ARTICLE
PPL Center fighting lofty expectations By Matt Assad of The Morning Call August 22, 2015, 8:15 PM With a price tag of $180 million, few would dispute that PPL Center is the Cadillac of minor league hockey arenas.. But some Allentown leaders are asking why an arena billed as the vehicle to downtown rebirth is so often kept in the garage. In its first year, PPL Center has been open fewer than 90 dates for hockey games and ticketed events — a number that has disappointed some city officials and business leaders who say the future of the downtown is riding on the taxpayer's massive investment in the most expensive minor league arena ever built. Even more disappointing is that it hosted just nine concerts. "We've developed this great venue and it sits empty way too often," said Alan Jennings, a member of the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority, which owns PPL Center. "When the place is empty, the restaurants and shops downtown get no benefit. A lot has been invested, particularly by the taxpayer. That building has to be open more often." It's a view echoed by downtown business owners who count on thousands of people on event nights, and city council members, who met with arena officials last week to voice their displeasure. But is that view based on unrealistic expectations? PPL Center General Manager Gunnar Fox has heard the concerns, but looks back on Year 1 quite differently than his critics. "We've had a good, diverse array of events," Fox said. "We're not disappointed at all. It was a very successful year. We hit every mark we set." Click here to view the full article
PPL Center fighting lofty expectations By Matt Assad of The Morning Call August 22, 2015, 8:15 PM
With a price tag of $180 million, few would dispute that PPL Center is the Cadillac of minor league hockey arenas..
But some Allentown leaders are asking why an arena billed as the vehicle to downtown rebirth is so often kept in the garage.
In its first year, PPL Center has been open fewer than 90 dates for hockey games and ticketed events — a number that has disappointed some city officials and business leaders who say the future of the downtown is riding on the taxpayer's massive investment in the most expensive minor league arena ever built.
Even more disappointing is that it hosted just nine concerts.
"We've developed this great venue and it sits empty way too often," said Alan Jennings, a member of the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority, which owns PPL Center. "When the place is empty, the restaurants and shops downtown get no benefit. A lot has been invested, particularly by the taxpayer. That building has to be open more often."
It's a view echoed by downtown business owners who count on thousands of people on event nights, and city council members, who met with arena officials last week to voice their displeasure. But is that view based on unrealistic expectations?
PPL Center General Manager Gunnar Fox has heard the concerns, but looks back on Year 1 quite differently than his critics.
"We've had a good, diverse array of events," Fox said. "We're not disappointed at all. It was a very successful year. We hit every mark we set."
Click here to view the full article