To find the third executive director in the 33-year history of Vibrant Arena at The MARK, a search committee looked nationwide. But they ended up picking an industry veteran just 93 miles away.
Rik Edgar, former general manager of the Peoria Civic Center, was named last week by the Illinois Quad City Civic Center Authority Board of Directors as the new boss for the arena at 1201 River Drive, Moline, to start in early July.
Edgar brings years of positive experience in the entertainment field, most recently serving the past eight years of the Peoria Civic Center – which is kind of like The MARK, Adler Theatre and RiverCenter in one complex. In addition to its 12,000-seat Carver Arena, the Civic Center includes the 2,200-seat capacity Prairie Home Alliance Theater, and a convention center.
“We believe Rik will be an energetic and professional team leader as our Executive Director and we look forward to a meaningful and successful relationship,” said the Moline civic center authority chairman Paul Mulcahey.
There were 54 applicants from across the country, but mostly from the Midwest, he said Friday, May 22. The Vibrant Arena board worked with the Chicago-based executive search firm Kittleman & Associates to lead the search. The posted salary range was $200,000–$225,000 a year, plus a board-designated bonus tied to strategic initiatives.
They pared it down to seven applicants who they thought would be the best candidates, the search committee met “and we reviewed the applications and we found that there were five that we wanted to interview,” Mulcahey said. “So we interviewed five and then we took three of the top three there and we interviewed those three at a later date. That's why it takes so long.”
“We interviewed the three finalists. Rik as one of those. And he came out overwhelmingly as the top choice,” he added. “He's a pretty sharp guy. We think he's going to do a good job.”
Edgar has been very successful in Peoria, and the Moline arena’s board was impressed with his experience.
“He was head of an arena comparable to our size and we know from Rocky and from others that he's been very successful down there,” Mulcahey said. “It's no secret in the trade that he brings in big shows and he's been very successful at that. And that was one of the turning points. You know, he's gonna hopefully bring in the shows to make us financially solvent, which is a big thing about this business. We have certain community responsibilities. Like we have graduations there.”
“We have all the high schools and the colleges use the building for graduations. But it's more than that. You know, they pay a nominal fee. We gotta get big acts in there to pay to keep the
lights on,” he added. “And he's very good at that.”
“We haven't got a lot of big shows over the last couple of years, as many as we thought we need,” Mulcahey noted. “He's been very successful at getting shows.”
Vibrant Arena has a great track record, and has been able to keep executive directors for a long period, the chairman noted.
“And one thing we recognize from him, he seemed like he'd be a good team leader,” Mulcahey added. “He believes, I think, in collaborative leadership, including employees and staff and others. And the operation of the facility, I think he will do a good job with that. That was important to us. You know, how do you get along with staff? And we think he'll get along really good with our staff.”
“When I was approached about the opportunity in the Quad Cities, it was flattering because I am aware of the historic relevance of the venue,” Edgar said in a Thursday, May 21 release from Vibrant Arena, which opened in 1993. “To be welcomed in as a new leader is both humbling and exciting. I am looking forward to joining an already successful team and creating incredible memories for the Quad Cities.”
“I am beyond excited to get started,” Edgar texted on May 22. “I love the vibrancy of the downtown area and wanted to be part of impacting the community in a positive manner. After meeting with community leaders, I believe that I can play a role in not only the present, but in the future of the Quad Cities.”
Two months ago on LinkedIn, he wrote: “I’ve always loved the underdog. It’s probably why I’ve always been most comfortable in secondary markets throughout my career. Always try to punch above our weight.
“When it comes to selling concert tickets, our underdog’ market finished the year at #67 in the United States according to Pollstar magazine with more than $16 million in sales,” Edgar noted. “For reference, Peoria is the #122 sized market in the US.”
Edgar increased Peoria Civic Center ticket sales from $7.8 million in FY 2018 to $14.9 million in FY 2019, and posted record revenues for the venue in FY22 of more than $19 million.
Since Peoria opened its arena in 1982, Edgar set venue records for the top-selling concert in venue history -- Bob Seger (in January 2019), and its theater history -- Steve Martin/Martin Short (April 2019).
Like Broadway at the Adler in Davenport, Broadway In Peoria serves as the premier Broadway venue in southern Illinois by hosting touring shows such as “The Lion King,” “Dear Evan Hanson,” “Come From Away,” “Book of Mormon,” “Rent,” “Waitress,” “Stomp,” “Cinderella,” “Wicked” and many others.
Peoria Civic Center was awarded a Restore Illinois $25 million non-matching grant for venue improvements for 2023-24 renovations, and a $500,000 audience builder fund from Illinois State Legislature.
Prior to Peoria, Edgar was general manager for SMG in Charleston-Huntington, West Virginia (2015-2018) and its Big Sandy Superstore Arena (today’s Marshall Health Network Arena). There, he broke multiple venue records during FY2017 including the four highest-grossing concerts (Def Leppard, KISS, Luke Bryan, and Journey) in the 40-year venue history.
From 2007 to 2014, he was executive director for the Racine (Wis.) Civic Centre, managed by VenuWorks (as are the Adler and RiverCenter).
Edgar grew up in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at Coastal Carolina University. He moved to Columbia, S.C. to attend grad school and work for the University of South Carolina Athletic Department as a video coordinator. He was part of the staff that won the 1996-97 SEC Men’s Basketball Championship team and received his master’s degree in media arts at the same time.
“After graduation, I went through several jobs in my search for the right career,” Edgar told Peoria Magazine in December 2018. “In 2007, I finally found the perfect fit for me and began working in the entertainment industry. My training and travels have taken me to several communities over the past 12 years.”
After two decades leading Moline’s Vibrant Arena to many profitable years (from 2005-2025), Scott Mullen is now working to book acts and events nationwide, for the company that manages Davenport’s Adler Theatre and RiverCenter.
In late March 2026, VenuWorks announced that Mullen joined the company as Vice President of Programming & Entertainment, bringing extensive experience in live entertainment booking, strategic programming, artist relations, and revenue development – overseeing more than 60 venues in 27 communities in the U.S.
He’s also interim general manager for the city of Davenport-owned venues, after former head Lance Sadlek was let go by VenuWorks, which contracts with the city to manage the facilities.
Mullen helped arrange the current name of Vibrant Arena, announced in August 2022, when the Moline-based credit union acquired naming rights to the former TaxSlayer Center for $4 million over 10 years, effective Sept. 1, 2022. The arena opened in 1993 as The MARK of the Quad Cities, with two sold-out Neil Diamond shows.
Major upcoming concerts at Vibrant Arena are: Journey on June 24 and Luke Bryan on July 10.
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