Coming off a record-breaking year, the Peoria Civic Center is bracing for a significant dropoff in 2026 amid industry challenges and a major improvement project planned for next summer.
During a 30-minute discussion at Tuesday’s Peoria City Council meeting, general manager Rik Edgar presented annual reports showing the city-owned downtown entertainment venue topped $8 million in adjusted gross income for the first time in 2025.
“From 2011 to 2018 it was pretty steady, of about $5.2 million. We’ve seen a steady increase in the last three years; we finally broke $7 million the previous two years, and $8 million this year,” said Edgar, noting ticket sales for the 2025 fiscal year came in at $15.9 million and concessions topped $4.2 million.
“We also set house records in comedy, modern rock, theater concerts and youth sporting,” he noted.
However, Edgar cautioned a reversal is likely in the year ahead, due in part to the installation of a new ice plant for the Carver Arena hockey rink, originally priced at $1.3 million.
“It is a multi-million dollar project cost, but also we’re having to shut down the arena from 100 to 120 days,” said Edgar. “So it’s not only the cost of the project, but it’s lost revenue from this past year to make this project happen.”
Projections for the upcoming fiscal year anticipate a $7 million loss at the Civic Center. Along with the extended closure, Edgar points to concerns over the national economy, adding insurance, staffing, and other operational costs have continued to rise.
“Salaries, our cost overall went up 10%. We actually reduced our hours by 14%. So even though we’re taking down our hours that we’re using and getting leaner, the price deal goes up,” he said.
“Every one of our expense lines went up on an average of 12.5% — wages, benefits, repairs and maintenance, insurance, utilities, operational expenses. We’re doing everything we can to minimize those, but they’re realities that we’re having to deal with."
Additionally, he said the uncertainty surrounding the concert industry’s economy has resulted in a drop in available events.
“What we are seeing is either we have a grand slam with like 'Wicked' and Leanne Morgan, or shows that are really struggling,” he said. “What that has done is fewer tours are out this fall. They’re waiting to see if things get better.”
Still, Edgar touts strong benefits from the Civic Center’s primary tenants, particularly Bradley University men’s basketball and Peoria Rivermen minor league hockey.
He said the Braves saw a 19% increase in attendance, leading to a 35% boost in revenue, while the Rivermen topped $1 million in ticket sales for a third straight season — and for the first time since the team left the ECHL.
Council member Tim Riggenbach, who serves as the council's liaison to the Peoria Civic Center Authority, marveled at breaking the $8 million mark.
“That’s a milestone that 10 years ago would never have been dreamt of, and to see that having grown consistently since COVID, I think that’s a very important thing,” said Riggenbach.
“To think that 65.9% of the visitors to that Civic Center come from outside the area — not the Tri-County area, but beyond that — that just proves what a magnet it is and the significance this has, not only for downtown Peoria but the community at large.”
