Santander Arena Seating Chart
Santander Arena is an indoor arena at 700 Penn Street in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania. It opened in September 2001 as the Sovereign Center and took the Santander name in 2013. The arena says it seats up to 8,800 for concerts and 7,200 for hockey, and it is home to the Reading Royals of the ECHL. The Berks County Convention Center Authority owns it, and Oak View Group has run it since July 2025.
Quick answer
Santander Arena seats up to 8,800 for concerts and 7,200 for hockey, according to the arena. It is not the Santander Performing Arts Center, a separate theater of about 1,700 seats at 136 North 6th Street.
- On the hockey map, center ice is 105 and 117.
- Sections 116 to 118 are club seats at select events.
- The arena is cashless.
- It was the Sovereign Center until 2013.
Sections at Santander Arena
Santander Arena has one lower bowl of sections in the 100s, with suites and a lounge above it. The section numbers below are read off the arena's hockey map and its interactive concert chart.
- Lower bowl — one ring of sections 101 to 124
- Club seats — sections 116, 117 and 118, sold for select events
- Boxes — numbered 206 to 215 and 233 to 242 along both sidelines, with no seats drawn in
- 300 suite level — the Loft Lounge and small seating strips on the outer rim
- Floor — sections 1 to 7 for reserved concerts, or general admission standing
Best seats at Santander Arena
We found no official best-seat guide. On the arena's hockey map, center ice lines up with section 105 on the Penn Street side and 117 on the Cherry Street side. The benches sit in front of 116 to 118, read off the map. Sections 116 to 118 are also the club seats, with slightly larger seats. On the arena's sample concert chart, the stage sits at the 120 to 124 end, but set-ups can change by show.
Tips before you go
Bring one clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a one-gallon zip bag, plus a clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. The FAQ's banned-items list gives a different bag size, so check before you go. The arena has been cashless since 2021, there is no re-entry, and doors open an hour before the event. For general admission floor shows, fans may line up from 7 a.m.
How to read the Santander Arena seating chart
Sections 103 to 107 run along the Penn Street sideline and 115 to 119 along the Cherry Street side, read off the map. Sections 108 to 114 are at the 8th Street end, and 120 to 124 and 101 to 102 are at the other end.
The 200 numbers on the map are boxes along both sidelines, not a second seating deck. The arena calls its upper floor the 300 suite level, with suites and the Loft Lounge. On the concert chart, lower-bowl seat views are labelled with rows from D to U, and floor rows use double letters such as HH.
The main entrance at 700 Penn Street has a ramp and an elevator to the 100 level and the 300 suite level. For floor accessible seating, use the elevator behind section 114. Assistive listening devices are free.
Building a seating chart for an event at Santander Arena
In 2001, Sports Business Journal reported 701 club seats and 20 suites, according to Wikipedia, and those numbers may have changed since. The Royals' 2026-27 home opener was set for October 24, 2026, against the Kalamazoo Wings. The box office is inside the main entrance. The FAQ says it opens at noon on event days, though the site footer says event-day hours vary.
Hosting a private event at Santander Arena?
From dinner rounds to program rows to head tables, lay out your Santander Arena event the way the room will actually run. The maker supports up to 500 seats and exports a print-ready PDF for the Reading venue's event staff.
Open the seating chart generatorFrequently asked questions
- What is the capacity of Santander Arena?
- Santander Arena seats up to 8,800 for concerts and 7,200 for hockey, according to the arena. It is not the Santander Performing Arts Center, a separate theater of about 1,700 seats at 136 North 6th Street.
- What are the best seats at Santander Arena?
- We found no official best-seat guide. On the arena's hockey map, center ice lines up with section 105 on the Penn Street side and 117 on the Cherry Street side. The benches sit in front of 116 to 118, read off the map. Sections 116 to 118 are also the club seats, with slightly larger seats. On the arena's sample concert chart, the stage sits at the 120 to 124 end, but set-ups can change by show.
- What sections does Santander Arena have?
- Main sections include: Lower bowl — one ring of sections 101 to 124; Club seats — sections 116, 117 and 118, sold for select events; Boxes — numbered 206 to 215 and 233 to 242 along both sidelines, with no seats drawn in. Full breakdown in the sections list above.
- Where is Santander Arena located?
- Santander Arena is at 700 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19602. Its concourse map shows Penn Street on one side, Cherry Street on the other and 8th Street at one end. Event parking is in the Reading Parking Authority's garages and lots, such as the DoubleTree Garage on Court Street, and street meters are free after 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
- How do I plan a private event at Santander Arena?
- Personal seat licenses in sections 116 to 118 include Royals season tickets. Plan your Royals group's tables in our free chart maker.