The Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania hosts a variety of musical acts, sports teams, and other events throughout the year. Some of the main performers and teams that play at the Santander Arena include:
Musical Acts
The Santander Arena regularly hosts major concert tours. Some of the artists that have performed or are scheduled to perform at the arena include:
Elton John | Justin Bieber |
James Taylor | Eric Church |
Carrie Underwood | Twenty One Pilots |
The arena has hosted musicians from a wide variety of genres like rock, pop, country, and more. Reading is conveniently located between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, making it a popular tour stop for major touring acts.
Sports Teams
The main sports tenant at the Santander Arena is the Reading Royals ice hockey team. The Royals are a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and play in the ECHL. The team has played at the arena since it opened in 2001.
Other teams that have played at the arena include:
Reading Rockets | Arena football team from 2002-2009 |
Reading Express | Indoor football team from 2013-2014 |
The arena also hosts college basketball, professional wrestling, and other sporting events on occasion.
Other Events
Some other notable events held at the Santander Arena include:
Sesame Street Live | Disney on Ice |
Harlem Globetrotters | Monster trucks |
Graduations | Conferences and expos |
Family shows, motorsports, graduations, and corporate events provide a steady calendar of non-music and non-sports events at the arena. The versatility of the venue allows it to host this diverse mix of entertainment and events.
Arena Details
Here are some key details about the Santander Arena:
– Opened in 2001
– Seating capacity of 7,160 for hockey games, up to 9,000 for concerts
– Home of the Reading Royals ECHL team
– Operated by Spectra Venue Management
– Formerly known as Sovereign Center and Santander Performing Arts Center
– Located in downtown Reading, PA next to the Santander Arena parking garage
The arena was originally called the Sovereign Center when it opened in 2001. It went through a naming rights change to Santander Arena in 2014.
Upcoming Events
Some of the major events happening at the Santander Arena in the next few months include:
October 18 | Casting Crowns concert |
October 23 | Reading Royals opening night |
November 12 | Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular |
November 18 | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas |
November 27 | Paw Patrol Live |
The fall and winter months are busy at the arena with concerts, Royals games, and holiday shows. The Reading Royals have their home opener on October 23 to start their 2022-2023 season. Family favorites like Paw Patrol Live and holiday shows provide entertainment options over the next few months as well.
Checking the Santander Arena website at Santander-arena.com is the best way to find the full schedule and purchase tickets. The calendar has something to offer music, sports, and entertainment fans of all types.
Getting to the Arena
The Santander Arena has a convenient downtown Reading location:
Santander Arena
700 Penn St.
Reading, PA 19601
There are several parking options around the arena including:
– Santander Arena parking garage – attached garage with skybridge to arena
– Multiple surface parking lots within a 5-10 minute walk
– On-street parking meters when available
– Parking prices vary by event, typically $5-20
Public transportation is another option via the BARTA bus system. Bus routes connect Reading with surrounding communities for those wishing to take public transit to events.
Major highways near the arena include Route 422, Warren Street Bypass, US-222, and PA-12. Reading is about 1 hour from Philadelphia and 1 hour from Harrisburg.
History of the Arena
The Santander Arena was built to replace the aging Reading Municipal Stadium as the main entertainment venue in the city. Some key dates in the history of the arena include:
1996 | Planning began for new entertainment venue |
1998 | Construction started |
September 2001 | Arena opened as Sovereign Center |
2001 | Reading Royals began play as founding team |
2014 | Renamed to Santander Arena |
The popularity of downtown revitalization and growth of the Reading Royals minor league hockey franchise fueled the desire for the new arena in the late 1990s. The $52 million facility was completed on time and on budget.
Over 20 years later, the arena still successfully hosts hundreds of events each year. Major renovations took place in 2020-2021 to improve amenities for future decades. The venue remains a centerpiece of the downtown Reading entertainment district.
Conclusion
In summary, the Santander Arena in downtown Reading brings major concerts, minor league sports, family shows, and other events to Berks County. Music legends like Elton John and rising stars like Justin Bieber take the stage alongside the Reading Royals hockey team and shows like Sesame Street Live. Convenient parking, downtown location, and versatile design allow the Santander Arena to serve as Reading’s prime entertainment venue since opening in 2001. Checking the arena website for upcoming events is the best way to experience the variety of offerings at this central Pennsylvania entertainment destination for yourself.