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Cheers to 20 years Reading Royals, Santander Arena mark milestone anniversary
Cheers to 20 years
Reading Royals, Santander Arena mark milestone anniversary
By Amish Jindal, Communications & Marketing Intern, GRCA
For 20 years, the Reading Royals have brought a professional ice hockey team to Berks County while contributing to the economic vitality and quality of life in downtown Reading. “Game nights are busy nights downtown. The hotels, restaurants, and even the Dunkin Donuts all benefit economically,” said David Farrar, General Manager of the Reading Royals hockey team, Santander Arena and Santander Preforming Arts Center.
People from all over Berks County and even further make their way to downtown Reading to enjoy a Royals game. According to Farrar, the Royals have changed the vision of downtown by “bringing people down for 36 regular season nights and possibly more for playoffs.”
The team also has recently launched the Reading Royals Youth Hockey Association. This organization teaches ice hockey to kids ages four to 16. The goal of this endeavor is to grow the game of hockey and get more kids involved. The team hopes this will feed into a new fan base. These actions have contributed to the longevity of the team.
Even with all this success, the team has faced its share of struggles. Numerous ownership changes have been hard on the team. These changes usually lead to a new vision that proves challenging for many longtime employees.
Even with this adversity, Farrar is hopeful that the team can continue to provide entertainment to the community, but there are steps that need to be taken.
“We need the community to step up and support the team by buying tickets, handling sponsorships and bringing out groups. This is vital to the success of the team and it staying here in Reading,” said Farrar.
Financially, the team has also provided a lot to the Santander Arena. This has allowed for continued upgrades, like a new light system, to the arena. It has also allowed for the arena to continue to be able to provide other forms of quality entertainment. Some of these events include rock concerts, comedy shows and plays. Artists like Eric Church, Elton John, Marc Anthony and Bad Bunny have all performed at the arena.
Photo by Matt Christine, Director of Marketing for the Santander Arena and Performing Arts Center
By bringing in Latino acts such as Marc Anthony and Bad Bunny, the Santander Arena has tapped into the local demographics.
Specifically, Latin shows have been a huge hit. These shows have not only brought people from out of town to downtown Reading, but also have brought together the local community. With the City of Reading boasting a 67% Hispanic or Latino population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, these shows have appealed to many members of the community.
The Reading Royals and Santander Arena have been key players in the continued success of the Berks County region. They don’t just provide quality entertainment, but act as a cultural glue that keeps our community thriving.
Looking Forward To Another Gr-r-reat Year!
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