Giant Center
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| Location | 550 West Hersheypark Drive Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 |
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| Coordinates | 40°17′11″N 76°40′9″W / 40.28639°N 76.66917°WCoordinates: 40°17′11″N 76°40′9″W / 40.28639°N 76.66917°W |
| Owner | Derry Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority |
| Operator | Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company |
| Capacity | 12,500 (concerts) 10,500 (hockey) |
| Field size | 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 8, 2000 |
| Opened | October 15, 2002 |
| Construction cost |
$65 million ($86.6 million in 2016 dollars) |
| Architect | Populous |
| Project manager | Reynolds Construction Management, Inc. |
| Structural engineer | Century Engineering |
| Services engineer | Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. |
| General contractor | Hunt/Whiting-Turner |
| Tenants | |
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Hershey Bears (AHL) (2002–present) Harrisburg Stampede (PIFL) (2014-present) |
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Giant Center is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a census-designated place in the Harrisburg metropolitan area. It is home to the Hershey Bears ice hockey team, the longest-existing member of the American Hockey League since 1938. Giant Center replaced the Hersheypark Arena as the Bears' home venue in 2002.
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-Carlisle grocery store chain based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
The GIANT Center has 7,700 seats in the Lower Level and 2,800 seats in the Upper Level. The arena also has 688 Club Seats and 40 Luxury Suites. Wheelchair and companion seating is available on all levels.
In addition to Bears games, Giant Center also hosts an annual concert series and attracts many well-known entertainers. The first performance at the arena was by Cher. The arena has since continued to host a wide variety of popular acts, including American Idol Live! and the Harlem Globetrotters. In 2003, Giant Center held the WWE's Unforgiven.
Giant Center also hosted the Road to Victory rally for Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain, and his running mate, Sarah Palin, on October 28, 2008. President Donald Trump also held a rally to campaign in November 2016.
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Wikipedia