Five years after the last professional sports team left Bloomington, a new ownership group has announced plans to bring hockey back to Grossinger Motors Arena.
The ECHL has reportedly approved an application from Indiana-based Hallett Sports and Entertainment to field a hockey franchise starting next fall with the 2024-25 season. The team name will be announced at a later date.
“While there is still work to be done, we are more than excited about the opportunity to bring high-quality hockey and ownership to Bloomington-Normal. This will be the highest-level hockey we have seen at the Arena,” said Bloomington Arts and Entertainment director Anthony Nelson.
Hallett currently owns an ECHL franchise in Indianapolis, the Indy Fuel.
“I am extremely excited to bring professional hockey to Bloomington and watch the sport as well as the community grow through this expansion.” Fuel owner & chair Jim Hallett said in a statement.
Bloomington has hosted three pro hockey teams over the years, starting with the PrairieThunder when the arena opened in 2006. Then came the Bloomington Blaze, the Thunder and then the Central Illinois Flying Aces, which last took the ice in 2019.
Illinois State University's club hockey team plays at the arena currently. The venue also hosted several indoor football and minor league basketball franchises. The city has rented the venue to the Peoria Rivermen when that hockey team had schedule conflicts at Peoria Civic Center.
The ECHL currently has 28 teams across the United States and Canada. Its franchises are affiliated with the National Hockey League, something Bloomington’s previous hockey teams lacked.
“Bloomington is a natural geographical rival for our teams in the Central Division, and Hallett Sports has shown a commitment to the communities they serve in growing the game and fan experience, which makes puck drop in 2024-25 very exciting for next season,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin.
Owners plan to offer ticket information and more details at a news conference on Jan. 24.
