Hersheypark Arena

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Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania

title: "Hersheypark Arena" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1936-establishments-in-pennsylvania", "buildings-and-structures-in-dauphin-county,-pennsylvania", "hershey-bears", "hersheypark", "hershey-entertainment-and-resorts-company", "ice-hockey-venues-in-pennsylvania", "indoor-soccer-venues-in-the-united-states", "sports-venues-completed-in-1936", "sports-venues-in-pennsylvania", "tourist-attractions-in-dauphin-county,-pennsylvania", "wrestling-venues-in-pennsylvania"] description: "Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hersheypark_Arena" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox venue"]

FieldValue
nameHersheypark Arena
nickname"The Old Barn"
logo_imageFile:HersheyPark Arena.svg
imageFile:Hersheypark arena outside1.jpg
location100 West Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
coordinates
broke_ground1935
built1936
opened1936
ownerHershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
operatorHershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
surfaceIce
former_namesHershey Sports Arena (1936–1972)
tenantsHershey Bears (EAHL) 1936–1938
Hershey Bears (AHL) 1936–2002
Hershey Impact (NPSL) 1988–1991
Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (NCAA) 1998–present
Hershey Cubs (USPHL) 2021–present
Harrisburg Heat (MASL2) 2025–present
capacity7,286
::

| name = Hersheypark Arena | nickname = "The Old Barn" | logo_image = File:HersheyPark Arena.svg | image = File:Hersheypark arena outside1.jpg | fullname = | location = 100 West Hersheypark Drive Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 | coordinates = | broke_ground = 1935 | built = 1936 | opened = 1936 | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company | operator = Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company | surface = Ice | construction_cost = | architect = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | project_manager = | main_contractors = | former_names = Hershey Sports Arena (1936–1972) | tenants = Hershey Bears (EAHL) 1936–1938 Hershey Bears (AHL) 1936–2002 Hershey Impact (NPSL) 1988–1991 Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (NCAA) 1998–present Hershey Cubs (USPHL) 2021–present Harrisburg Heat (MASL2) 2025–present | capacity = 7,286 | dimensions = | scoreboard = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Hersheypark_Arena_at_ice_level.jpg" caption="View from ice level"] ::

Hersheypark Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, managed by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. The arena has a seating capacity for hockey of 7,286 people and with standing room can fit in excess of 8,000.

The arena opened in 1936 as the Hershey Sports Arena and was the longtime home of the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 1936 to 2002 until their move to Giant Center. It was originally the home of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League Hershey Bears from 1936 to 1938, while the Hershey Impact of the National Professional Soccer League played at the arena from 1988 to 1991. Since 1998, it has served as the home of the Lebanon Valley College Flying Dutchman ice hockey team. It’s also currently home to the Hershey Cubs of the United States Premier Hockey League, and the Harrisburg Heat of the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL2).

History

When built in 1936 as the Hershey Sports Arena, the building was the largest monolithic structure in the United States in which not a single seat suffered from an obstructed view. For 64 years it was the home of the Hershey Bears hockey team from 1938 to 2002. The second sport at the arena was basketball. It hosted the PIAA basketball and wrestling championships, and it also served as the home of the Hershey Impact, a National Professional Soccer League team from 1988 to 1991. It has also hosted the Ice Capades, Disney on Ice, professional boxing, tennis competitions, and the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) In Your House 5 pay-per-view in 1995. Previously it hosted WWF's Saturday Night's Main Event III on October 31, 1985 (aired November 2) with the main event being a tag-team match featuring WWF Champion Hulk Hogan teaming with André the Giant facing the team of Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy.

On October 13, 1953, the arena also hosted an extravagant birthday celebration for President Dwight D. Eisenhower whose farm and "weekend White House" was located in nearby Gettysburg. Phish performed and recorded their show, on December 1, 1995, which was later released as a live album, entitled Live Phish 12.01.95. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Last_Bears_game_at_Hersheypark_Arena_May_4,_2002.jpg" caption="Bears players salute fans after final game at Hersheypark Arena"] ::

Basketball

On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain recorded a record-setting 100 points in an NBA game against the New York Knicks, a record that still stands today. ::data[format=table] | Golden State Warriors}}"|Date | Golden State Warriors}}"|Home | Golden State Warriors}}"|Score | Golden State Warriors}}"|Away | Golden State Warriors}}"|Game Type | Golden State Warriors}}"|Attendance | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Golden State Warriors}}"|December 29, 1961 | Philadelphia Warriors | 123-118 | Los Angeles Lakers | RS | 5,000 | | Golden State Warriors}}"|January 26, 1962 | Philadelphia Warriors | 136-110 | St. Louis Hawks | RS | 4,473 | | Golden State Warriors}}"|March 2, 1962 | Philadelphia Warriors | 169-147 | New York Knicks | RS | 4,124 | ::

Roof fire

On July 5, 2012, a fire damaged the arena, which was in the midst of refurbishment. At about 3:00 PM local time, the fire was upgraded to five alarms. The fire burned for about two hours before being extinguished. The roof was damaged, but reported to not be in danger of collapse. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Current use

Hersheypark Arena is the home rink for the Lebanon Valley College Flying Dutchmen Women's and Men's ice hockey teams. LVC competes in NCAA Division III as of 2016, and previously competed in the ACHA. In addition, the arena hosts the Hershey Junior Bears, a youth team sponsored by the Bears organization. On most weekends during the fall and winter months, the rink is open to the public for ice skating.

Annually, it hosts part of the Music in the Parks competition.

In 2021, the Hershey Cubs of the USPHL Premier League began using the arena as home ice.

Beginning with the 2025-26 season, the Harrisburg Heat of the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL2) moved to the Hersheypark Arena.

References

  1. Miller, Barbara. (29 August 2011). "'The old barn': Hersheypark Arena still draws crowds".
  2. Cooper, Bruce C.. (7 April 2002). "1936-2002: HERSHEYPARK ARENA'S SIXTY-SIX YEARS AS HOME TO HERSHEY BEARS HOCKEY".
  3. Crossley, Drew. (2018-09-15). "Hershey Impact".
  4. Bell, Mac. (October 3, 2025). "Harrisburg indoor soccer team moving to Hershey".
  5. 978-1-579-58433-7.
  6. Benedetto, Matt. (April 12, 2023). "WWE Pay-Per-Views that took place in Hershey".
  7. dkiner@pennlive.com, Deb Kiner {{!}}. (2016-10-14). "Happy birthday Ike! Cool vintage photos of Dwight Eisenhower".
  8. (2007). "Phish - Livephish 12.01.95 Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, PA".
  9. (2015). "Wilt Chamberlain Scores 100 Points in a Game". The 100 Most Important Sporting Events in American History.
  10. Kemeny, Matthew. (5 July 2012). "Hersheypark Arena roof is on fire; firefighters have been battling blaze for hours". [[The Patriot-News.
  11. (5 July 2012). "Hersheypark Arena Fire Contained By Firefighters, Damage Should Be 'Easy To Repair'". [[SB Nation]].
  12. (2012-07-05). "Fire erupts at Hersheypark Arena, site of 100-point game". [[Associated Press]].
  13. "Hersheypark Arena".
  14. (6 December 2018). "Hersheypark Arena – Lebanon Valley College Flying Dutchman".
  15. "Festival Dates: Hersheypark Arena".
  16. Bell, Mac. (October 3, 2025). "Harrisburg indoor soccer team moving to Hershey".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1936-establishments-in-pennsylvaniabuildings-and-structures-in-dauphin-county,-pennsylvaniahershey-bearshersheyparkhershey-entertainment-and-resorts-companyice-hockey-venues-in-pennsylvaniaindoor-soccer-venues-in-the-united-statessports-venues-completed-in-1936sports-venues-in-pennsylvaniatourist-attractions-in-dauphin-county,-pennsylvaniawrestling-venues-in-pennsylvania