PEORIA, Ill. — The COVID-19 pandemic hit many businesses hard across the Peoria area, but arguably none were as hard hit as the Peoria Civic Center.
The downtown building used specifically for various gatherings of people was left with no business at all in a pandemic when people are told not to do those things.
Bradley men’s basketball just began it’s conference season this month, and that usually means an arena filled with fans.
As the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans are allowed, hurting a business that brings great amounts of money to the Peoria area.
In fact, there hasn’t been an event held at the Civic Center since March 9, 2020.
Peoria Civic Center General Manager Rik Edgar said just how important they are to the community.
“We are the absolute economic epicenter of the town,” said Edgar. “People come to us, spend money with us, and they also go to the businesses and hotels in the area.
“Over the past 5 years, prior to the pandemic, half a billion dollars of economic impact came to Peoria directly as a result of the Civic Center being downtown.”
While the Civic Center still may not be able to have people inside right now, there is hope as vaccinations continue across the country.
“We’ve got a laser focus on hoping that our Reba McEntire date in August will happen,” said Edgar. “There’s a lot of positive momentum and belief that it will.”
Edgar added that while things remain unknown at this time, more will become clear over the next couple months as new guidelines are released as vaccines are administered.
“There is an absolute pent-up demand [for live events],” said Edgar. “I really do believe we could have the best year we’ve ever had once we’re able to open back up.”
The Civic Center will hold a “Grand Re-opening” when it is safe to do so to get people to come and see how safely things will be ran, according to Edgar.
“After the Spanish Flu, there was the Roaring ’20s,” said Edgar. “One-hundred years later we’re right back there for another Roaring ’20s.”
Full interview with Edgar:
