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| Taft Coliseum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Taft Coliseum |
| Nickname | "The Barn" |
| Location | Hershey, Pennsylvania |
| Capacity | 7,200 |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Renovated | 2010s |
| Owner | Derry Township |
| Operator | Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company |
Taft Coliseum Taft Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, notable for hosting sports teams, concerts, political events, and community gatherings. Opened in the mid-20th century during the postwar expansion of Pennsylvania recreational infrastructure, the facility has served as a venue for ice hockey, basketball, high school championships, and touring productions. The arena's nickname reflects its barn-like roofline and its central role within the Hersheypark and The Hershey Company cultural landscape.
Constructed as part of mid-century development initiatives associated with Milton S. Hershey and the Hershey Trust Company, the venue debuted amid regional growth tied to the Chocolate Industry and the expansion of Derry Township recreational amenities. Throughout the Cold War era and the late 20th century, the coliseum hosted minor league hockey and college basketball matchups, alongside appearances by touring acts from the Big Band era into the Rock and Roll period. The venue figured in local iterations of national trends that included the rise of NHL feeder clubs, the maturation of NCAA Division I athletics, and regional entertainment circuits anchored by venues like Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden. Its programming mirrored shifts evident in venues such as Maple Leaf Gardens, Forbes Field, and Comiskey Park.
The facility's design features a gabled roof and a rectangular bowl reminiscent of mid-century American arenas such as Boston Garden and Chicago Stadium, with seating arranged to accommodate sightlines for ice hockey and arena football. Structural components reference contemporaneous engineering used in venues like Allen Fieldhouse and Hinkle Fieldhouse, employing steel trusses, concrete stands, and an ice-refrigeration plant comparable to installations at Madison Square Garden satellite rinks. Support spaces include locker rooms configured to the standards of American Hockey League affiliates, media facilities comparable to those at Gund Arena and lighting rigs used in touring productions by artists associated with Live Nation and AEG Presents. The complex adjoins facilities connected to Hersheypark Arena and shares operational footprints with Hersheypark Stadium and local convention spaces.
Primary tenants have included minor league and junior hockey franchises, collegiate squads participating in College hockey conferences, and local high school athletic programs competing in events sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The venue has accommodated touring musicians who have also performed at venues such as Wembley Arena, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and The Spectrum, with booking agents from agencies like William Morris Endeavor and CAA routing regional dates through the facility. Community uses have mirrored patterns at civic centers like Civic Arena and Kiel Auditorium, hosting commencements, trade shows, and political rallies featuring figures associated with Pennsylvania politics and national campaigns. Special sporting events have included tournaments comparable to Frozen Four regional qualifiers and exhibition series involving teams from the ECHL and AHL.
Renovation campaigns undertaken in the 21st century paralleled modernization efforts at peer facilities such as PNC Arena and PPG Paints Arena, focusing on seating replacement, accessibility improvements complying with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and upgrades to mechanical systems patterned after retrofits at Bridgestone Arena and KeyBank Center. Technological investments included scoreboard and video board installations inspired by designs from Daktronics clients, HVAC modernization similar to projects at Capital One Arena, and ice-making refrigeration upgrades reflecting best practices promoted by Hockey Canada and USA Hockey. Funding for upgrades echoed mixed public–private models seen in refurbishments of Madison Square Garden subsidiary facilities and municipal arenas financed through county bonds and partnership agreements.
The arena has hosted memorable performances and athletic milestones paralleling marquee moments at regional venues like GIANT Center and Mohegan Sun Arena. Notable tenants and visiting teams have set attendance records for local events, and the coliseum has staged exhibition games featuring players who went on to careers in the NHL and Olympic Games. Concerts have included tours by artists who later performed at Mann Center for the Performing Arts and Jones Beach Theater, while community events have drawn dignitaries from Pennsylvania governors and members of Congress. The venue's event log includes instances of sellouts, record-setting scoring performances, and charity events tied to organizations like United Way and American Red Cross.
Ownership resides with municipal authorities in Derry Township with operational management conducted by companies engaged in regional hospitality and entertainment management similar to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, mirroring management arrangements found at venues overseen by ASM Global and ASM/SMG affiliates. Contracts and lease arrangements have involved local stakeholders, philanthropic entities connected to The Hershey Company heritage, and intergovernmental coordination with Dauphin County authorities. Day-to-day operations involve event booking, facility maintenance, and partnerships with regional sports organizations analogous to collaborations between municipal arenas and leagues like the ECHL and NCAA.
Category:Indoor arenas in Pennsylvania