One year after voting to continue its relationship with the Danville Dashers, the board of Danville’s David S. Palmer Arena could approve an agreement with a new ice hockey franchise on Tuesday night.
Board president John Spezia tells VermilionCountyFirst.com that the board will hear “at least two” proposals from representatives of proposed hockey teams that could come to Vermilion County, and could vote on one at the meeting. The arena has actively been seeking bids from proposed hockey teams since early February.
The current contract with the Dashers was signed in 2019 and is due to expire next year, although it has a provision allowing the arena to break off the contract within 45 days of the season ending. The Dashers have not taken the ice this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and only four teams in the Federal Prospects Hockey League have done so since the league started its season last month.
Spezia says that board members “don’t want to be left without any hockey like this year” and also suggested bringing in a team with a more stable league. He also says it’s not unusual to see renegotiation in the sports business.
In April 2020, the board voted 5-3 to continue its lease with the Dashers after attempting to end it over a dispute about terms of the team’s lease. They also agreed to let arena manager Joe Dunagan explore other options in the future regarding hockey.
Tuesday night’s meeting will be held in the conference room at the arena beginning at 5:30 p.m. COVID-19 protocols such as mask wearing will be observed, and the public will be allowed to comment before any action is taken.
