Sovereign Center
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| Former names | Sovereign Center (2001–2013) |
|---|---|
| Location | 700 Penn Street Reading, PA 19602 |
| Coordinates | 40°20′05″N 75°55′23″W / 40.334771°N 75.923013°WCoordinates: 40°20′05″N 75°55′23″W / 40.334771°N 75.923013°W |
| Owner | Berks County Convention Center Authority |
| Operator | SMG |
| Capacity | 6,000-9,000 (concerts) 8,000 (basketball) 7,160 (ice hockey) |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 1999 |
| Opened | September 6, 2001 |
| Construction cost | $42.5 million ($57.5 million in 2016 dollars) |
| Architect |
STV Architects Inc. PBK Architects Inc. |
| Project manager | Turner Construction |
| General contractor | Schlegel Builders Inc. |
| Tenants | |
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Reading Royals (ECHL) (2001–present) Reading Express (AIFL/AIFA/IFL) (2006–2012) Reading Railers (PBL) (2008) New York Majesty (LFL) (2009–2010) Reading Rockets (PLL) (2012) Pennsylvania Roar (MISL) (2013–2014) ASI Panthers (AIF) (2015) |
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The Santander Arena (formerly known as the Sovereign Center) is a 7,160-seat multi-purpose arena, in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was built in 2001. The arena sits on the former site of the Astor Theatre; one of several grand movie and theater palaces built in Reading in the early 20th century. Closed in 1975, the theater sat vacant for over two decades. In 1998, the Astor was demolished to make room for the Santander Arena. Early in construction, steps were taken to retain mementos of the Astor, including its ornate Art Deco chandelier and gates. These are on display and in use inside the arena corridors, allowing insight into the ambiance of the former movie house.
The Santander Arena is owned by the Berks County Convention Center Authority and managed by SMG. In 2000, the Rajah Shrine Theater was purchased, and after a thorough restoration and updating of the facilities was renamed the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. The Reading Eagle Theater is part of the complex.
On October 13, 2013, the building's name was changed from Sovereign Center to Santander Arena.
The arena is home to the Reading Royals ice hockey team in the ECHL and the Reading Rockets indoor lacrosse team in the Professional Lacrosse League. Alvernia University Crusaders Ice Hockey (ACHA) also calls Santander Arena home. It was formerly home to the Reading Railers basketball team, the New York Majesty Lingerie Football League team, and the Reading Express indoor football team.
The arena has hosted Jehovah's Witnesses District Conventions from 2005-2013 and will host the renamed Regional Conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses beginning in 2015.
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