Hersheypark Arena

Hersheypark Arena is a historic multi-purpose arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, opened in 1936 as part of the development associated with Milton S. Hershey and the expansion of Hershey, Pennsylvania. The arena has hosted ice hockey games, basketball contests, concerts, circuses, and community events, and is closely tied to institutions such as the Hershey Bears, Derry Township, and the Hershey Company. Its establishment coincided with other regional projects including Hersheypark, Hershey Theatre, and the Hershey Gardens initiative of the Milton Hershey School era.

History

The arena was conceived during the interwar period in coordination with philanthropies and businesses associated with Milton S. Hershey, the Hershey Trust Company, and local officials from Derry Township, with construction influenced by earlier American civic projects such as Madison Square Garden and municipal arenas in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Opening events in 1936 featured performances and exhibitions that linked cultural programming similar to presentations at the Kennedy Center and touring troupes that had visited venues like the Radio City Music Hall and the Boston Garden. Throughout World War II the arena served regional needs akin to other multifunctional facilities used during the World War II mobilization era, later becoming a home for minor league hockey franchises parallel to teams in the American Hockey League and developmental systems tied to the National Hockey League.

Architecture and Facilities

Designed by architects influenced by contemporaneous arena projects and Philadelphia-area engineering firms, the structure exhibits elements comparable to the Madison Square Garden (1925), with a clear-span roof and seating arrangements that anticipated mid-century arena design similar to the Barton Coliseum and the Maple Leaf Gardens. The arena’s ice surface and wooden seats echoed installations found in venues hosting teams from the American Hockey League, Eastern Hockey League, and college programs such as those in the NCAA Division I. Facilities include locker rooms, concession areas, and support spaces that have been upgraded periodically to meet standards set by leagues like the National Collegiate Athletic Association and executive requirements observed by touring producers associated with organizations such as Live Nation and AEG Presents.

Events and Tenants

The arena has been home to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League and hosted collegiate programs from institutions like Penn State and the United States Military Academy teams during exhibitions. It has staged concerts by artists who toured venues on bills alongside acts appearing at the Civic Center circuit, drawing performers who also played stages such as the Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Wembley Arena. The venue accommodated boxing cards comparable to those in the Muhammad Ali era and wrestling events promoted by organizations similar to the World Wrestling Federation and regional promotions. Community and civic tenants have included local festivals, high school graduations connected to schools like Hershey High School and charitable events with links to the Milton Hershey School and the Hershey Trust Company.

Renovations and Preservation

Over its lifetime the arena underwent multiple renovations mirroring preservation efforts seen at historic venues such as the Boston Garden and the Maple Leaf Gardens conversion projects, with updates addressing seating, ice refrigeration systems comparable to industrial upgrades in NHL arenas, and accessibility improvements following guidelines similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act implementation in public venues. Preservationists and local stakeholders including representatives of the Derry Township board, the Hershey Community Development Corporation, and historical organizations analogous to the National Trust for Historic Preservation have advocated for maintaining the arena’s original character while enabling modern technical systems used by touring productions from promoters like Bill Graham Presents and facilities management practices observed at venues run by ASM Global.

Cultural Impact and Notable Moments

The arena contributed to the cultural landscape of central Pennsylvania through memorable sporting moments that resonate with histories of the American Hockey League and exhibition basketball contests that brought teams affiliated with the National Basketball Association and collegiate all-star squads. It hosted performances and events that paralleled tours by artists associated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and staged community ceremonies similar to festivals hosted in regional cultural centers like the Kimmel Center and the Hershey Theatre. Notable moments include championship runs by tenants comparable to AHL title campaigns, historic concerts that echoed the touring routes of acts that played Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, and civic events tied to the philanthropic legacy of Milton S. Hershey, the Hershey Trust Company, and institutions such as the Milton Hershey School.

Category:Indoor arenas in Pennsylvania Category:Buildings and structures in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Category:Sports venues completed in 1936