The Peoria Rivermen is happy to be returning to the Peoria Civic Center’s Carver Arena ice after surviving the effects of the COVID pandemic on the organization. As for virtually all sports and other entertainment and event organizers, COVID has been a struggle financially and in a myriad of other ways. The Peoria Rivermen open their 2021-22 hockey season at the Peoria Civic Center’s Carver Arena on Friday – and it’s been an extremely long road getting there.
Chief operating officer and owner Bart Rogers said, “We are excited to be welcoming Rivermen fans back to Carver Arena for hockey this weekend. It will have been 593 days since the last time we played a game….something I don’t think any of us would have expected to be so long.” He continued, ” It has been for our organization, as it has for many businesses across our area, a very tough time to get to the other side of this pandemic and we by no means are out of the woods. Our industry (Minor League Sports) has literally been shuttered and mandated closed for business for a year and a half with little to no help from those who forced us closed. We have survived on our own and the will of our staff, fans and sponsors who have been there to get us to this Friday. We were allowed back in the arena on June 2nd (almost a two month delay to the normal start of our sales season) and hit the ground running selling Season Tickets and Corporate Advertising….the fruits of that passion and commitment by our staff have helped set a records for Individual Season Ticket Sales and Corporate Advertising sales, right in the middle of a pandemic for this upcoming season. Says a lot for what our brand means to our community and we can’t Thank everyone enough for that commitment to the Rivermen.”
The Peoria Civic Center has implemented new safety policies that Rivermen fans will be required to follow this season. These include wearing face masks for everyone 2 years or older, concessions will be cashless meaning only credit or debit cards will be accepted (no cash), fans will enter through a security checkpoint with metal detectors and bags will be checked, there is a “clear bag” and there will be no re-entry once inside. For full details on these policies, visit https://www.peoriaciviccenter.com
Peoria Rivermen Hockey will be celebrating their 40 Anniversary of Hockey being played in the “River City”. Rogers said “The Rivermen organization currently is the 7th longest continually operating minor league hockey team in all of North America. We can’t wait to relive the memories of the past 40 years with different specialty jersey nights and look back on our Championship Season this upcoming year. Fans can expect the same great promotions and experience attending a game like they did in past years….our commitment to our fans and the City couldn’t be greater! We look forward to seeing everyone at Carver Arena this year!”
Originally the team was called the Peoria Prancers (1982-83) and was sold to Bruce Saurs in 1984 when the name changed to the Peoria Rivermen as a result of a contest conducted by the Peoria Journal Star. Saurs owned the team for 19 seasons and won the Turner Cup (they were in the IHL at that time) that first season. The Rivermen held professional hockey’s longest winning streak with 18 games in 1991.
The 2021-22 game promotional events will return as well with Opening Night on Friday, October 22 featuring free magnetic schedules for the first 1500 fans and will offer 2 lower bowl end tickets for $25 tickets good on Friday & Saturday. On Saturday, October 23 will be their “Stick it to Cancer” event where players will wear special jerseys which will be auctioned off after the game. Check out the full promotional events schedule for Peoria Rivermen Hockey at https://www.rivermen.net
Season, group and individual tickets are available by calling 309-676-1040 or online HERE
Check out ExplorePeoria.com’s Events Calendar for Peoria area events!
