Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza facts for kids
The arena in 2012
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 Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza
Location in Pennsylvania
Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center (1998–2000) First Union Arena (2000–2003) Wachovia Arena (2003–2010) Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (2010–2024) |
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| Address | 255 Highland Park Boulevard |
| Location | Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°14′26″N 75°50′55″W / 41.240471°N 75.848504°W |
| Owner | Luzerne County Convention Center Authority |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 8,300 (Hockey) 10,000 (Concerts) |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 15, 1997 |
| Opened | November 13, 1999 |
| Construction cost | $44 million ($80.2 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Heinlein Schrock |
| Project manager | Hammes Company |
| Structural engineer | Quad3 Group, Inc. |
| Services engineer | Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. |
| General contractor | Oscar J. Boldt Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) (1999–present) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (af2) (2002–2009) |
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The Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza is a large building in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania. It can hold about 8,050 people for sports events. For concerts, it can hold up to 10,000 people. This arena is used for many different kinds of events.
It is the home ice for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team. This team plays in the AHL. The arena has had a few different names over the years.
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The Arena's History and Names
This arena was built in 1998. It first opened its doors on November 13, 1999. The land for the arena was given by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber. Its first name was the Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center.
In 2000, a bank called First Union Bank bought the rights to name the arena. It became known as the First Union Arena. Later, in 2003, First Union Bank merged with another bank, Wachovia. So, the arena's name changed again to Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.
On January 20, 2010, the arena got its current name. It became the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. This name came from a 10-year agreement with the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team has played here since 1999. Another team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, also played here from 2002 to 2009. They were part of the AF2 league.
Exciting Events and Recognition
The Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza is known as one of the best arenas of its size. Many entertainment magazines have praised it. They like how many people attend events there. They also like how easy it is to set up and take down shows.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team has set records here. They sold out all 40 home games in both the 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 seasons. They also had a streak of 90 sold-out games in a row. This streak lasted from March 2002 to October 2004.
Fun Shows and Performances
Besides hockey games, many other events happen at the arena. You can see exciting circus performances. There's an annual Christmas-time show by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Professional ice-skating shows also come to visit.
The Harlem Globetrotters basketball team often performs here. You can also watch Monster Jam truck shows. Many local schools hold their graduation ceremonies at the arena. These include Crestwood High School and King's College.
Wrestling and Music Concerts
The arena has hosted professional wrestling events since 2000. The first big wrestling show was on January 31, 2000. It was called WCW Monday Nitro. The first WWE event happened on July 16, 2000.
On June 11, 2007, the arena hosted the 2007 WWE Draft. This event was a big deal for wrestling fans. On November 15, 2016, the 900th episode of WWE Smackdown was held here. This show featured the return of The Undertaker.
Many famous music artists have performed concerts at the arena. These include AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foo Fighters. Other big names like Elton John, Cher, and The Eagles have also played here.
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed its last elephant show here. This happened on May 1, 2016. The circus itself closed about a year later.
Sports Beyond Hockey
On October 9, 2003, two professional basketball teams played a game here. The New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets had a preseason game at the arena.
Important Political Gatherings
The arena has also been a place for important political events. George W. Bush held a rally here in 2004. He was running for president again at that time.
More recently, the arena has hosted several events for Donald Trump. He held rallies here during his 2016 election campaign. He also returned as president in August 2018. Later, in September 2022, he held another rally for the 2022 elections. Most recently, Donald Trump held a rally here on August 17, 2024, for the 2024 presidential election.
Images for kids
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Side Angle View
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Center Ice View
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The Arena during a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey game
