PPL Center

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Indoor sports arena in Allentown, Pennsylvania

title: "PPL Center" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2014-establishments-in-pennsylvania", "hamilton-street", "indoor-arenas-in-pennsylvania", "ice-hockey-venues-in-pennsylvania", "lehigh-valley-phantoms", "lehigh-valley-steelhawks", "music-venues-in-pennsylvania", "sports-venues-completed-in-2014", "sports-venues-in-allentown,-pennsylvania"] description: "Indoor sports arena in Allentown, Pennsylvania" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PPL_Center" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Indoor sports arena in Allentown, Pennsylvania ::

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

FieldValue
logo_imagePPL Center.png
logo_size200px
logo_captionPPL Center's logo as of 2018
image2018 - PPL Center - Allentown PA.jpg
captionPPL Center in 2018
pushpin_mapPennsylvania#USA
pushpin_map_captionLocation of PPL Center in Pennsylvania##Location within the United States
pushpin_relief1
pushpin_labelPPL Center
address701 Hamilton Street
locationAllentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
coordinates
broke_groundJanuary 3, 2012 (site demolition)
November 29, 2012 (official)
openedSeptember 10, 2014
ownerCity of Allentown
operatorGlobal Spectrum
surfaceMulti-surface
construction_cost$191.4 million ($282 million total project)
architectSink Combs Dethlefs
Elkus Manfredi Architects
project_managerHammes Company Sports Development, Inc.
structural_engineerMartin/Martin, Inc.
services_engineerM–E Engineers, Inc.
general_contractorAlvin H. Butz Jr.
tenantsLehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) (2014–present)
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (PIFL/AIF/NAL) (2015–2018)
Philadelphia Soul (AFL) (2016) (late season and playoffs)
seating_capacity8,420 (9,046 with standing room) (Hockey)
10,500 (Concerts)
8,500 (Indoor football)
public_transitLANta bus: EBS Green Line, EBS Blue Line, 102, 103, 104, 107, 209, 210, 211, 213, 218, 220, 322, 323, 324 at Allentown Transportation Center
website
::

| logo_image = PPL Center.png | logo_size = 200px | logo_caption = PPL Center's logo as of 2018 | image = 2018 - PPL Center - Allentown PA.jpg | caption = PPL Center in 2018 | pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location of PPL Center in Pennsylvania##Location within the United States | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_label = PPL Center | address = 701 Hamilton Street | location = Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | coordinates = | broke_ground = January 3, 2012 (site demolition) November 29, 2012 (official) | opened = September 10, 2014 | owner = City of Allentown | operator = Global Spectrum | surface = Multi-surface | construction_cost = $191.4 million ($282 million total project) | architect = Sink Combs Dethlefs Elkus Manfredi Architects | project_manager = Hammes Company Sports Development, Inc. | structural_engineer = Martin/Martin, Inc. | services_engineer = M–E Engineers, Inc. | general_contractor = Alvin H. Butz Jr. | former_names = | tenants = Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) (2014–present) Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (PIFL/AIF/NAL) (2015–2018) Philadelphia Soul (AFL) (2016) (late season and playoffs) | seating_capacity = 8,420 (9,046 with standing room) (Hockey) 10,500 (Concerts) 8,500 (Indoor football) | public_transit = LANta bus: EBS Green Line, EBS Blue Line, 102, 103, 104, 107, 209, 210, 211, 213, 218, 220, 322, 323, 324 at Allentown Transportation Center | website = The PPL Center is an 8,500-seat capacity indoor sports arena in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It opened on September 10, 2014. It is the home arena for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, the primary development hockey team for the Philadelphia Flyers. The arena also hosts major concerts, sports, and entertainment events throughout the year.

Overview

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/PPL_Center_construction_in_Allentown,_Pennsylvania.jpg" caption="Construction of PPL Center underway in [[Center City Allentown]] in September 2013"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/2018_-Center_Square-Looking_Northeast-12_Oct-_Allentown_PA.jpg" caption="Entrance to the PPL Center (on left) in Allentown in October 2018"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/PPL_Center_Allentown_interior.jpg" caption="Pre-game before the [[Lehigh Valley Phantoms]], the primary development hockey team of the [[Philadelphia Flyers]], take the ice at PPL Center in February 2017"] ::

The arena was part of a larger redevelopment project of the central business district of Allentown. The project encompasses a five-acre square block area in which several new structures are planned to be erected: Part of the arena site was previously developed in the 1980s as an office building called Corporate Plaza. On February 23, 1994, it collapsed into a sinkhole, due to limestone in the ground and the decision to not place the building on a concrete pad, but rather on spread footings; the plaza was imploded on March 19 of that year. Within the arena on the ground floor, WFMZ-TV maintains a studio that houses its news operation.

Its naming rights are owned by the PPL Corporation, an Allentown-based company that paid an undisclosed sum over ten years for the naming rights.

Some criticism about the PPL Center centered around the cost of the arena relative to the cost of other dedicated American Hockey League arenas in the country. Nathan Benefield, the director of Public Analysis for The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a Pennsylvania free-market think tank that opposes public funding of stadiums, believes that the PPL Center benefited from funding a plan with no cap on public money beyond the annual revenue generated by the zone. As of October 2012, $224.3 million in bonds have been sold.

History

Rebuilding an arena on the site of the Spectrum in Philadelphia was rejected in favor of the more profitable Stateside Live! project and a new 180-room Renaissance by Marriott hotel. The competition to build a new arena for the Phantoms in 2008 was primarily between Allentown and Camden, New Jersey. While Camden was closer, Allentown had a more elaborate proposal which helped secure Allentown's bid for the team.

Plans to build the PPL Center at the corner of 7th and Hamilton streets in Center City Allentown were announced in late 2009. For much of 2009 and 2010, the focus of the project was on securing funding. The project took a major leap forward in 2011 when several properties were purchased by the city of Allentown to help clear the way for the project to begin. By the end of January 2012, all of the properties had been purchased with final demolition of all buildings occurring in early February 2012.

Sports

The arena plays host to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, the primary development hockey team of the Philadelphia Flyers. It had been home to the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, an indoor football team, who played four seasons in the arena from 2015 to 2018. It also served as the site for the last remaining home games and two home playoff games for the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul while the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia was hosting the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The arena has hosted the NHL preseason game, called "Flyers in the Valley", annually since 2016.

Since 2016, the arena also hosts the Allentown Indoor Race, a midget car racing event of the Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series.

Concerts

Since its opening in 2014, PPL Center has hosted a number of notable concerts, including:

2024

2023

2022

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Parking and traffic

On May 31, 2011, a comprehensive parking analysis conducted by Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. (TPD) was submitted to Allentown Economic Development Corporation. The analysis stated the total number of parking spaces within the study area, between the public and private parking garages and surface lots, was of approximately 7,376 parking spaces. As a result of this parking analysis, the existing spaces and proposed construction of an additional 500 parking spaces to be built with this development, will adequately accommodate the highest peak period parking demands of the proposed Allentown arena and mixed-used development. In comparison, Coca-Cola Park on Allentown's east side has 2,500 parking spots available.

Also on May 31, 2011, a comprehensive traffic analysis conducted by Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. (TPD) was submitted to Allentown Economic Development Corporation. The report stated that the existing roadway infrastructure can accommodate the new traffic generated by the proposed development. Conditions will be further improved with the recommended improvements.

References

References

  1. McEvoy, Colin. (January 3, 2012). "As Allentown Hockey Arena Demolition Begins, New Business Announces Office Opening". [[The Express-Times]].
  2. (November 29, 2012). "Phantoms, Allentown Formally Launch Arena Construction". [[The Morning Call]].
  3. (September 10, 2014). "Arena Opens, Symbol of Hope for a Better Allentown". [[The Morning Call]].
  4. McEvoy, Colin. (January 30, 2014). "Allentown Hockey Arena Operator Announced as Construction Progresses". [[The Express-Times]].
  5. (September 19, 2015). "How Allentown built the most expensive minor league complex in the country". [[The Morning Call]].
  6. (April 28, 2013). "High Concrete Group Producing Precast Concrete for Parking Garage of New Arena in Allentown, Pa". High Concrete Group.
  7. "Arenas". M–E Engineers, Inc..
  8. Lash, Devin. (April 4, 2012). "Allentown Zoners Approve Butz's $10M Expansion Downtown". [[The Morning Call]].
  9. (January 16, 2016). "Record Crowd at PPL Center as Phantoms Garner 5th Straight Sellout". Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
  10. (August 27, 2014). "Public Invited to PPL Center Open House & Arts Park Celebration". [[WFMZ-TV]].
  11. (February 20, 2012). "Corporate Plaza collapse stunned Lehigh Valley 18 years ago". [[WFMZ-TV]].
  12. McEvoy, Colin. (February 21, 2013). "Allentown Hockey Arena Will Be Named PPL Center". [[The Express-Times]].
  13. (February 4, 2012). "Allentown Hockey Arena Costs Adding Up". [[The Morning Call]].
  14. Kraus, Scott. (July 11, 2012). "Arena on Track to Rise in Fall With Pennsylvania Steel". [[The Morning Call]].
  15. Panepinto, Peter. (October 2, 2012). "Allentown Completes Bond Sales, Receives Funding for Hockey Arena Project". [[The Express-Times]].
  16. Blockus, Gary R.. (September 6, 2008). "Faceoff for Minor League Hockey Team?". [[The Morning Call]].
  17. [https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/ppl-center ""PPL Center Concert History"], Concert archives
  18. (May 31, 2011). "Parking Analysis". City of Allentown.
  19. (November 22, 2010). "A to Z Guide". Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
  20. (May 31, 2011). "Master Plan Traffic Analysis". City of Allentown (via web.archive.org).

::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. ::

2014-establishments-in-pennsylvaniahamilton-streetindoor-arenas-in-pennsylvaniaice-hockey-venues-in-pennsylvanialehigh-valley-phantomslehigh-valley-steelhawksmusic-venues-in-pennsylvaniasports-venues-completed-in-2014sports-venues-in-allentown,-pennsylvania