BLOOMINGTON - Several aldermen opposed to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum are putting their money where their votes weren't. And at least one prominent cheerleader is staying away.

"I have club seats, and I have from day one," said Ward 5 Alderman Jim Finnegan of the $1,500 he's spent for a pair of premium seats, despite that fact that in 2004, he voted against construction of the $35.8 million facility, which includes the Pepsi Ice Center and the parking deck.

Finnegan said although he voted against the arena, he wants to see the building succeed.

Ward 6 Alderman Karen Schmidt, another "no" vote, also has purchased club seats that cost $750 each and include season tickets for the football and hockey seasons, plus the right to buy tickets for those seats at concerts and other events.

Ward 7 Alderman Steven Purcell, who defeated pro-Coliseum alderman Tom Whalen to win his seat, feels the same way as Finnegan. Though he even accepted money from an anti-arena group during his campaign, Purcell has owned two club seats for each of the past two years.

"It's time to get over it," said Purcell, referring previous opposition to the facility.

Former alderman J. 'Skip" Crawford not only voted against building the Coliseum in 2004, but also voted against paying for the studies in 2000. While he is not a regular at Coliseum events, he does make it to some football games and concerts.

"It's not a boycott, it's just a reflection of a busy life," Crawford said.

However, a wage battle has kept one of the facility's biggest supporters from spending any time there.

A fight by the Central Illinois Organizing Project to pay Coliseum workers a "living wage" has kept former alderman Mike Matejka from the building.

Matejka was one of the five council members who approved building the arena in January 2004.

CIOP tried to get the Coliseum managers, Central Illinois Arena Management, to agree to pay a living wage, defined as the hourly pay rate, based on a 40-hour week, it would take for a worker to afford a one-bedroom apartment in the community.

"Their refusal to meet and discuss that issue makes it hard for me to go into the building," Matejka said. "I want to support it, but the living wage issue left a bad taste in my mouth."

Meanwhile, Mayor Steve Stockton, former Mayor Judy Markowitz and former aldermen Mike Sprague have two club seats a piece. City Manager Tom Hamilton has bought four club seats every year.

Markowitz said she has enjoyed the hockey and football games, but also recently had fun at the Mannheim Steamroller and Kid Rock concerts.

Among other current aldermen, Ward 4 Alderman Judy Stearns said she's attended several concerts and the November Farmers' Market, adding she is a big hockey fan and attends games frequently, but does not have club seats.

Ward 9 Alderman Jim Fruin said he goes to as many football and hockey games as he can but does not hold club seats.

Ward 8 Alderman John Hanson also goes to some events, but said he doesn't have the time to attend games on a regular basis. Ward 1 Alderman Allen Gibson, who replaced Rich Veitengruber, said he attends events that interest him.

Aldermen Kevin Huette, Ward 3, and David Sage, Ward 2, did not return calls seeking comment.