Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Giant Center Seating Chart.
Hershey's hockey and concert arena next to Hersheypark
The Giant Center (stylized GIANT Center) is a 10,500-seat arena at 550 West Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on the same campus as Hersheypark. It is home to the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League's longest-running member, and it books arena concerts, wrestling, family shows and high school championships through the year. The short answer on seats: for a Bears game, the lower-level center-ice sections 105–108 and 119–122 are the best in the building, and the 200-level center-ice sections 205–208 and 219–222 are the best value.
The arena opened in 2002 and replaced the old Hersheypark Arena as the Bears' home. It has carried the Giant name from the start; the naming rights belong to the Giant grocery chain based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Because the bowl is compact, the gap between a good seat and a great one is smaller here than at an NHL building, and the choice is mostly about which side and which end you want.
How the 100 and 200 levels are numbered
Section numbers and zones below come from the arena's official interactive seating map on the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts site.
100 level: sections 101–126
The lower bowl wraps all the way around the rink with 26 sections. The center-ice sections are 105–108 on one side and 119–122 on the other. The Bears and visitors' benches sit in front of 119–122 (the Bears bench is in front of 119 and 120, the visitors in front of 121 and 122), and the penalty boxes are across the ice in front of 107. Sections 106, 107 and 108 are the club seats, 688 wider padded chairs with access to the Stella Premium Lounge.
The map labels the ends as the attack zone and the defend zone. The attack zone, where the Bears shoot twice (in the first and third periods), is the end with sections 101–104 and 123–126. The opposite end, 109–118, is the defend zone.
Suite level
Forty suites, numbered 1–40, ring the sides between the two seating levels. Each holds up to 22 people with a mix of fixed seats, bar stools and standing room.
200 level: sections 201–211 and 216–226
The upper level runs along both sides and around the end nearest the main entrance. There are no sections 212–215; the far end is closed off by clubs and concessions. Center ice upstairs is 205–208 (above the club seats, with the Club Lounge behind them) and 219–222 (below the press level). Wikipedia counts 7,700 seats in the lower level and 2,800 upstairs, which is why the 200 level fills quickly for big games.
Best seats for Bears games, concerts and family shows
Hershey Bears hockey
- Best overall: 105, 108, 119 and 122 a few rows up. You see both blue lines without the glass distorting the near boards, and you are still close enough to hear the game.
- Most comfortable: the club seats in 106–108, with in-seat service and lounge access. They sit across from the benches, so you watch line changes head-on.
- Behind the benches: low rows of 119–122 put you near the players, but the bench area and glass break up the view of the far side.
- For goals: the attack-zone end, 101–104 and 123–126, is where the Bears score in two of three periods.
- Best value: 205–208 and 219–222. A Central Pennsylvania travel writer who sat in the 200-level corners found them the least expensive seats and liked the full-rink view; the center sections upstairs are better still.
Concerts
For an end-stage show, the side sections nearest the stage (in practice, the first few sections on each side from the stage end) give the closest raised views, and the center-ice sections upstairs look across at the full production. Seats at the stage end are usually blocked or not sold. The arena also works in the round: Carrie Underwood played 360-degree shows here in 2016 and 2019 with the stage across the floor, and in that setup the center-ice sections on both sides are the closest elevated seats.
Seats to avoid
- Low rows behind either goal: the netting and the goal frame sit in your sightline.
- Top rows of the upper corners at a concert: the angle to an end stage is sharp and the sound is the least direct.
- Any section listed as limited view for a specific show, since stage size changes by tour.
Giant Center capacity and premium seating
The Giant Center seats 10,500 for hockey: about 7,700 in the lower level and 2,800 in the upper level, plus 688 club seats and 40 suites. Wheelchair and companion seating is on every level. Crowds can run higher when floor space is used; a 2016 political rally drew 12,500 people inside, the building's attendance record.
For hockey, the record is recent. On June 24, 2024, 11,013 fans watched the Bears win Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals in overtime, the franchise's 13th championship and a second straight title.
Suites are rented by the event for select shows. Each includes 17 tickets with the option to add 5 more, 6 parking passes and a private entrance.
Giant Center parking and getting to Hershey
Most visitors drive. The arena lists about 10,000 parking spaces around the building, including accessible spaces in the Preferred Parking Lot and the general lots, so the challenge is traffic rather than finding a space. As of late 2026, on-site event parking is listed at 35 dollars, and buying in advance online through Ticketmaster is cheaper. Check the venue's current rate before you go.
- Payment: parking and the building are cashless. Cash-to-Card kiosks load cash onto a prepaid card with no fee.
- Rules: tailgating and overnight parking are not permitted, and you may use only the space you paid for.
- Hersheypark passes: a season pass to the amusement park does not include Giant Center parking.
- Timing: leave extra time on summer evenings and on days when Hersheypark or the stadium next door is busy. Stadium Journey notes that traffic toward Harrisburg backs up more than other directions after games.
Giant Center bag policy and entry rules
As of 2026, the Giant Center limits bags and purses to 5 by 8 by 1 inches. Backpacks, large purses, camera bags, drawstring bags, totes and suitcases are prohibited. Medical equipment bags and parenting bags are allowed if smaller than 14 by 14 by 6 inches, and they are screened. The venue does not store prohibited items, so anything too big goes back to the car.
- Screening: every guest passes through magnetometers; the arena suggests arriving at least 45 minutes before the start.
- Re-entry: there is none. Once your ticket is scanned and you leave, you need a new ticket to return.
- Cameras: at AHL games cameras are allowed, but recording game action is not. At professional shows, personal still cameras without detachable lenses are allowed and video is not. Selfie sticks and drones are banned at all events.
Rules change by event, so check the Giant Center FAQ before you go.
From Hersheypark Arena to back-to-back Calder Cups
The Giant Center was built as the successor to Hersheypark Arena, the Bears' longtime home. Much of the construction money came from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is why the building is owned by the Derry Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority; Hershey Entertainment & Resorts operates it.
Cher played the first concert on October 15, 2002, selling 9,406 tickets on her farewell tour. The arena has since hosted WWE's Unforgiven in 2003, the 2011 AHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition, and the 2015 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. Before the 2015–16 season, a 4.7-million-dollar production upgrade added a four-sided center-hung HD scoreboard and an LED ribbon around the bowl. The Bears' 2023 and 2024 Calder Cup runs gave the building its loudest nights; the 2024 title was won on home ice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Giant Center's capacity?
The Giant Center seats 10,500 for hockey, with about 7,700 seats in the lower level and 2,800 in the upper level. Floor-standing events can hold more.
What is the Giant Center bag policy?
As of 2026, bags and purses may be no larger than 5 by 8 by 1 inches. Medical and parenting bags under 14 by 14 by 6 inches are allowed after screening; check the current policy before you go.
How much is parking at the Giant Center?
As of late 2026, on-site event parking is listed at 35 dollars, with a lower rate when bought in advance online. The lots are cashless and hold about 10,000 cars.
Where are the best seats for a Hershey Bears game?
Lower-level center ice, sections 105–108 and 119–122, gives the best view. For value, the 200-level center sections 205–208 and 219–222 see the whole rink.
Which end do the Hershey Bears shoot at twice?
According to the arena's seating map, the Bears attack twice toward the end with sections 101–104 and 123–126.
Can I leave the Giant Center and come back in?
No. Once your ticket is scanned and you exit, you cannot re-enter with the same ticket.