ECHL Reading Royals

Sovereign Center a good place to catch a game

by Marc Viquez
March 28, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals


Baseball season approaches very soon and in no time I will be out and about searching for a new ballpark to catch a game. I love this time of year as the weather becomes warmer, the days stretch longer and minor league baseball flourishes from coast to coast. I do not know what it is about attending a minor league ballpark, but it just screams the perfect summer getaway.

However, I get so wrapped up in the sport that I fail to realize that during the cold winter months that there are hockey arenas all around North America that can prove to be an interesting experience themselves. There are numerous new and old arenas that are perfect to watch a game. There are historic buildings that house junior hockey teams and newer facilities that unite people to its downtown center. I think I have been neglecting them for quite sometime, something I took notice while attending an ECHL game back in December.

The Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa., has been home to the Reading Royals for the past seven seasons. The arena itself is a nice place to catch a game and provides a nice centerpiece for downtown Reading. Once inside the building you will find a few interesting aspects that make Sovereign Center an interesting visit. The $43 million facility turned in a $49,000 profit during its first year and has been averaging over 5,000 fans to Royals' games this season.

The first thing I noticed was that the arena was the perfect size for minor league hockey. There are some arenas that are home (or former homes) to NBA or NHL teams that house minor league hockey. The venues are too big with some of them reaching 18,000 seats. In these arenas there are usually dark black curtains that cut off the top seating in the building. However, there is no need for curtains in the 7,200 seat arena that sits smack down in the middle of downtown Reading. It makes for a perfect size venue that feels like a minor league hockey arena.

The second interesting aspect inside were the concession stands on the main concourse. I was able to find the usual staples, but also spotted both Georgia and East Carolina barbeque, Cuban sandwiches and jalapeno popcorn. The Cuban food was a big surprise, since it is mainly found in Southern Florida. I spoke with owner Alberto Gonzalez and he said he has been doing well at Royals' games since day one. His La Cabana stand has two locations in Reading. There were also a few varieties of local breweries, Stoudt's and Yuengling, on hand throughout the arena. This provided above standard cusine, not ordinarily found at most hockey arenas.

The game itself was simple, but interesting, to the folks in attendance. I was told it was an off night and with the heavy rains along the drive from Pottsville I can see why some may have stayed home. There was also a Led Zeppelin tribute band playing nearby, some of the folks in the elevator with me were heading to the arena to watch the show, but had to be explained that a hockey game was taken place inside the arena. There was plenty of folks on the street level directing people in the right direction.

The visit was pleasant and not extraordinary, but with the crop of new arenas in the eastern and northeastern sections of Pennsylvania, it was an ample place to witness a hockey game. There are two AHL teams within driving distance (Hershey and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre), so the area is blossoming with great facilities to watch hockey. In other words, it is worth checking out a game at the Sovereign Center. It made a nice detour during my winter months and perhaps I will make visits to a few more arenas within the future.

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ECHL Stories from March 28, 2008


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