Santander Arena Seating Chart: 2026 Guide To Reading, PA Event Views, Layouts, And Tickets

Santander Arena, located at 700 Penn Street in downtown Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, serves as the premier entertainment and sports hub of the Greater Reading region. As the official home ice of the ECHL Reading Royals—an affiliate of the NHL Philadelphia Flyers—and a frequent tour stop for national touring acts, family shows, and combat sports, the venue requires a strategic approach when selecting tickets.

Understanding the Santander Arena seating chart is essential to securing sightlines that match your expectations, whether you want an up-close view of a hockey face-off or optimal acoustics for an arena concert. The arena accommodates roughly 7,160 spectators for professional hockey and expands to approximately 8,800 seats for reserved-seating and general admission end-stage concerts. Knowing how the arena reconfigures its bowl from ice to stage ensures you avoid obstructed angles, locate ADA-accessible areas easily, and identify premium hospitality tiers.

Architectural Layout and Section Numbering at Santander Arena

The physical bowl of Santander Arena utilizes an efficient, single-concourse design that wraps continuously around the event floor. Seating sections run consecutively around the arena bowl, numbered 101 through 120.

Row structure generally begins with Row A or Row AA closest to the glass or floor, moving up to Row V or W near the main concourse entryway.

The 100-Level Lower Bowl Architecture

Because the venue does not maintain an elevated upper tier or balcony, all permanent seats reside within the 100-level configuration. This creates intimate viewing angles throughout the building:

• Sideline Sections (103–105 and 113–115): These sections flank the center ice line or floor midcourt. Rows A through K provide immediate proximity to the action, while rows L through U offer elevated vantage points favored by fans seeking a tactical view of play development.
• Corner Sections (101, 102, 106, 107, 111, 112, 116, and 120): These diagonal views angle directly toward the center of the performance area. Sightlines here eliminate neck strain compared to sharp sideline seats, though depth perception across the far end of the floor can become compressed.
• End Zone Sections (108–110 and 117–119): Positioned directly behind the goals or behind the production front-of-house (FOH) setup, these areas provide straight-on perspectives. For hockey games, sections 108 through 110 sit behind the goal where the home team attacks twice.

Floor and General Admission Configured Spaces

During non-ice events, the arena floor converts into reserved floor seating (typically designated as Sections Floor 1, 2, and 3) or an open General Admission (GA) Standing Pit. Floor setups run level with zero tiered rake, meaning sightlines depend directly on stage height and patron height. Taller production stages elevated five to six feet off the concrete minimize visibility challenges for patrons seated beyond Row 10 on the floor.

Configuration Comparison: Hockey vs. Concert vs. Family Shows

The internal seating footprint shifts substantially depending on event classification. The following breakdown compares standard structural layouts deployed at Santander Arena:

Navigating Reading Royals Hockey Seating

For hockey fans attending Reading Royals games, understanding the team's directional attacking pattern is critical before purchasing tickets:

Reading Royals Home Ice Orientation

The Royals shoot twice toward the goal positioned in front of Sections 108, 109, and 110 during the first and third periods. If you prioritize goal celebrations and offensive pressure by the home squad, prioritize these sections or adjacent corner sections 107 and 111.

Player Benches and Penalty Box Placements

• Team Benches: The home and visiting team benches are located directly in front of Section 104. Fans sitting in Sections 103 and 105 also catch direct behind-the-bench interactions, bench doors opening, and line changes.
• Penalty Box: The penalty boxes sit opposite the player benches directly in front of Section 114. If you want uninterrupted sightlines into the penalty box and the official scorers' table, choose Sections 113, 114, or 115.
• Protective Netting Notice: High-tensile black nylon safety netting shields spectators along both ends of the arena, extending from Section 106 through Section 112 and Section 116 through Section 102. While the human eye adjusts quickly to transparent modern netting during live action, fans capturing photography should target Sections 103–105 or 113–115 between the blue lines to avoid shooting through netting.

Concert Seating Dynamics and Acoustic Sightlines

Acoustic distribution at Santander Arena benefits from its relatively compact physical envelope. However, vertical audio arrays deployed by touring sound engineers create distinct sweet spots across the bowl.

Side-Stage vs. Straight-On Seating

• Direct Alignment (Sections 101, 102, 119, 120): These sections provide direct, centered lines of sight toward the stage when an end-stage setup is backed against Sections 108–110. Visual elements, lighting rigs, and rear video screens are fully visible without turning your head. However, distance from the performers is maximized.
• Flanked Stage Angles (Sections 106 and 112): These side-stage sections sit closest to the performance platform. While you gain physical proximity to the artist, viewing angles are sharp. Set pieces, monitor wedges, or hanging speaker arrays may partially block the backdrop. Look closely for "Side View" or "Obstructed View" disclosures on ticketing platforms before checking out.
• The Mixing Console Placement: The Front of House (FOH) audio and lighting console normally occupies space on the floor directly in front of Sections 101 and 120. If you are selecting lower-row seats in these sections, verify that ground-stacked equipment or touring camera platforms do not fall within your direct visual horizon.

Premium Seating, Luxury Suites, and Club Access

For attendees seeking upgraded amenities, dedicated food and beverage service, and private restrooms, Santander Arena maintains specialized hospitality inventory:

Private Luxury Suites

The arena's luxury suites are suspended above the lower bowl along the private concourse level. Suites accommodate groups ranging from 12 to 24 guests and feature:

• Padded stadium seats mounted on private balconies overlooking the bowl.
• Dedicated interior lounge space with wet bars, flat-screen monitors, and custom catering programs.
• Direct elevator access avoiding primary concourse congestion during intermissions or between setlists.

Ice Box and Concourse Club Zones

For select sporting events, ice-level suites—often called Ice Box suites—position fans directly against the boards, providing the most visceral experience in minor-league professional hockey. On the main concourse level, dedicated club zones provide access to specialized bar lines, shorter wait times for concessions, and wider seating dimensions compared to standard bowl chairs.

Accessibility and ADA Accommodations

Santander Arena is structured to comply fully with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements:

1. Wheelchair Platform Locations: Dedicated ADA wheelchair spaces and companion seating are integrated along the main concourse perimeter. These platforms are elevated above the bowl seats below them, ensuring that patrons standing up in front of the platform do not obstruct the sightlines of wheelchair users.
2. Elevator Access: A main passenger elevator services the lobby, floor access (when open for accessible floor tickets), and the suite levels.
3. Restroom and Concession Access: All concourse-level public restrooms feature accessible stalls and automated door assistances. Concession counters feature lowered service transaction points for patrons using mobility devices.
4. Sensory and Hearing Assistance: Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) can be checked out at Guest Services located near the main entrance on Penn Street. Identification is held as a temporary deposit until the unit is returned.

Practical Event-Day Logistics: Parking, Gates, and Venue Policies

Executing a seamless visit to Santander Arena requires accounting for downtown Reading traffic patterns and municipal parking infrastructure managed by the Reading Parking Authority (RPA).

Parking Options and Walking Routes

• 4th & Cherry Garage (400 Cherry St): The primary covered structure for arena events. Located approximately two blocks away, this garage provides quick pedestrian access via Penn Street. Pre-paying parking passes via event apps prior to arrival mitigates gate delays.
• South 6th & Cherry Garage: An ideal alternate deck that reduces congestion when departing onto regional feeder routes like Route 422 or Route 183.
• Surface Lots: Several private and RPA-operated surface parking lots surround the perimeter between 6th and 8th Streets along Court Street and Washington Street.

Entry Ingress and Clear Bag Rules

• Security Screening: All patrons pass through walk-through metal detectors at the main Penn Street entrance doors.
• Bag Guidelines: Santander Arena enforces strict bag dimension standards. Clutch purses no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches or clear plastic bags not exceeding 12 by 6 by 12 inches are typically required for entry. Backpacks, oversized camera bags, and large non-clear totes are turned away at the doors without on-site locker storage.
• Cashless Operations: Concession stands and permanent merchandise locations inside the arena operate entirely cashless. Credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are required for all transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which seats are the best for Reading Royals hockey games at Santander Arena?

Sections 104 and 114 (Rows F through L) offer the premier all-around views between the blue lines, balancing speed and play visibility. If you want to sit where the Royals shoot twice on offense, target Sections 108 through 110.

Selecting seats midway up the lower bowl provides enough elevation to track the puck over the glass framing without dealing with the visual reflection caused by protective acrylic panels at ice level.

Do seats in the 100-level have cup holders?

Most standard plastic bucket seats throughout the general lower bowl do not feature individual cup holders.

Cup holders are primarily installed in the luxury suites, premium club locations, and select floor VIP folding chairs. Plan to hold beverages or place them securely below your seat during play stoppages.

How does floor seating work for concerts at Santander Arena?

Floor seating varies between reserved folding chairs and an open General Admission (GA) standing pit depending on the artist.

In a reserved configuration, the floor is split into three primary sections (Floor 1, 2, and 3) oriented flat against the concrete with lettered or numbered rows. If the show utilizes a GA pit, there are no assigned chairs; ticket holders are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis within that designated floor space.

Where is the ADA seating located inside the arena?

ADA-accessible platforms are positioned along the rim of the main concourse level, directly behind the top rows of the lower bowl.

These positions ensure step-free access from the main entrance doors, restrooms, and concession stands while keeping sightlines clear over seated fans situated in front of the platform cutouts.

Are there any obstructed view seats at Santander Arena?

Yes, certain concert setups create obstructions in corner sections 106 and 112 when stages feature large side video walls or speaker arrays.

During hockey matches, the immediate front-row glass seats in Row AA can have brief blind spots where the plexiglass dividers join together, creating momentary refraction when tracking the puck into the corners.

Maximizing Your Visit to Santander Arena

Securing the right vantage point at Santander Arena comes down to aligning your priorities—proximity versus panoramic visibility. For high-energy events like Reading Royals hockey, corner and attacking-zone seats deliver physical excitement, while center-ice positions let you watch every play develop clearly. For concerts, elevated lower-bowl sections like 103, 104, 114, and 115 consistently outperform distant floor seats by providing natural elevation, straight sound projection, and unobstructed sightlines over the crowd.

Before purchasing tickets, review the event-specific floor configuration map on the venue's official ticketing system. Confirm whether safety netting or stage production wings will fall within your field of vision, reserve downtown garage parking ahead of time, and verify current bag-size compliance to ensure a smooth, hassle-free arrival in Reading.