This morning, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz and several others announced that the Blackhawks were unanimously approved to buy the Rockford IceHogs.
The sale of the IceHogs to the Blackhawks came with a price tag of $11.8 million. The Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority (RAVE) started officially accepting bids for the sale in March. RAVE has committed $1 million directly from the sale of the team to the building improvements.
Additionally, a $23 million renovation plan for BMO Center, Rockford’s largest sports arena and entertainment venue, was announced along with a 15-year lease agreement. According to WREX, the renovation would not come from taxpayer money.