Grossinger Motors Arena

Grossinger Motors Arena[7] (formerly known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum and simply the Coliseum[7]) is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, that opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street (US-51) and Front Street. It hosts the Illinois State University Redbirds hockey club.

Grossinger Motors Arena

The building nearing completion in 2005.
Former namesU.S. Cellular Coliseum (2006–2016)
The Coliseum (2016–2017)
Location101 South Madison Street
Bloomington, Illinois 60701
Coordinates40°28′41″N 88°59′47″W
OwnerCity of Bloomington
OperatorVenuWorks
CapacityHockey & Indoor Football: 7,000
Concerts : 8,000
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundAugust 19, 2004[1]
OpenedApril 1, 2006
Construction cost$37 million
($46.9 million in 2019 dollars[2])
ArchitectBBB Architects, Ltd.[3]
Structural engineerHalcrow Yolles[4]
Services engineerThe Mitchell Partnership Inc.[5]
General contractorJohnston Contractors Inc.[6]
Tenants
Bloomington PrairieThunder (UHL/IHL/CHL) (2006–2011)
Bloomington Blaze/Thunder (CHL/SPHL) (2011–2014)
Bloomington Edge (IFL/CPIFL/XLIF/CIF) (2012–2018)
Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL) (2017–2019)
Illinois State Redbirds (ACHA)
Bloomington (FPHL) (2021–)
Midway Marauders (IFA) (2020–)

The arena's seating capacity is approximately 5,500 for hockey and indoor football games and 8,000 for concerts. The arena also has a basketball floor. The arena is connected to the Bloomington Ice Center which is located in the same building, and it has no rights to the Bloomington Ice Center.

The arena annually hosts local high school graduation ceremonies (Bloomington High School, Normal Community High School and Normal West High School) as well as the local community college's graduation ceremony (Heartland Community College).

Features

Attached to the arena is the Pepsi Ice Center,[8] which is a public ice rink run by Bloomington Parks & Rec. The center features open skating, as well as lessons and hockey leagues. It is also the home of the State Farm Holiday Classic, one of the largest, coed high school holiday basketball tournaments in the nation, featuring 64 varsity teams participating throughout Bloomington-Normal.

The arena has 800 club seats, 24 luxury suites, and 2 party suites.[3]

Controversy

The arena has been a burden on city finances due to operational losses from lack of sponsorships and though bookings are increasing, the lack of local city population is a continued problem. There have been criminal proceedings over allegations of fraud, embezzlement and theft by the past management company - CIAM. [9]

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References
  1. Guetersloh, M.K. (August 19, 2004). "Ground Broken for Arena. Construction Expected to Take 18 Months". The Pantagraph. Bloomington. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  2. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  3. Outfield Seats Will Be Ready Ahead Of Schedule For Cardinals
  4. "Ferdo Simov". Entuitive, Ltd. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  5. US Cellular Coliseum - The Mitchell Partnership
  6. Johnson Contractors - US Cellular Coliseum
  7. Nagle, Maria (June 22, 2017). "Name Change: Coliseum now called Grossinger Motors Arena". The Pantagraph. Bloomington. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  8. Pepsi Ice Center
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