The David S. Palmer Civic Center project was conceived in September 1975 as the governor of Illinois, Daniel Walker, approved a bid to create a civic center authority in Danville, Ill. Its groundbreaking occurred in August 1978 and opened in September 1980. The civic center is named after the city s former mayor, David S. Palmer. The David S. Palmer Civic Center, also known as the Palmer Arena, is home ice for the 2000 Robertson Cup Champion Danville Wings and the Danville Youth Hockey League. The facility also hosts the Vermilion County boys and girls basketball tournaments and the East Central Illinois Community Action Dustbowl Basketball Tournament. The David S. Palmer Civic Center has a seating capacity of 2,350 in the arena.