hockey and the Rivermen. Most seemed not in favor of moving the Rivermen to some other facility.
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali tells WTVP’s “At Issue” there have been a lot of meetings and discussions about the Rivermen and the Civic Center, but most haven’t been in the public, until now.
“We have not had, as a (City) Council, that discussion, in terms of supporting replacing the ice, or how we handle the whole situation with the Rivermen issue,” said Ali. “We’ve had some side conversations with the Peoria Civic Center Authority. I’d like to see more communication between the Civic Center Authority and the Rivermen take place.”
Civic Center officials will join WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” Friday at 7:40 a.m.
