ROCKFORD, IL — Officials are planning more than $4 million worth of improvements at the BMO Center to replace 45-year-old concrete, damaged windows and doors and prevent further flooding of the arena, its kitchen and IceHogs locker rooms.
Legends Global Rockford General Manager Gretchen Gilmore said that original and badly deteriorated concrete on the arena’s exterior concourse leaks during heavy rains. Water has several times seeped into the arena through cracked concrete walls, cracked floors and damaged doors, spoiling expensive food in the freezer, damaging the kitchen and destroying IceHogs equipment.
“The exterior elevated concourse is getting a full re-pour and the drainage system underneath is going to be redirected away from the building,” Gilmore said. “And then as we go inside, you will see the knee walls and the curved walls are also going to be replaced and a lot of exterior walls.”
Built in 1981, the BMO Center is owned by the city of Rockford and managed by the Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority. The RAVE Authority Board — which hired Legends Global to manage daily operations — was created in 2010 to oversee downtown Rockford venues including the 6,300-seat arena, Coronado Performing Arts Center and Davis Park.
Starting Aug. 4, an estimated more than $2 million, five-month project to repair the concourse on the Elm Street side of the arena begins. The work includes replacing damaged doors, windows, deteriorated concrete walls, re-routing drainage away from the building and repairing concrete stairwells. It will be completed by Chicago-based Bulley & Andrews Concrete Restoration, the lowest responsible bidder, and should be done by Dec. 15.
It should not impact how most fans enter the arena, but a doorway utilized by IceHogs season ticket holders will be effected. More information is pending on how season ticket holders, who get priority entrance, will enter the arena for IceHogs games.
A similar project to repair the concourse on the Church Street side of the building is planned in August 2027.
Since 2021, the BMO Center received a new ice floor, boards and cooling system, a new sound system, locker room upgrades and a new upper-deck premium seating area as part of a phased renovation project.
The box office, main entrance, team store, Main Street concourse, concourse bar and lounge were renovated as part of a nearly $6 million 2023 project. And the arena replaced and improved its seating, making seats more comfortable and adding cupholders as part of a nearly $1 million 2024 renovation project.
State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Loves Park, said he has secured $1.5 million in state funding, covering the bulk of the latest Elm Street concourse repair plan.
“I consider the BMO Center the anchor of the downtown entertainment district for decades, 45 years now,” Stadelman said. “People have been entertained with sporting activities and musical acts, it draws people not only from Rockford but throughout the region as well, so it’s important to the economy of the Rockford area, especially the downtown area. Businesses depend on the foot traffic that BMO brings in.”
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford’s BMO Center needs $4M in concourse repairs
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
