Hoffman Estates open to RV show at Sears Centre
The Hoffman Estates board on Monday gave preliminary approval for a boat show in August outside the Sears Centre arena.
The outdoor event will likely be the first of others designed to make use of the Sears Centre grounds during slow summer months. Sears Centre officials say those months are more difficult to book, as musical acts typically perform outdoors and shun arenas.
The three-day event, tentatively dubbed as the Contemporary Marketing RV Show, is scheduled for Aug. 1-3 at the arena's parking lots off the former Columbine Boulevard and Pratum Avenue.
"I think this might be a good test in regard to what we'll see with the outdoor theater," Trustee Cary Collins said.
Collins referred to the 8,900-seat, $34 million Prairie Creek Amphitheater which is scheduled to open Memorial Day 2009 next to the Sears Centre. Many residents have concerns about noise. Sears Centre officials estimate between 8,000 and 12,000 in daily attendance. They say there wouldn't be any amplified music and no alcohol sales.
Village Manager James Norris said traffic flow is another issue the village will watch at the arena's 2,500 parking spaces. However, unlike a concert that would have fans arrive and leave at the same time, the RV show would have cars coming and going during different times.
"Unless they come all at once, we don't have a problem," Norris said.
The RV show would open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. each day. The arena would also be open so attendees would have access to bathroom and concessions. Outdoor food tents would be set up as well.
Sears Centre Executive Director Jeff Bowen noted that this would be the first outdoor RV show in the Chicago area, including the annual show held around February at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center. He said he didn't mind the competition.
Bowen added that Sears Centre officials are planning to come again before the board next month with plans for a food-related event on the same scale as a Ribfest.
The village gave Ryan Cos., the firm that owns and runs the Sears Centre, a $50 million loan to help construct the $60 million cornerstone of the village's entertainment district in the Prairie Stone Business Park. It's been open since 2006.
Bowen said Contemporary Marketing would pay a rental fee to the Sears Centre, and the arena would make also money from a $10 parking fee, as well as concessions. Bowen added that there are plans -- pending board approval -- for three RV shows annually with one of them being held indoors.
The show's organizers wanted to do the show last year, Bowen said. The organizers also own a suite at the Sears Centre, he added.
In November, the board approved allowing outdoor events in the arena's parking lots, including tailgating before indoor events. The board said at the time it would look at the success of the outdoor events over an 18-month period and would then evaluate the law for possible extension.