Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. It's home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball team.

Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a city that loves sports! While many people in the area cheer for teams in New York City or Philadelphia, Allentown has its own professional sports teams. These include the Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball team and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey team. They are part of bigger leagues.

Gymnastics in Allentown

Allentown is home to the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center. This famous center has trained many top gymnasts. Some have even become Olympians or U.S. national champions.

In 2003, CNN made a TV show about Parkettes. It was called Achieving the Perfect 10. The show highlighted how hard the gymnasts work and how competitive the training is.

Hockey in Allentown

Allentown has its own professional hockey team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. They are linked to the Philadelphia Flyers, a team in the National Hockey League.

In 2009, the owners of the Phantoms decided to move the team to Allentown. They planned to build a new arena for the team's home games.

The PPL Center

In 2011, plans were set for an 8,500-seat arena in Downtown Allentown. This new building would also have shops, restaurants, and a hotel. The arena, now called the PPL Center, opened in 2014. It is the home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Soccer in Allentown

Allentown is also home to a professional soccer team called the Pennsylvania Stoners.

The Original Stoners

The first Pennsylvania Stoners team played from 1979 to 1983. They were part of the American Soccer League. The team had a great record and even won the league championship in 1980. However, the team stopped playing in 1983 because of more competition and fewer fans.

The New Stoners

The team was brought back in 2007 as the Pennsylvania Stoners. They now play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The team used to play their home games at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. In 2009, they moved to the Zephyr Sports Complex in Whitehall.

Another women's soccer team, the Northampton Laurels FC, also plays some games in Allentown. They use J. Birney Crum Stadium.

Images for kids

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  Allentown, Pennsylvania, the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, May 2010

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  PPL Center in Allentown is the home arena of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms

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  J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown is a large high school stadium

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  J. Milo Sewards Gymnasium at Allen High School in Allentown, February 2021