David S. Palmer Arena

David S. Palmer Arena
Location	100 West Main Street; Danville, Illinois
Coordinates	40°07′27″N 87°37′56″W / 40.12403°N 87.63216°WCoordinates: 40°07′27″N 87°37′56″W / 40.12403°N 87.63216°W
Owner	Danville Civic Center Authority
Capacity	4,750 (concerts); 2,350 (sports)
Construction
Broke ground	August 17, 1978
Opened	September 20, 1980
Tenants
	Eastern Illinois Panthers Ice Hockey; Danville Dashers (CnHL) (1981–1986); Danville Fighting Saints (AAHL) (1986–1989); 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–present)
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. Beginning in the 2021–22 season, the arena added the Vermilion County Bobcats of the Southern Professional Hockey League.^[1]

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.^[2] 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[]

^ "SPHL Expanding to Danville, IL for 2021-2022 Season". OurSports Central. March 10, 2021.
^ "Danville Dashers out, Bobcats take over at Palmer". Commercial-News. March 9, 2021.

External links[]

Website

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[1] "SPHL Expanding to Danville, IL for 2021-2022 Season". OurSports Central. March 10, 2021.

[DashersOut2021-2] "Danville Dashers out, Bobcats take over at Palmer". Commercial-News. March 9, 2021.

[1]

[2]

v t Southern Professional Hockey League
Teams	Birmingham Bulls Evansville Thunderbolts Fayetteville Marksmen Huntsville Havoc Knoxville Ice Bears Macon Mayhem Pensacola Ice Flyers Peoria Rivermen Quad City Storm Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Vermilion County Bobcats
Arenas	Berglund Center (Rail Yard Dawgs) Carver Arena (Rivermen) Crown Coliseum (Marksmen) David S. Palmer Arena (Bobcats) Ford Center (Thunderbolts) Macon Coliseum (Mayhem) James White Civic Coliseum (Ice Bears) Pelham Civic Center (Bulls) Pensacola Bay Center (Ice Flyers) TaxSlayer Center (Storm) Von Braun Center (Havoc)
Seasons	2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
President's Cup William B. Coffey Trophy Other professional hockey leagues

Construction

Location	100 West Main Street Danville, Illinois
Coordinates	40°07′27″N 87°37′56″W / 40.12403°N 87.63216°W / 40.12403; -87.63216Coordinates: 40°07′27″N 87°37′56″W / 40.12403°N 87.63216°W / 40.12403; -87.63216
Owner	Danville Civic Center Authority
Capacity	4,750 (concerts) 2,350 (sports)
Broke ground	August 17, 1978
Opened	September 20, 1980 (1980-09-20)
Tenants
Eastern Illinois Panthers Ice Hockey Danville Dashers (CnHL) (1981–1986) Danville Fighting Saints (AAHL) (1986–1989) 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–present)
Website
www.palmerarena.com