Our Venues

Learn more about the history and legacy of our two venues located in Downtown Reading, Pennsylvania.

The Santander Arena

700 Penn Street - Reading, PA, 19602

The Santander Arena, formerly known as the Sovereign Center first opened its doors in September of 2001. In the 20 years since then, it has hosted over 2,800 shows in a wide range of genres. The arena, which seats up to 8800 for concerts and 7200 for hockey, is home to the Reading Royals - the ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. Besides sporting events, the Santander Arena has hosted hundreds of concerts and other forms of entertainment targeted to all age ranges.

A few of the previous performers have included Marc Anthony, Carrie Underwood, Slipknot, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Godsmack, Taylor Swift, Rauw Alejandro, Matchbox Twenty, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, WWE, Winter Jam, Elton John, Motley Crue, Halestorm, A Day to Remember, Judas Priest, Rod Stewart, Sting, Kelsea Ballerini, Hot Wheels Monters Trucks Live, Cardi B, Shinedown, Professional Bull Riding, and many others.

The Santander Performing Arts Center

136 North 6th Street, Reading, PA, 19601

The Santander Performing Arts Center is known for bringing some of the hottest acts in show business to Reading, PA and Berks County. The historic venue is highlighted by the latest cutting edge technology, highest level professional grade sound system available and advanced engineered acoustics. The main theater holds 1,700 guests for a variety of shows including our Broadway series, rock concerts, family events & more.

The Santander Performing Arts Center was built in the 1870s as a market, with a Masonic Temple on its upper floors. It became the Academy of Music in 1886. The Rajah Shriners purchased it in 1917 to use the building for various activities including vaudeville, motion pictures, and live appearances. The auditorium was rebuilt in 1921 after a fire destroyed most of the facility. At the turn of the 21st Century, the Rajah Theater was the only downtown movie palace of its kind to survive.

Its sister palaces, the Astor (replaced by the Santander Arena), Embassy and Loew's Colonial, had all been demolished. Today, the Santander Performing Arts Center is home to the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the Broadway on 6th Street series. It has also hosted numerous different events. Willie Nelson, Dave Chappelle, Little Big Town, Jo Koy, Taylor Tomlinson, Jerry Seinfeld, David Copperfield, Melissa Etheridge, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Chris Cornell and Mannheim Steamroller are just a few of the shows that have been seen at the theater.