BLOOMINGTON, Ill – Central Illinois Arena Management, (CIAM) the building manager for the U.S. Cellular Coliseum announced today that a new ownership group led by Gary DelBuono and Sandra Hunnewell, has been conditionally approved as a new member of Central Hockey League and have agreed to a multi-year deal to play professional hockey at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. 
The new owners and the management company have agreed upon terms for a new 3-year license agreement. The new license agreement is expected to be presented to the city council in the near future for approval.
The former hockey tenant, BMI Hockey, LLC, (Bloomington PrairieThunder) did not exercise its renewal option during the regular season, allowing CIAM to actively seek other potential hockey ownership groups.
“We are very excited to be a new member of the CHL and call the U.S. Cellular Coliseum our home,” DelBuono said. “Bloomington is a great hockey community and the U.S. Cellular Coliseum is one of the best buildings in minor league hockey. Sandy and I look forward to the opportunity to provide aggressive, entertaining and winning hockey in Central Illinois.” The Central Hockey League was able to issue franchise rights for a new team in the Bloomington market because the International Hockey League was never legally dissolved, therefore former IHL teams playing in the CHL last season were still legally considered IHL franchises.
Gary DelBuono earned a Bachelor Degree from Fairfield University and a Law Degree from Bridgeport School of Law. He is currently the Senior Vice President Commercial Markets – General Liability for Liberty Mutual which is based in Boston, Massachusetts. He has spent 35 years in the insurance business and currently resides in Boston, MA with his wife and three children. Sandra Hunnewell earned a Bachelor Degree from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science. She has worked in long term care Pharmacy for the past 20 years. She has been CEO of Tempus Medical Services, a long term care pharmacy for the past 14 years. She currently resides in Laurel Springs, NJ with her husband and three children.
“We are very pleased to have Gary and Sandy as owners of the new Bloomington hockey franchise,” CCIAM President John Butler said. “Our objective was to select an ownership group with substantial financial resources, are excited about investing in the Bloomington area, and are committed to hockey and the community. In addition, they have a solid business plan and good marketing strategies to promote the team. We are confident that Gary and Sandy are committed to this market long term and will work in partnership with CIAM.” This will be DelBuono’s first venture into the ownership of a professional sports franchise.
DelBuono said the new franchise will have a new nickname and color scheme and will not be affiliated with the PrairieThunder. DelBuono’s son, D.J., was a goaltender who attended the PrairieThunder training camp last fall.
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