📍 Reading, Pennsylvania
🏒 Home of the Reading Royals

Located just sixty miles outside of Philly, the ECHL’s Reading Royals are the first step of the development ladder in the Philadelphia Flyers organization. Throughout the winter sports season, future Flyers stars entertain some of the biggest crowds in the league at Santander Arena in downtown Reading.

Originally founded in Columbus, Ohio as the Columbus Chill, the franchise was an integral part in helping to bring the NHL to Ohio’s capital, which came to fruition in 2000 in the form of the Blue Jackets. To make way for the incoming team, the Chill relocated and rebranded as the Reading Royals for the inaugural 2001-02 season.

Santander Arena, originally known as Sovereign Center, opened in 2001 on the former site of the historic Astor Theater. A grand showplace and jewel of the downtown area, the Astor was a beloved Reading landmark for nearly 50 years. After closing in 1975, the theater sat empty for 22 years before being demolished in favor of a new multi-purpose arena.

Thankfully, efforts were made to preserve some of the history and style from the old Astor Theater in the halls of the new arena, creating one of the more unique ECHL venues. One of the most notable remnants of the theater is an eye-catching chandelier that hangs in the main lobby.

The welcoming style of Santander Arena might be one of the reasons that the Royals are an ECHL leader in annual attendance, in addition to the pretty successful team on the ice. Since their inception in 2001, the Reading Royals have clinched 5 division titles, a conference title and the Kelly Cup in 2012-13.

It’s obvious that Royals fans are serious about their team – they appear to be a dedicated and focused ride-or-die fanbase, rocking the ‘Tander for every home game and staying until the end, win or lose. This passion will hopefully secure the Royals’ future in Reading for a long time to come.

Info Invasion

Must-Eat: Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries, a Philly-based regional staple
Parking: South Penn Garage, $10
Nearby Venue(s): FirstEnergy Stadium

Published by Jared Goodman

Avid traveler and photographer. For the last few years, I’ve written and shot for several organizations that have enabled me to experience live events at a variety of stadiums and arenas in every sport. In my travels, I've been fortunate enough to visit all 50 states and 3 countries, catching over 600 games at 350 venues and counting.

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