Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

This article is about the arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. For the arena inside the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, see Mohegan Sun Arena.
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Former names Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center (1998–2000)
First Union Arena at Casey Plaza (2000–2003)
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza (2003–2010)
Location 255 Highland Park Boulvevard
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18703
Coordinates 41°14′26″N 75°50′55″W / 41.240471°N 75.848504°W / 41.240471; -75.848504Coordinates: 41°14′26″N 75°50′55″W / 41.240471°N 75.848504°W / 41.240471; -75.848504
Owner Luzerne County Convention Center Authority
Operator SMG
Capacity 8,300 (Hockey)[1]
10,000 (Concerts)
Surface Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground September 15, 1997[2]
Opened November 13, 1999[3]
Construction cost $44 million
($65 million in 2016 dollars[4])
Architect Heinlein Schrock[5]
Project manager Hammes Company[2]
Structural engineer Quad3 Group, Inc.[6]
Services engineer Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.[7]
General contractor Oscar J. Boldt Construction Company[8]
Tenants
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) (1999–present)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (af2) (2002–2009)

Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (originally Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center, formerly First Union Arena at Casey Plaza and Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza) is an 8,050-seat multi-purpose arena located in Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, just south of the city of Wilkes-Barre, managed by SMG.

History

Built in 1998 due to the instrumental work of Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey, Sr. and his successor, Tom Ridge, due to the dedication and support of State Representative Kevin Blaum, and built on land given by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber, the arena was originally named the Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center. In 2000, the naming rights were sold to First Union Bank, becoming First Union Arena, until the summer of 2003, when First Union Bank merged into Wachovia, at which point it became Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. On January 20, 2010, the arena became Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, as part of a 10-year naming rights contract with the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs racetrack and casino.[9]

It has been home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, of the AHL since 1999, and the former home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, of the AF2 League. In January 2012 it was planned to be the home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks of the North American Lacrosse League, but the league had folded.

Recognition and events

The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza has been recognized by many entertainment magazines as one of the best in the country for arenas under 10,000 in capacity, especially for its attendance and ease of show setup and teardown. The Penguins hold the American Hockey League record for most sellouts in a season, selling out all 40 home games in 2002–2003 and 2003–2004, and ran a streak of 90 consecutive sellouts between March 2002 and October 2004, and 54 from December 2000 to February 2002.[10]

Panoramic View

Other than Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey games, other events that occur at the arena include circus performances, an annual Christmas-time Trans-Siberian Orchestra performance, professional ice-skating shows, Harlem Globetrotters, and the annual graduation ceremonies for nearby Crestwood High School, King's College, University of Scranton, Luzerne County Community College, and Marywood University.

The arena has regularly hosted professional wrestling since 2000. The first event was WCW Monday Nitro on January 31, 2000. The first WWE live event was on July 16, 2000 and headlined by The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle. The arena also hosted the 2007 WWE Draft on June 11, 2007 which was the final WWE Monday Night Raw appearance for the late Chris Benoit. On November 15, 2016, the arena hosted the 900th episode of WWE Smackdown which saw the return of The Undertaker.

Some notable concerts include Bob Dylan, The Dead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Elton John and The Eagles.

President George W. Bush spoke at the arena on October 22, 2004, during his campaign for re-election to the presidency of the United States.

Republican nominee Donald Trump had a rally at the arena on October 9th, 2016, in his campaign for President.

On October 9, 2003, the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets played a preseason game at the arena.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "AHL Set to Kick Off 75th Anniversary Season". American Hockey League. October 8, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Arena Panel to Firm: Dig This Weather Permitting, Excavation for the $44 Million Facility Will Begin Monday". The Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre. September 12, 1997. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ "About the Arena". Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ "The Players in the Arena Project". The Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre. March 11, 1997. p. 6A. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Firm Profile In House" (PDF). Quad3 Group, Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  7. ↑ "First Union Arena". Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ Ralis, David J. (January 30, 1998). "Wisconsin Firm Gets Ok to Build Arena". The Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  9. ↑ Jones, Coulter (December 28, 2009). "Mohegan Sun Receives Naming Rights to the Arena at Casey Plaza". The Times-Tribune (Scranton). Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Icecaps Reach Attendance Milestone". American Hockey League. January 11, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ "NBA Preseason 2003 Tips Off Oct. 5". National Basketball Association. September 30, 2003. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
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