The Palmer Arena needs money to fix the heating and air conditioning system. Arena officials addressed the Danville City Council Tuesday and said they have made a number of improvements recently to the building, but a big one is needed.

Board chairman Dean Shore says only 2 of the 8 HVAC units currently work and they will be expensive to replace

Shore says  the Julius Hegeler Foundation has committed $750 thousand dollars to the project, but wants the Arena to produce a matching commitment. The Arena board will be asking the County Board for funding and  hopes for some support from the city.

Mayor Rickey Williams says the Arena is an essential quality of life issue. But he says the city is currently the primary funder for the Arena through the hotel and liquor taxes

Officials say the pandemic, building repairs, loss of a hockey team and some legal expenses have all hurt the Arena finances.