PEORIA, Ill. — The future of the Peoria Rivermen remains in question, as both the hockey team and the Peoria Civic Center try to come to agreement over where the team will be next season.
5th District Peoria City Council Member Dennis Cyr, a former Rivermen player, says one of the sticking points is that someone’s going to have to pay roughly $2.5 million for a new ice-making system for Carver Arena.
“If we believe that they’re (Rivermen) are an asset to the City of Peoria, we need to find some money and buy them time, and build them another building somewhere,” Cyr says.
Cyr tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” that private money could come from a number of sources. He says he is a part of a large group working to come up with a solution to keep the Rivermen in Peoria.
Cyr adds, Civic Center Manager Rik Edgar is tasked with making sure the facility makes money, and that all kinds of potential events want Saturday nights, especially during the winter months when the Rivermen and Bradley Braves are playing at Carver Arena.
Cyr says neither the Rivermen nor Bradley Men’s Basketball can fill the arena, but concerts can.
“Peoria’s (Rivermen) been a champion four times now. So, they’re got a great history about winning and representing the City of Peoria where ever they go,” Cyr says.
The Peoria Rivermen have been a tenant of the Peoria Civic Center for 41 years.
