Peoria Civic Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peoria Civic Center
Exterior of complex (c.2006)
General information
Location	Downtown Peoria
Address	201 SW Jefferson Ave Peoria, IL 61602-1423
Coordinates	40°41′30″N 89°35′39″W / 40.69167°N 89.59417°W / 40.69167; -89.59417
Groundbreaking	April 30, 1979 (1979-04-30)
Opened	February 1982
Inaugurated	June 6, 1982 (1982-06-06)
Renovated	June 2005-May 2007
Cost	$64.2 million ($259 million in 2022 dollars )
Renovation cost	$55 million ($82.4 million in 2022 dollars )
Owner	City of Peoria
Technical details
Size	Exhibit halls: 108,668 sq ft (10,095.6 m2) Meeting/breakout rooms: 17,355 sq ft (1,612.3 m2) Ballrooms: 28,667 sq ft (2,663.3 m2) Arena: 27,400 sq ft (2,550 m2) Theater: 7,000 sq ft (650 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	Philip Johnson John Burgee
Renovating team
Architect	HOK Sport Venue Event
Engineer	Dewberry
Services engineer	STS Engineering
Other designers	Advanced Audio & Light Convergence Design Zalk Josephs Fabricators
Main contractor	Turner Construction
Other information
Seating capacity	6,500 (PCC Ballroom) 2,173 (PCC Theater) 300 (Lexus Club)
Carver Arena Former names Peoria Civic Center Arena (1982-2001) Operator ASM Global Capacity 12,000 Detailed capacity 9,919 (Ice hockey and indoor football) 11,433 (Basketball) 12,036 (Concerts) Construction Opened June 7, 1982 (1982-06-07) Renovated 1992 2005-07 Tenants Bradley Braves (NCAA) (1982-present) Peoria Prancers/Rivermen (IHL) (1982-96) Peoria Rivermen (ECHL) (1996-2005) Peoria Pirates (IFL/AF2) (1999-2004, 2008-09) Peoria Rough Riders (UIF) (2005-06) Peoria Rivermen (AHL) (2005-13) Peoria Rivermen (SPHL) (2013-present)

The Peoria Civic Center is a large entertainment complex in downtown Peoria, Illinois. It was designed by famous architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee. This center has an arena, a theater, an exhibit hall, and many meeting rooms.

It first opened its doors in 1982. Later, in 2007, it finished a big update to its lobby and meeting areas. Outside the Civic Center, you can see a huge sculpture called "Sonar Tide." This artwork was created by Ronald Bladen, a pioneer in abstract art.

The History of the Peoria Civic Center

The land where the Civic Center now stands has a long history. From 1836 to 1862, a couple named Moses and Lucy Pettengill lived there. Their house was a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a network that helped people escape slavery to freedom. Moses Pettengill was known as an "Underground Railroad conductor."

In 1862, the Pettengills moved to a different part of town. Their old home was later torn down in 1910. A hotel called the Jefferson Hotel was built in its place. Many years later, in 1978, the Jefferson Hotel was also taken down. This cleared the way for the construction of the Peoria Civic Center.

The Peoria Civic Center officially opened on June 6, 1982. However, the very first event held there was a home and garden show. This show took place in the Exhibit Hall in February 1982.

What's Inside the Peoria Civic Center?

The Peoria Civic Center is made up of several different parts. Each part hosts exciting events for everyone to enjoy.

Carver Arena: Home to Big Events

Carver Arena is a large space where many different events happen. It has hosted concerts by famous bands like Metallica and the Eagles. Other stars like Elton John, Bob Seger, and Cher have also performed there. You can also see family shows like The Harlem Globetrotters, Disney on Ice, and Monster Jam.

The arena can hold different numbers of people depending on the event. For hockey and indoor football games, about 9,919 people can fit. For basketball games, it can hold up to 11,433 fans. When it's a concert, the arena can welcome as many as 12,036 people.

Some concerts have even broken records at Carver Arena. Bob Seger had the highest-earning concert ever on January 22, 2019. Before that, an Elton John concert in 2011 held the record. More recently, Reba McEntire set a new record for the top-selling country concert on March 18, 2022.

From 1996 to 2019, Carver Arena was the host for the Illinois High School Association boys' basketball state finals. These exciting tournaments happened every March. During the tournaments, there was also a fun "March Madness Experience" in the nearby exhibition hall.

The Theater: For Shows and Performances

The Theater at the Peoria Civic Center is a great place to see live shows. It often hosts comedy acts and musical performances.

In April 2019, Steve Martin and Martin Short performed a comedy show that set a record. It was the top comedy show in the Theater's history at that time. Later, in March 2022, comedian Gabriel Iglesias broke the all-time box office record. Just six months later, comedian Bill Burr broke that record again!

Harry Connick Jr. also set a new record for a concert in the theater. His performance on December 3, 2022, brought in the most money for a concert there.

The Theater is quite popular! Pollstar, a company that tracks live entertainment, ranked it highly. It was the 96th top-selling theater in the world. In Illinois, it was the 3rd highest-selling, after two big venues in Chicago.

Who Plays Here?

The Peoria Civic Center is home to several groups and teams:

• The Peoria Symphony Orchestra performs beautiful music.
• The Peoria Ballet showcases amazing dance.
• The Bradley Men's Basketball team plays their home games.
• The Peoria Rivermen (SPHL) hockey team also plays here.

See also

• List of convention centers in the United States
• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas