Information
Landmark: Covelli CentreCity: Youngstown
Country: USA Ohio
Continent: North America
Covelli Centre, Youngstown, USA Ohio, North America
Overview
Right in the heart of downtown Youngstown, Ohio, the Covelli Centre stands as a sleek, modern arena that hosts everything from concerts to hockey games.Since it opened in 2005, it’s grown into the Mahoning Valley’s go-to spot for sports, concerts, and local gatherings, drawing thousands each year-sometimes enough to fill the air with the scent of popcorn and the roar of a crowd.You’ll find the arena at 229 East Front Street in downtown Youngstown, where its glass-front entrance catches the morning light and its presence fuels both the city’s cultural scene and ongoing urban revival.Spanning about 169,000 square feet, the building blends sleek lines with a modern layout built for flexibility and an engaging audience experience, from open halls to cozy corners.At the Covelli Centre, flexible seating makes room for all kinds of events-from concerts to ice hockey.For hockey nights, about 5,700 fans can pack the stands, cheering on the Youngstown Phantoms as skates cut across the bright white ice.Basketball games-and other sports like them-can pack in about 5,900 fans, enough to fill the stands with a steady buzz of sneaker squeaks and cheering.At concerts, seating runs from about 6,300 for end-stage shows to roughly 7,000 when the stage sits in the middle and the crowd wraps all the way around.For smaller shows or performances, you can set up the space like a theater, with rows of seats for roughly 2,200 people-picture a gentle hush settling over the audience before the lights dim.Inside, you’ll find 26 luxury suites and 520 club seats, each offering a clear, comfortable view of the action.You’ll find a full-service kitchen, several concession stands, and the Huntington Bank VIP Lounge-a quiet spot set aside for exclusive gatherings.The arena boasts a modern cooling system, with seven miles of underground pipes keeping the ice crisp and the air comfortable for the crowd.High-end lighting, crisp sound, and sturdy stage rigging keep concerts, live sports, and sprawling productions running smoothly.The floor’s flexible design lets crews switch from a hockey rink to a basketball court, a concert stage, or even a bustling trade show in no time.The Covelli Centre is best known as home to the Youngstown Phantoms, a Tier I junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League, where skates scrape the ice and the crowd roars.Previous tenants have ranged from the Youngstown SteelHounds of the Central Hockey League to the Mahoning Valley Thunder in arena football, the Little Steel Derby Girls racing on skates, and the Youngstown Nighthawks kicking up turf in indoor soccer.The arena buzzes with high school basketball tournaments, youth leagues, wrestling matches, and hard-hitting boxing bouts, cementing its place as the region’s sports hub.Beyond sports, the Covelli Centre draws big-name acts from across the country and around the world, from chart-topping bands to touring Broadway shows.They’ve hosted big-name shows, from Elton John’s soaring ballads to Carrie Underwood’s powerhouse vocals, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s gritty guitar riffs, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s blazing light-and-sound spectacular.Crowd-pleasers like Disney On Ice and the Harlem Globetrotters keep coming back, year after year, drawing families with twirling skaters and high-flying basketball tricks.The arena hosts trade shows, bustling conventions, sleek corporate gatherings, and lively community celebrations where balloons bob in the air.Construction kicked off in 2004, and by October 29, 2005, the arena’s doors swung open for its first event-a roaring 3 Doors Down concert.It first opened as the Youngstown Convocation Center, then quickly took on the Chevrolet Centre name after a sponsorship deal, and in 2009 it became the Covelli Centre when Covelli Enterprises bought the rights.The project ran about $42 million, backed by both public funds and private money, a hefty investment aimed at breathing new life into downtown Youngstown’s streets.The Covelli Centre has sparked economic growth in Youngstown, drawing crowds for concerts and games, boosting local shops and restaurants, and opening up new jobs.Local groups and schools can use it to host everything from science fairs to music nights, bringing people together and building a sense of pride.The arena has sparked new growth in downtown Youngstown, drawing cafés, shops, and a livelier street scene.For visitor info, call the box office at (800) 745‑3000 or the main office at (330) 746‑5600.You can grab event tickets online, at the counter under the bright marquee, or by phone.You can park nearby, either in a municipal garage or in one of the lots just a short walk away.The Covelli Centre welcomes guests with disabilities, offering wheelchair seating and assistive listening devices so everyone can enjoy the show-even from the front row.The Covelli Centre is one of northeastern Ohio’s top spots, hosting everything from roaring hockey games to lively concerts and neighborhood gatherings-all under a single roof.With sleek, modern spaces, a prime spot in the heart of downtown, and a lineup of events as varied as a summer street fair, it’s become a true cornerstone of Youngstown’s cultural and economic life-still pulling in crowds and sparking energy across the region.
