Wilkes-Barre's Wachovia Arena turns ten years old, has it been good or bad for NEPA? (Scranton: home)

[W-B proud]

I figured I'd post this topic for the people who are sick and tired of the "I love Scranton, I hate Scranton" threads. I for one, think the arena has been nothing but a tremendous blessing for the area. It has provided our region with top notch, world class national musical acts, conventions, and perfomances that we used to have to travel to Philly or NYC to see. It is home to the most successful sports francise in our area, and the building of the arena itself sparked an explosion of retail shopping and restaraunts up by and around the arena in an area that was once a desolute, abondaned, strip mine where people used to dump garbage and thousands of tires. I think the building of the arena was has provided the single biggest "shot in the arm" that the Wyoming Valley has seen in many decades. What are your thoughts?

[weluvpa]

I agree.....The only place to see a show before that was at Wilkes or The Kirby. I have been to a few concerts at the Arena and was impressed by the ease of it and the convience. I think that the area around the arena is a vast improvement as well.

[Vinny536]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

I figured I'd post this topic for the people who are sick and tired of the "I love Scranton, I hate Scranton" threads. I for one, think the arena has been nothing but a tremendous blessing for the area. It has provided our region with top notch, world class national musical acts, conventions, and perfomances that we used to have to travel to Philly or NYC to see. It is home to the most successful sports francise in our area, and the building of the arena itself sparked an explosion of retail shopping and restaraunts up by and around the arena in an area that was once a desolute, abondaned, strip mine where people used to dump garbage and thousands of tires. I think the building of the arena was has provided the single biggest "shot in the arm" that the Wyoming Valley has seen in many decades. What are your thoughts?

wow, i can't believe its 10 already.

I agree it was a great boost for wilkes-barre twp's economy and value. it is the best think to happen in that area for a long time, and i still don't think the full effect has been felt. there is still a lot more potential.

[Chefkey]

20 years later and I think it was a good investment, it keeps the area relevant by being able to have international shows land in the area on occasion. The hockey team does well there every year among other nice events that go in there. Now if they would just put a Trader Joe's or Assi Plaza next to it. I used to love the Assi Plaza down in Lansdale.

[jimazee]

It's also nice for local sports, like state high school playoffs...and even college graduations. A classy, convenient place to attend many events.

++ for W-B and NEPA ...(Scranton people even go there ).

[takun]

Isn't it actually 20 years old now? I remember a Univ. of Scranton graduation there in 2006, so I went back to research a little and it said it was built in 1998.

We have been there a few times - a couple of graduations, the James Taylor/Carole King concert and I can't remember the other shows we saw there. Very nice arena. Parking is easy. We would much rather go there than MSG or NJ PAC.

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by takun

Isn't it actually 20 years old now? I remember a Univ. of Scranton graduation there in 2006, so I went back to research a little and it said it was built in 1998.

LOL this thread is from 2008, and yes the arena is now 20 years old. The current name is "Mohegan Sun Arena". Who knows what it will be called in 2028 when the thread pops up again?

It's hard to believe some people were against building it when it was first proposed. Many were against it solely because politicians' friends and relatives might make money off of it. As if they couldn't find something else to make money off of!

[theatergypsy]

Lots of people were against it saying that the money should be spent on other badly-needed projects. They hadn't bothered to investigate enough to learn that the money was allotted for "building an arena" and if it wasn't built, the money would go away and not be available for any other projects.

I have never been to the arena although my picture has been there and also on the jumbotron or whatever you call it. Little granddaughter making her first trip to an event there and stood stock still in front of my display and shouted "That's my grandma!"

The arena has certainly been beneficial to the area. I voted "yes".