Bos Center

What Bos Center does

BOS Center (legal name: Bank of Springfield Center, formerly Prairie Capital Convention Center) is a multi-purpose event facility located at 1 Convention Center Plaza in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Built in 1979 and operated under the governance of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA), a public authority board, the venue was substantially modernized in a 2010 renovation that added the outdoor BOS Plaza, two mezzanine terraces, and an expanded lobby. The facility portfolio includes a 44,000 sq ft column-free Main Hall with up to 6,459 theater-style capacity, 21,000 sq ft of meeting room space on the Lower Level, a 9,100 sq ft divisible Ballroom (B11), North and South Terraces, and an 8,300 sq ft outdoor BOS Plaza — supporting a wide range of event types from large concerts and conventions to intimate receptions and meetings.

The venue generates revenue through five primary streams: (1) ticket take-rate via Ticketmaster (the sole authorized ticketing partner) and on-site Box Office, (2) facility rental of Main Hall, meeting rooms, ballroom, terraces, and plaza, (3) parking services through an on-site automated garage ($1/hr up to $7/day, $5-10 event, $60/month subscription), (4) licensing fees from a curated program of 12 preferred caterers, and (5) equipment and services rental including staging, LCD projectors, and electrical/internet. Supporting infrastructure includes SICO Roll-n-Set portable staging, comprehensive rigging to 72' high steel (up to 120,000 lbs), 800 amp three-phase power, four loading docks, ADA-compliant facilities with assisted listening devices, and a free wireless/hardwired internet option. A/V is delivered by in-house partner Audio Techni Services, and exhibit services through three preferred decorators.

The customer base spans convention and tradeshow organizers (American Legion, AFFI, FFA), live entertainment promoters (WWE, national touring acts including Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Cirque Du Soleil), sports organizations (Springfield City Basketball Tournament), local schools (graduations), and family entertainment (Harlem Globetrotters, Monster Trucks, Disney Live). Marketing is conducted through The Vault email/text club, four social media channels, a 104.5 WFMB radio partnership, and the venue website. The venue operates under a $500,000 naming rights partnership with Bank of Springfield that has anchored its brand since 2010.

Name

Bos Center

Legal name

Bank of Springfield Center

Website

https://www.theboscenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BOS Center is a multi-purpose convention and event facility in Springfield, Illinois, operating a 44,000 sq ft column-free arena, meeting rooms, outdoor plaza, and parking garage to host concerts, conventions, sports tournaments, and community events under SMEAA governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue and Convention Center Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Event venue rental
• Convention center hosting
• Arena event services
• Facility parking services
• Catering licensing program

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Ticketing: BOS Center serves as the venue for events; tickets are sold through Ticketmaster with the venue receiving a share of ticket revenues.
2. Facility Rental: The venue generates revenue by renting out various spaces including Main Hall, Lower Level meeting rooms, Ballroom (B11), North and South Terraces, and BOS Plaza for conventions, tradeshows, conferences, receptions, and private events.
3. Parking Services: Revenue from hourly parking ($1/hour max $7/day), event parking ($5-$10), and monthly parking subscriptions ($60/month).
4. Preferred Caterer Program: Only preferred caterers approved by BOS Center can furnish food and beverages for events, generating licensing/partnership revenue.
5. Equipment and Services Rental: Revenue from rental of staging, LCD projectors, screens, and services including electrical, internet, and forklift services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BOS Center is a multi-purpose convention and entertainment venue in Springfield, Illinois that rents event space (44,000 sq ft column-free Main Hall, BOS Plaza, terraces, ballroom, meeting rooms) to event organizers, promoters, associations, and corporations, and sells event tickets to the general public via its Box Office and Ticketmaster. Supporting offerings include on-site parking, preferred-caterer licensing, equipment rental (staging, projectors, screens), and event coordination services.

Product overview

BOS Center (Bank of Springfield Center) is a multi-purpose convention and entertainment venue in Springfield, Illinois. The facility operates as a unified venue portfolio featuring distinct event spaces: the 44,000 sq. ft. column-free Main Hall arena for large productions (concerts, tradeshows, graduations, sporting events), the 8,300 sq. ft. outdoor BOS Plaza for summer activities, two mezzanine terraces (North and South) for elegant cocktail hours and receptions, a 9,100 sq. ft. Ballroom with partition capabilities for meetings and banquets, and various smaller meeting rooms. Supporting services include Box Office/Ticketing operations, on-site parking garage, event planning coordination, and A/V services through Audio Techni Services. The venue hosts diverse event types including conventions, conferences, tradeshows, concerts, sports tournaments, and private functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Hall Arena

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully hosted national touring acts including Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Cirque Du Soleil, Disturbed, and Kevin Hart
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bank of SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Naming rights partnership with Bank of Springfield led to a $500,000 naming rights agreement and rebranding from Prairie Capital Convention Center to Bank of Springfield Center. This partnership has been fundamental to the venue's identity and marketing.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketmaster is the only official ticketing company for BOS Center events. All tickets must be purchased through Ticketmaster or the BOS Center Box Office. BOS Center is not responsible for tickets purchased from unauthorized vendors.
• Audio Techni ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationIn-house audio/visual company that handles all sound needs for events. Can be contacted directly at 217/725-1607 or [email protected].
• Best Expo, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred exhibit decorator for trade shows. Phone: 217-899-1321. Provides booth curtains, tables, chairs, and carpeting for exhibitions.
• Peoria Flag & Decorating Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred exhibit decorator for trade shows. Phone: 309-685-8989.
• Valley Expo & DisplaysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred exhibit decorator for trade shows. Phone: 815-873-1500.
• Preferred Caterers (12 vendors)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnly preferred caterers can furnish food and beverages for meal functions. Includes: Arena Food Service, Bloom Bawarchi, Conn's Catering & Events, Cured Catering, Hamilton's Catering Service, Hy-Vee, Jerk Joint, McAlister's Deli, Nelson's Catering, Poe's Catering, President Abraham Lincoln DoubleTree by Hilton, Saputo's & Papa Franks.
• Partner Hotels (6 properties)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotels for visitors: State House Inn, Crowne Plaza Springfield, Sleep Inn Springfield West, Carpenter Street Hotel, President Abraham Lincoln DoubleTree by Hilton, Quality Inn and Suites.
• 104.5 WFMB RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station partnered with BOS Center for concert promotions, including free concert on BOS Plaza featuring Ultimate Aldean and Luke Bryan Tribute.
• Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe governing board that oversees BOS Center operations. Appointed Jodi Davis as General Manager in 2022. Board members include Mike Coffey Jr. (Chairman), Brad Mills (Vice Chairman), Jeanette Goza (Treasurer), Jason Loftus (Secretary), and others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TaxSlayer Center: Moline, Illinois arena and convention venue of similar capacity and mid-market regional positioning. Operates as a multi-purpose facility hosting concerts, sporting events, and conventions across the Quad Cities region, competing for the same touring-act routing as BOS Center.
• Von Braun Center: Huntsville, Alabama multi-purpose complex combining an arena, concert hall, and meeting space — directly comparable scale and event mix (conventions, concerts, family shows, sports) to BOS Center, and the typical mid-tier regional venue benchmark.
• Bismarck Event Center: North Dakota multi-purpose convention and arena facility of similar size and event programming. Comparable in role as the dominant regional venue for concerts, conventions, tradeshows, and sporting events in its catchment area.
• Knoxville Civic Coliseum: Knoxville, Tennessee civic multi-purpose arena hosting concerts, conventions, family shows, and sporting events at a similar size; another directly comparable mid-size regional venue against which BOS Center competes for touring-act routing.
• Big Sandy Superstore Arena: Huntington, West Virginia multi-purpose arena with comparable capacity, hosting concerts, conventions, sporting events, and family entertainment — directly comparable in scale, event mix, and mid-market regional role.
• Allen County War Memorial Coliseum: Fort Wayne, Indiana multi-purpose coliseum and expo center with similar arena capacity and convention/trade-show programming, serving a comparable mid-size Midwest market with the same mix of touring acts, family shows, and regional conventions.
• Cross Insurance Center: Bangor, Maine multi-purpose arena and event facility with comparable capacity and event mix, serving a similar mid-sized New England market with concerts, conventions, family entertainment, and sporting events.
• Casper Events Center: Casper, Wyoming regional arena and events center with similar capacity profile, hosting concerts, conventions, family shows, and rodeos — a typical mid-tier regional venue benchmark comparable in scale and programming.
• Peoria Civic Center: The closest comparable Illinois multi-purpose arena and convention venue in Peoria. Like BOS Center, it hosts concerts, conventions, tradeshows, and sporting events in a comparable mid-size regional market with a similar 5,000–10,000-seat capacity profile.

Others

• ASM Global: Largest global operator of public-assembly venues including convention centers and arenas similar to BOS Center. Acts as an outsourced management peer/ecosystem participant rather than a direct venue competitor, but is the most relevant entity shaping best-practice operations for facilities like BOS Center.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/theboscenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCI7n7CGSw00j1elEMFyiG2w
• Facebookfacebook.com/theboscenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/theboscenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prairie-capital-convention-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bos Center