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The Peoria Armory Building is where Bradley played basketball from 1925 until they moved into the Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse on December 17, 1949.
It was constructed in 1925, seated around 5,000, and still stands on Peoria's near-north side at 523 N.E. Adams-
In addition to being used by the Illinois National Guard, and for Bradley games, the building was used for many other musical and orchestra performances, circuses, sports events, political rallies, and much more. Unfortunately, once the Peoria Civic Center was built, it was no longer needed. It has not been in use for decades, and has fallen into such extreme disrepair (roof has fallen in, windows boarded up, and interior has had to be completely gutted). In 2004, a court ordered its demolition, but legal battles ensued, and it was never torn down.
It has had multiple owners through the recent years who claimed they were planning to renovate the building, but that's never happened.
Now there are a couple new owners who claim they plan to renovate the Armory building "into office space and an athletic venue with indoor soccer, hockey and basketball and arena seating for almost 5,000 spectators" and for concerts.-
Others have had grand plans for the Armory before, and nothing ever happened. I'd love to see a renovation, but I will be surprised if this ever happens.
Here are some articles of interest about the old Armory building-
In 2017, Phil Luciano wrote one of his best columns with a great history of the Armory-
Another article about it's history-
More great information from Norm Kelly, the preeminent Peoria historian-
It was constructed in 1925, seated around 5,000, and still stands on Peoria's near-north side at 523 N.E. Adams-
In addition to being used by the Illinois National Guard, and for Bradley games, the building was used for many other musical and orchestra performances, circuses, sports events, political rallies, and much more. Unfortunately, once the Peoria Civic Center was built, it was no longer needed. It has not been in use for decades, and has fallen into such extreme disrepair (roof has fallen in, windows boarded up, and interior has had to be completely gutted). In 2004, a court ordered its demolition, but legal battles ensued, and it was never torn down.
It has had multiple owners through the recent years who claimed they were planning to renovate the building, but that's never happened.
Now there are a couple new owners who claim they plan to renovate the Armory building "into office space and an athletic venue with indoor soccer, hockey and basketball and arena seating for almost 5,000 spectators" and for concerts.-
Others have had grand plans for the Armory before, and nothing ever happened. I'd love to see a renovation, but I will be surprised if this ever happens.
Here are some articles of interest about the old Armory building-
In 2017, Phil Luciano wrote one of his best columns with a great history of the Armory-
Another article about it's history-
More great information from Norm Kelly, the preeminent Peoria historian-