CLARIFICATION 3/7 12:41 p.m.
The General Manager of the Avanti’s Event Center, Brian Wonders, tells WMBD Radio News the event center itself REMAINS OPEN, while Wonders declined to comment on the status of the Avanti’s Dome itself. Wonders declined to be interviewed on the air. WMBD Radio News regrets the error. The original story is below.
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PEKIN, Ill. – The Avanti’s Dome in Pekin is up for sale, and could have a different look in the future.
That’s according to City Manager John Dossey. He says the owners of the property are looking to sell it, and the city has encouraged a private developer to look into buying it.
The dome has been inactive since storm damage in June of 2021 damaged the dome’s fabric.
Dossey says one suggestion that has been discussed, if the private developer buys the property, is to convert it into an events center. He says the area is set up for an events center, with the building and parking already in place there, but the dome itself would have to be addressed.
Dossey says an events center would be a boon for Pekin.
“If you think about it on a larger scale, why can’t Pekin have something where you can host a concert or have a comedy show or something come in,” Dossey said. “Right now, we have to drive over to Peoria, but why can’t we do something like that here, where you bring people here to see Pekin.”
Dossey says in addition to bringing events to Pekin, it would also recapture local tax revenue that has been lost through the loss of events with the Avanti’s Dome inactivity.
The city is also soon planning to announce new businesses coming to Pekin. Dossey says three businesses are planning to open in the former Bergner’s location in the East Court Village area. He says it will bring sales tax revenue and jobs to Pekin when they open in the summer of 2025.
“We just want to keep growing and bringing some of those stores so people could shop more local, and not have to drive over to Peoria or East Peoria,” Dossey said.
Dossey deferred to letting Cullinan announce what the three businesses are, but did say they were national chains. Cullinan had approached the city in July of last year about a retail opportunity, and requested $9 million from the city to help with development.
Dossey says the city is looking to add more retailers and developers, especially in a more aggressive manner with a full-time economic developer on city staff.
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