Giant Center

Attended my first Hershey Bears game at the Giant Center over the weekend. The arena was clean and well maintained. You can really tell that the staff taking care of this facility takes pride in their work. All the staff that I encountered were polite and courteous. even when directing fans out of the arena on a very windy evening.
We arrived about 35 minutes before the game started. It took us about 10 minutes to make it through the security screenings and into the facility. I would give yourself at least 20 – 30 minutes to get through these procedures as their are only about 8 – 10 lines set up for non-​season plan holders. The lines moved quickly while I was there and the staff were helpful in getting everyone through the process.
Inside there were plenty of concessions and merchandise areas. The food ranged from hot dogs, pretzels, italian food, sandwiches and more. I thoroughly enjoyed the soft pretzel and the hot chocolate. I really wanted some ice cream but the machine was out of order. There were lines at the concessions but they moved relatively quickly. The two intermissions between periods provide a nice break to walk the concourse or get food. Plan to leave your seat about 4 minutes before the end of the period to make the most of the breaks.
This also an ideal time to visit the rest room as those lines could get long at times. The one insider tip I can give you is to be advised that you cannot return to your seat until a break in the game play. You will be held up at the top of the section until an appropriate break. Not a big deal, it’s just nice to know the policy beforehand.

The Giant Center is a clean and well maintained facility. Just like Hersheypark is. I did a separate review on the park if you’re interested.
They have an especially wide variety of cuisine options to choose from. I almost didn’t get the pork BBQ sandwich because and the promo image. I’m glad I ordered it. It was legitimate and very tasty. They need to update some of the food photography but it’s probably up to the vendors, not the center. Don’t get the popcorn or pretzels where you buy everything else. They have specialty vendors for both of those. The popcorn is excellent and the pretzels looked like quite a step up from the super pretzel braids. The hot chocolate is the same delicious blend they sell in the park and you can get it across from the Turkey Hill booth. All in all, the food options are on par with Hersheypark and are reasonably priced. If you can’t tell, I like to eat!
This was my first live hockey experience in my recollection. I had pretty good seats and even the nose bleeds don’t look that bad. They have a very nice crowd and they are very welcoming to strangers. They really get into the games and cheer loud! If you love hockey, you’ll love Giant Center!
I was surprised at the level of security for this place. They have metal detectors and wands on hand. It’s on the level of major league sporting events.
All in all, I had a very good experience at the center and would definitely come back. They have some fun promotions coming up!

We come here occasionally for Bears games or some other events. We’ve never had a problem. Concession prices are high but then again they always are at these places. Security has never been an issue, there’s not a bad seat in the house, and the stadium is clean. The temperature for hockey games is not cold at all. We like coming here and we are hoping to come back soon for another Bears game.

Jackie from the Giant Center called me concerning my issue with getting through security. Without hesitation she offered me seats to any game I wanted. She understood what happened, provided excellent customer service and sought to make my experience better.

Went to see Joyce Meyer and really enjoyed the center.
Parking was $ 15 a day and we could come and go on one pass. Not sure if this prices change for other events.
There are hotels near by but nothing really within walking distance and I didn’t feel too safe walking on a highway like road.
The seats to the right of the stage were padded which I found odd but we sat on the floor and near the front.
There are plenty of bath rooms and there is a lounge area at the top right bleachers of the stage.
Leg room is best sitting on the floor. The people were great. Was able to get breakfast sandwiches and coffee early in the morning.
They will do bag checks and bottles, your own food and drink is not allowed.

12.5 percent increase in parking rates and still there’s only 5 people directing traffic after an event let’s out. wow another example how greed is destroying this country.

The venue itself was pretty nice and seemed pretty clean and well kept. Staff was friendly. Bonus points for lids on the beer cups. Refreshment prices were typical. Parking however.. $ 12 to park when you’re already paying for event tickets is really excessive/​ridiculous/​unnecessary/​thieving. Trying to leave the lot after the show was very chaotic. There was really no rhyme or reason to how they direct vehicles out and with multiple lanes closed off, it took us about 40 minutes to get out of the lot. I think if we ever go here again, I’d try to find parking elsewhere and walk to the stadium.

Nice venue for watching ice hockey. Perfect temperature inside. No need for a sweater like at Consol Energy Center. Easy and ample parking though it isn’t free. Cocoa Diner is a good place to go afterwards since it is open 24 hours. (Many places were closed by the time the game ended.)

As much as it pains me to admit, the Giant Center is a palace for AHL Hockey. See I’m a Penguins fan from up North and the Bears are our arch southern rival. The Bears’ arena is excellent in all respects. It’s easy to navigate and find your seat. The sight lines are superb. The tickets are fairly priced. For 26 bucks you can sit in the lower bowl on the blue line. In most NHL arena’s these are ~200 $ seats. The food isn’t cheap, but it certainly isn’t grossly overpriced like you’d find at most other arenas. Plus they have some really unique Central Penna treats. Uncle Andy’s Pretzels are my favorite. For ~8 bucks you can get a pretzel, topping, and a lemonade. That seems like a real steal for arena food. My only complaint is they have dogs on the concourse for some SPCA type charity. I don’t think dogs belong in the arena under any circumstance.
So even if your team is getting clobbered by the Bears, put on your favorite visiting team’s sweater, come to the Giant Center and embrace the heel role of making friends with the locals. I’m certain you’ll have fun.

We had fantastic seats to watch the game. The center was clean and well taken care of. The only thing I wish is that they offered preferred parking (willing to pay) to park a little closer. Especially with children would make it a lot easer

This place is big. We were here for the 2014 Hershey RV Show. It was really great. They had just about every line of RV imaginable here. From very small to very large. From very inexpensive to really expensive. Vendors galore. Downside, the food and drinks was really expensive. The parking was not well organized. The taxis (golf carts) would go out of their way to NOT pick someone up and give them a ride to the front gate. So many were riding around with NO passengers. The Giant center needs to get their act together.

Quite the upgrade from the old barn that the legendary Hershey Bears played in from 1936 — 2002. The Giant Center is a top notch AHL stadium hosting the most legendary team that the AHL has ever seen. The Bears are the current AHL Affiliate for the Washington Capitals. The Bears are credited with 11 Calder Cup Championships in the life of the franchise. What a great place to catch a hockey game!

Depends on what’s happening. The fans and lack of enforcement of fan behavior can ruin the experience. Hockey games are loaded with foul language and overemphasis on fights. This makes an other wise fun sporting event entirely inappropriate for kids. What kind of example are these supposed adults setting?
And then there are the rock concerts. We do not appreciate having beer slopped on us, profanities, tobacco or other smoke… and security does almost nothing. Furthermore, SIT DOWN. I paid for a seat, not standing. If you want to stand, go down to GA «seating». After enduring three concerts, and leaving early due to ill behaved fans, that’s it. No more.
I would prefer if the giant center stopped selling beer. Thy will lose some people, sure, but perhaps will gain a better behaved and more civilized clientele. Drunks ruin it for others, and I hate to think of the drunk driving accidents afterwards.
Other events are generally ok… ice, graduations, auto, less raucous concerts.

A nice clean stadium. not huge and not state of the art but it will do. it is better than the old one. they have a lot of concerts here, the hershey bears play here, and the harrisburg stampede. it is nice to have an affordable option to watch sports games near home

Tonight was the 3^rd & last Hershey bears game I will ever attend. The 1^st game we sat near an obnoxious fan who was sitting behind the visitor’s bench. He yelled & screamed insults at the opposing team the ENTIRE game. He had no interest in watching the game, he was just interested in getting drunk & trying to think of any insult he could, the guy must not have been shown enough attention as a child & was obviously picked on growing up & now wants to get even with the world. A security guard asked him to stop several times, but the guy laughed & hurled insults at him.
I thought this was an isolated incident, so we went back the 2^nd time. Unbelievably, this guy was there again & acted the same exact way, he had season tickets! Everyone around us felt very uncomfortable & we were told by other season ticket holders that this was an every game thing for this guy. I complained to security that night, again, and they said their hands were tied because the Giant Center management refuses to do anything about it or enforce their own «fan conduct» policies. So I contacted Hershey Bears management, as well as Giant Center management, the following day. They were both very familiar with this fan saying they’ve had numerous complaints about him. They said they would talk to him & try to tone him down, but said as long as he doesn’t break any laws, there’s not much they can do! Really? This guy has to commit a crime before banning him from the arena? How about enforcing your own policy on fan conduct which «strictly» prohibits this kind of behavior? So I was dumb enough to go back for the 3^rd time, and there he was drinking beer after beer and getting louder & more obnoxious the more he drank! Never again, I’ll never go to the giant center ever again for any kind of event!
The following is the Hershey Bears fan conduct policy which they do NOT enforce:
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES — FAN GUIDELINES
Guests must refrain from conduct that is inconsistent with the fun and family atmosphere at Giant Center. Such conduct includes but is not limited to: interfering with other guests’ ability to enjoy an event; using foul or abusive language or gestures; appearing to be in a drunken or diminished capacity; failure to produce a ticket on request or sitting in a seat which is not ticketed; possession of unauthorized items; and interfering with an event. Violators are subject to ejection and possible arrest.

Went for a graduation and it’s a really cool place, i was surprised it was so well done being as though it is in the middle of no where. Next time i see a cool concert playing here and not in Philly I might just consider going. Foods cheaper then the Wachovia Center as well.

You really can’t compare Giant Center to Verizon Center in DC. It’s a complete different venue. I went to see Hershey Bears ice hockey game. I realize it is AHL and not NHL. They don’t have the resources or budget like The Washington Capitals does being their farm team. I thought everybody was very friendly. The concession food prices were much less expensive than I would expect. Maybe I’m used to DC prices.
The team store was nice. The Giant Center is clean, comfortable and welcoming.
I’ll come back to see another Bears game!

This review is for attending a Hershey Bears game against the rival Philly Phantoms at the Giant Center.
Cool deal is that the local fans really support their team, and you see people here of all ages supporting the team (I guess what else is there to do in this smallish town). Being an affiliate of the Washington Capitals (NHL) is quite cool as you see some future NHLers come through or those going through rehab back to the majors.
The Giant center is quite a nice venue… easy parking… and good seating. The Bears offer reasonably priced good seats… great value for a fun evening.
If in the area, I would definitely go again.

As the home of my Washington Capitals affiliated Hershey Bears, I happen to enjoy the Giant Center. It is a small venue that is a lot like a lot of college arenas. I went there for my second Hershey Bears game this past weekend and had a very nice time. The fans are very hockey knowledgeable, and even though it was Game 1 of the Calder Cup Conference Finals, it wasn’t sold out. Lines for things weren’t very long at all. Beer is $ 5 a cup, which is a LOT cheaper than here in the Verizon Center. Everyone is so NICE when they give you food items — you can tell Aramark and their thefty employees don’t work there. The restrooms are exceptionally clean. There are areas where you can get food and actually sit down to eat it. Crazy, right?
Yes, it costs $ 7 to park there, which is a steal over having to pay $ 20 — $ 30 to park to see a Caps game. Doesn’t bother me much at all.
Overall, the arena and the parking remind me a lot of the old Capital Center, which is very near and dear to my heart. Therefore, it can do no wrong!
In sum, if you’re a Caps fan, do yourself a favor, get yourself some cheap tickets (my front row seats on the aisle only cost me $ 28 each) and go up and see the Caps players of the future. It’s just a 2 hour drive up I-​83 from the Washington area. If you plan it well enough, you can stay up there and do Hersheypark the next day, or even make a leisurely drive back through Amish country or Philly if you want a weekend road trip.
B-​E-​A-​R-​S Bears!
B-​E-​A-​R-​S Bears!
B-​E-​A-​R-​S Bears! Whooooooooo!

Personally I like the Giant Center, and they do have some big names that come through every so often. I know Bruce Springsteen was there recently which seemed to make Dauphin county the center of the universe for an evening, but yeah others like blue man group, 50 cent, even a few presidential candidates have been through the place.
I do find it a rather expensive venue, but I guess that’s just the nature of the beast, I saw Ringling Bros here and was very impressed, not to mention it’s the home of the Hershey Bears, a fun and affordable minor league hockey franchise.