Hershey is a place that offers many entertainment options for its citizens and visitors. Referred to as the Chocolate town because of Hershey's Chocolate, the place gives music more than just sweetness. Located in Dauphin County in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Hershey proudly hosts one of the most rocking live venues of the nation known as Giant Center. This a the perfect venue to enjoy games, live shows and concerts as it ensures good times whatever may the event be.
Located on 550 Hershey Park Drive Hershey, PA Giant Center is a premium quality concert venue and hockey arena that has been serving the town since 2002. The venue is considered hot spot for latest concerts and hockey games as it is a home to Hershey Bears ice hockey team.
Giant Center stands proud in the 306,000 total square feet in the main arena. Official ground breaking ceremony was held on November 8, 2000 for this site. The Center was designed by HOK Sport Venue Event and was constructed by Hunt Construction Group. The expensive project cost around $95 million for building and roads, parking lots and infrastructures.
It took about two years for Giant Center to get completed. Important landmarks during its construction include naming rights announcement on July 12, 2000, placement of 6-feet tall and 76-feet long GIANT Center sign on June 18, 2002, raising of the new state-of-the-art scoreboard and seat installation in August 2002. It was on October 15, 2002 when grand opening of the Giant Center was held with much fanfare.
The Giant Center is state-of-the-art venue that has revamped itself with the passage of time. The arena underwent extensive renovation in February 2004 for this purpose with installation of a basketball floor. Today, Giant Center is considered a giant venue that is fully facilitated with all modern amenities to facilitate different kind of events, be it sports or live shows.
Giant Center is a grand venue with its 10,500 capacity for hockey games and 12,500 for in-the-round concerts. There are 7,700 seats in Level 100 and 2,800 seats in Level 200 or upper level. Along with these are 40 Luxury Suites and 688 Club Seats that offers top-notch services. There are plenty of food options to explore and vast parking spaces are available in the Center where around 10,000 vehicles can park easily.
The Giant Center Hershey has been a home to the Hershey Bears ice hockey team from October 2002. Te Bears joined American Hockey League in 1938 and enjoys the status of being the longest-existing member club of AHL. Before Giant Center, they used to play in Hersheypark Arena. Now Giant Center hosts their games and the venue resounds with huge cheers in all Bear games.
If sports attract millions to the Giant Center, then music doest not leg behind either as the venue is considered topmost place to enjoy musical concerts. While Pop Diva Cher was the first act to appear in GIANT Center with her "Living Proof - The Farewell Tour" in 2002, the place later witnessed many high profile shows and concerts. Everyone from 50 Cent to the Harlem Globetrotters has played here. The Giant Center has also hosted several annual conventions as well, notably the Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show and the Antique Automobile Club of America's Fall Meet. While the citizens of Hershey still remember the showcasing of World Wrestling Entertainment's Unforgiven in 2003, the Giant Center also attracted many when it hosted Road to Victory rally for Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain, and his running-mate, Sarah Palin in 2008.
More is yet to come at this prestigious Giant Center. So while you are looking for some fun time n Hershey Pennsylvania, check out this great venue and have a time of your life.
|