THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — Before the David S. Palmer Arena sees its new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, the warmer weather outside means
more fans inside for current events.
The arena, 100 W. Main St., Danville, on Saturday is hosting “The Midwest Bully 500,” an American Bully Kennel Club dog show for the American Bully breed of dogs.
The show starts at 11 a.m. The entry cost is $25, and $15 per dog. There will be American Bully – Standard, Pocket, XL, Classic; Alapaha Bulldog; French Bulldog; Olde English Bulldogge; English Bulldog; and Junior Handler.
Arena General Manager Teri Gaffney said according to the dog show organizers, they sold 45 booths and there will be “a lot of dogs.”
“We’ve never done this,” she said about hosting a dog show. “It’s a really long day.” Those participating will be arriving at the arena around 8 a.m. Saturday. The event will go to 11 p.m., Gaffney said. There will be two food trucks outside too.
Gaffney said she was told the show will be similar to dog shows and the judging people watch on television, but just with American bulldogs, pit
bulls and the bully breed.
Another upcoming activity is a candle-making event, with women from Mahomet leading it, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 25. The cost is $37. Reservations are needed ahead of time. Those interested can call the arena.
Gaffney said the arena is dealing the best it can without a proper HVAC system. The arena received matching funding of up to $275,000 from the City of Danville’s American Rescue Plan Act funding and $100,000 in interest off of Vermilion County’s ARPA funds for new HVAC units.
The arena had received a $750,000 funding commitment from the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation, contingent on city and/or county funding for the
remaining amount needed. The arena board approved a $909,501 HVAC contract with Blackie’s Heating and Cooling of Danville. The arena has eight HVAC system units, but six are not functioning. The units were installed in 1999.
“It’s been ordered,” Gaffney said of the new units. The first payment is due at the end of this month.
“It just takes a while,” she said. She was told it could be 30 weeks to receive the equipment from the date of order in March. That would be in
approximately seven and a half months and would be in the fall. “We’ll have it. It’s coming,” Gaffney said.
They’ll rely on lots of fans for the summer.
In other arena reports, arena officials are waiting for Danville Dashershockey team owner Barry Soskin to sign the agreement for the Dashers’
2024-2025 season at the arena. “All terms have been agreed upon,” Gaffney said, adding too that Soskin has a coach.
“It’s progressing,” she added, saying that league meetings are occurring in Chicago. Ice will be ready in September for hockey games to start in October,
Gaffney said.
The arena also has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
It was the consensus of the board to use the money to renovate men’s and women’s bathrooms at the northeast corner of the building. These two restrooms will be completed now, with the goal of renovating the two other restrooms down the road, Gaffney said. She said the board opened bids on Wednesday, but the winning bidder had yet to be notified.
Two new board appointments also are needed by Mayor Rickey Williams Jr., with Tara Auter becoming a Vermilion County Board member and Durrell
Robison leaving the area.
The arena’s fiscal year ends July 31 and Kim Hoffman is moving into the board chair position. A vice chairman hasn’t been elected. Dean Shore will
be treasurer. Gaffney is secretary.
