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David S. Palmer Arena

Coordinates: 40°07′27″N 87°37′56″W / 40.12403°N 87.63216°W / 40.12403; -87.63216
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David S. Palmer Arena
David S. Palmer Arena is located in Illinois
David S. Palmer Arena
David S. Palmer Arena
Location within Illinois
David S. Palmer Arena is located in the United States
David S. Palmer Arena
David S. Palmer Arena
Location within the United States
Location100 West Main Street
Danville, Illinois
Coordinates40°07′27″N 87°37′56″W / 40.12403°N 87.63216°W / 40.12403; -87.63216
Public transitBus transport DMT
OwnerDanville Civic Center Authority
Capacity4,750 (concerts)
2,350 (sports)
Construction
Broke groundAugust 17, 1978
OpenedSeptember 20, 1980 (1980-09-20)
Tenants
Danville Dashers (CnHL) 1981–1986
Danville Fighting Saints (AAHL) 1986–1989
Vermilion County Basketball Tournament (IHSA) 1987–2022
Danville Wings (NAHL/USHL) 1994–2004
Danville Pounders (NEHL) 2006–2007
Danville Demolition (AIFA) 2007
Danville Inferno (GLJHL) 2008–2010
Danville Dashers (FPHL) 2011–2020
Danville RiverHawks (PBL) 2015–2016
Vermilion County Bobcats (SPHL) 2021–2023
Website
www.palmerarena.com

The David S. Palmer Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Danville, Illinois, that has a seating capacity of 4,750 for concerts and 2,350 for sports. It was built in 1980. Palmer Arena is the home for the Eastern Illinois University ice hockey club. Along with team sports, the David S. Palmer has open ice skating and hosts concerts from time to time and U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program. The arena hosted the Vermilion County Bobcats of the Southern Professional Hockey League in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons.[1][2]

It was home to the Danville Dashers hockey team from 1981 until 1986 and later as the Danville Fighting Saints in the All-American Hockey League from 1986 to 1989. Hockey returned to arena with the Danville Wings junior hockey team, the Danville Pounders of the North Eastern Hockey League, and the Danville Inferno. From 2011 to 2020, it was home to another Danville Dashers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League.[3] The arena has also hosted indoor football with the Danville Demolition for one season in 2007 while the Ultimate Indoor Football League planned to have a team in the arena in 2012 but never launched. In the 2015–16 season, it was the home of the Danville RiverHawks of the Premier Basketball League.

References

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  1. ^ "SPHL Expanding to Danville, IL for 2021-2022 Season". OurSports Central. March 10, 2021.
  2. ^ Vermilion County Bobcats [@VCBobcats] (February 9, 2023). "The Vermillion County Bobcats of the SPHL announced today that they have ceased operations, effective immediately" (Tweet). Retrieved February 9, 2023 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Danville Dashers out, Bobcats take over at Palmer". Commercial-News. March 9, 2021.
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