PEORIA, Ill. — Two electronic signs in front of Peoria Stadium should be up and functional by Christmas 2019, said the Peoria Public Schools Building Committee.
The committee met Thursday in regular session to discuss, among other items, updates on the ongoing sign project, a $95,000 part of $6 million worth of stadium renovations.
The district also roofed the grandstand area and upgraded parts of the interior.
The new 14×6 signs will be v-shaped and will sit inside of a faux brick structure surrounding the current sign, with the intent of using them for advertising space.
“We thought if we put in a sign that would allow us to generate revenue for upkeep, we could maintain that facility a little bit more easily, so that’s the whole rationale behind the sign,” said Mick Willis, PPS Chief Financial Officer.
Willis said the district felt the project needed to be done with respect to the sign that’s been a part of the stadium for decades.
“We didn’t want to compromise the look of the existing, iconic sign, so we basically, we wrapped the new around the old, if you will,” he said.
“The iconic sign everybody in Peoria has come to know will still be visible, will still be there, and we’re just working smartly around it in a way that’ll allow us to generate some revenue for the district.”
Construction on the signs began in July.
Three high schools have traditionally utilized the stadium: Peoria, Manual, and Notre Dame.
Richwoods High School also played its 2019 home football games at the stadium because of renovations to its track.
