PEORIA — Beau Sutherland took over as the new general manager of the Peoria Civic Center, his interim tag removed Monday by the Peoria Civic Center Authority and Legends Global.
Sutherland, who has been on the Civic Center staff for 26 years, was the assistant to general manager Rik Edgar, who left earlier this year to take over the Vibrant Arena at The MARK in Moline.
“I am incredibly honored to be named general manager of the Peoria Civic Center,” Sutherland said in a statement. “This facility has been my professional home for more than two decades, and I have had the privilege of working alongside an exceptionally talented team dedicated to creating memorable experiences for our guests, clients, and community.
“I appreciate the confidence the Peoria Civic Center Authority and Legends Global have placed in me, and I look forward to building on our success, bringing new events and opportunities to Peoria, and expanding the Civic Center’s role as a driving force for Central Illinois.”
That driving force includes anchor tenants Peoria Rivermen and Bradley University men’s basketball, as well as a close connection with Discover Peoria.
All three entities are vital for the Civic Center, and Sutherland will have to continue building and maintaining those relationships.
“It’s always nice to have a Peorian at the helm of the Center who understands the marketplace and the importance of the needs of all entities inside that,” Rivermen co-owner Bart Rogers said of the Western Illinois University grad. “Beau Sutherland’s decades of loyalty and longstanding work at the Peoria Civic Center are now being rewarded and his sales and marketing background blend great with our business of promotions and marketing to drive ticket sales.
“We are excited for our partnership to continue to grow and prosper under his general manager leadership moving forward.”
Sutherland has held leadership positions in sales, marketing, and business development during his Civic Center career. He concurrently served as regional marketing director for ASM Global, providing strategic leadership and support to venue marketing teams nationwide, before becoming assistant general manager in November 2024.
His extensive experience in convention sales and destination development has driven significant growth for the venue’s convention center and helped make fiscal year 2025 the strongest year in Peoria Civic Center history for convention center performance and overall venue revenue.
“On behalf of the entire team at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, we are thrilled to hear the news that Beau Sutherland has been named general manager of the Civic Center,” Discover Peoria president and CEO JD Dalfonso Jr. said. “Beau is – without a doubt – the best choice to lead the Civic Center at this time. I commend the work of the search committee of the Civic Center Authority for their due diligence in this process and for their ongoing support and leadership alongside the PCC team.
“Beau is a major reason we have been able to land new conventions, conferences, and events alongside the Discover Peoria team, which has further supported the entire destination, particularly our hotel community.
“Beau’s leadership at the helm will only grow our collaboration and I look forward to supporting each other for the betterment of our hometown.”
Among Sutherland’s notable achievements is securing the naming rights partnership for the Prairie Home Alliance Theater, increasing the venue’s visibility and creating a valuable collaboration with a respected regional organization.
He also played a key role in establishing a partnership with CXT Coffee that resulted in the build-out of a coffee café at the Civic Center, enhancing the overall visitor experience by providing an inviting space for guests attending events. In his expanded portfolio, Sutherland will be leveraging his background and relationships to continue the Civic Center’s focus on attracting exciting programming to the arena and Prairie Home Alliance Theater.
Sutherland is deeply invested in the Peoria community. His involvement with organizations includes the Peoria Riverfront Association, Downtown Advisory Commission, Riverfront Planning Committee, Heart of Illinois United Way, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Easterseals, St. Jude, and the Illinois High School Association.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star senior writer and sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Civic Center business partners react to naming of new general manager
Reporting by Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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By Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
