More leagues are requesting to use Danville’s David S. Palmer Arena as they start to begin practices and games with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted.
Joe Dunagan, the arena’s manager, told its board on Wednesday night that the arena has added high school-level hockey games with Lincoln Land Youth Hockey, a group associated with the Champaign-Urbana Youth Hockey Association. The two groups have used Palmer Arena since the University of Illinois closed its ice arena to the public several months ago.
In addition, the UI’s synchronized skating team has requested to use the arena. Dunagan also says that longtime Dustbowl organizer Dwight Lucas is considering organizing a similar basketball tournament in July, but it will only be two or three days long.
The Danville Dashers are not participating in the Federal Prospects Hockey League’s current schedule for now. Dunagan says that the team’s management staff has requested not to start playing, but he says a conference call is done with league teams every two weeks, and so that situation could change in the future.
Any organization holding an event at the arena is in charge of submitting a plan to the Vermilion County Health Department about holding events, and the arena itself is not responsible for any issues related to COVID-19 restrictions.
