GIANT Center

Infobox_Baseball_Stadium
stadium_name = GIANT Center


location = 950 West Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
broke_ground = November 8, 2000
opened = October 19, 2002
owner = Derry Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority
operator = Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
construction_cost = $65 million
architect = HOK Sport + Venue + Event (Kansas City, Missouri)
tenants = Hershey Bears (AHL) (2002-present)
seating_capacity = 12,500 for in-the-round concerts, 10,500 for hockey
dimensions = 306,000 total square feet in the main arena. 100 feet from ice to ceiling convert|17000|sqft|m2 floor area. 85’ x 200’ ice rink

The GIANT Center is a 12,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in the Harrisburg metropolitan area. It is home to the Hershey Bears ice hockey team, the longest-existing member club in the American Hockey League, joining the league in 1938. GIANT Center replaced the Hersheypark Arena as the Bears' home in 2002.

In addition to Bears games, the arena also hosts an annual concert series and attracts many well-known acts. The GIANT Center opened its doors with a performance by Cher and has since hosted acts ranging from 50 Cent to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, to Drew Carey's Comedy Tour, professional ice shows, family events, and special attractions like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Harlem Globetrotters, Disney On Ice, Stars On Ice, and the Blue Man Group. Several conventions make yearly stops here as well, notably the Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show, the auction of the Antique Automobile Club of America's Fall Meet. In 2003, the GIANT Center held WWE Unforgiven.

The GIANT Center is owned by the Derry Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, as much of the money for its construction was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is operated by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, with the naming rights owned by the GIANT Food grocery store chain based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 2007 the Giant Center Food and Beverage Department finalized a deal with PepsiCo, with all food and drink stands in the building switched from Coca-Cola products to Pepsi products. The switch was made to equalize operations with the rest of the Hershey Entertainment Complex.

succession box
title = Home of the
Hershey Bears
years = 2002– present
before = Hersheypark Arena
after = current

External links

* [http://www.giantcenter.net GIANT Center]
* [http://www.hersheybears.com Hershey Bears]