PEORIA, Ill. — If you attended Saturday’s KISS and David Lee Roth show, you were a part of Peoria Civic Center history.
The arena announced Tuesday the rockers set the record for the highest grossing group or band ever to play there.
General Manager Rik Edgar said it makes sense.
“I think it’s just another statement of how awesome a market Peoria is for rock concerts,” he said.
“It was a record that stood since 2004, and then KISS came to town and just shattered the record the Eagles had previously.
Edgar said it’s proof even when an act charges a high amount for a ticket, if the act is right, people will show up.
“We sold out at a very high dollar, so it shows when we bring a valuable show to the market, the marketplace responds,” he said.
“The new model is, artists are charging a little bit higher for a quality show, and fans are willing to pay when it’s the right artist.
The highest-grossing solo act ever to play the Civic Center is Bob Seger, who set that record in 2019.
In terms of overall gross for either solo act or group, the order goes Bob Seger, then Elton John, followed by the KISS show.
But, if Edgar’s prediction were to come true, that order could change yet again in 2020.
“Reba McEntire has a very good chance [of topping KISS]. It’s a show we’re expecting to sell out.
“Reba looks to be another record-setting-type event we’re going to have in May.”
