Downtown stage named for Robbie Stokes
The outdoor event center now emerging in the center of Carbondale finally has a name, as does its main stage.
At its recent meeting, the Carbondale City Council voted to name the new venue at Walnut and Washington streets the New Era Events Plaza — a name that looks toward the city's future while also honoring its past. The venue's location also was once the site of the New Era Dairy.
Additionally, council members approved naming the venue's stage the Robbie Stokes Memorial Stage following widespread community support for the idea. Stokes, who passed away in 2023, was renowned in the Carbondale music scene both as a performer and for his longtime live sound production business, Robco Audio.
The dual names represent something of a compromise after city leaders initially hesitated at naming the entire venue for any one individual, despite the overwhelming public support for naming it in honor of Stokes.
Discussions also have started around the idea of naming the nearby stretch of Washington Street for a Black musician of note in Carbondale history, although no formal process has begun.
Council member Adam Loos suggested Tuesday that when the city conducted an informal poll that revealed the support for the Stokes naming, there was an incorrect assumption among many that the poll's result would be binding. Loos said that in the future, it should be made clear that such questions are being presented in an advisory manner only.
“There was a whole period here where people's feelings were hurt because I guess it wasn't clear what was going on,” Loos said.
The city began work on constructing the venue in 2024 following receipt of $2 million in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
In April 2025, the city received another $2 million grant from DCEO to complete phase 2, which will allow the venue to host ticketed events with the construction of a pavilion, permanent restrooms and ADA-compliant parking.
The project is slated to be completed later this year.