FROM KEITH GROLLER
Very excited about this.
Penn State and Drexel will be playing at the PPL Center in December and I have a feeling many more top college attractions are coming to our new arena.
This is great news for the entire basketball community, including our high school kids who get quality teams and games dropped in their own backyard. This morning's release:
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AND DREXEL UNIVERSITY TIP OFF DURING INTERSTATE RIVALRY AT PPL CENTER ON DECEMBER 20
TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE THIS FALL AT PPLCENTER.COM
Penn State University and Drexel University will tip off at the soon-to-open PPL Center on Saturday, December 20. The match-up marks the first announcement of a college basketball game to take place at the Lehigh Valley’s new multi-purpose venue.
Tickets to watch Penn State battle Drexel at PPL Center on Saturday, Dec. 20 will go on sale this fall through PPL Center, online at PPLCenter.com or by phone at 610-347-TIXX.
“We’re excited to bring the Penn State v. Drexel Men’s Basketball game to the PPL Center on Saturday, Dec. 20. This is a great date for college basketball and will be a terrific matchup between two in-state rivals. This game highlights a reunion for Coach Patrick Chambers and Coach Bruiser Flint who both played point guard for legendary Coach Dan Dougherty at Episcopal Academy. This game has a strong local flavor and we anticipate a sell-out crowd at the sparkling new PPL Center. This will be a marquee event!” said Russ Potts, President of RPPI.
Though the teams have not met since 1992, Penn State is 4-0 all-time against Drexel. During the 2013-14 season, Penn State finished 16-18, going 6-12 in the Big Ten. Four starters are back from the 2013-14 season, leading the nine returning letter-winners who account for more than 70 percent of scoring and rebounds. The Nittany Lions posted win totals, both overall (16) and in the Big Ten (6), among the highest in the last 15 years and had a total of 12 games decided by five or fewer points.
“We are excited to play at the new PPL Center in Allentown. With so many Penn State fans and alumni spread throughout the state, anytime we have a chance to play a game in front of them is something we will explore. We hope they will take advantage of this opportunity to come out as we take on a talented and well-coached team in Drexel,” said Patrick Chambers, Head Coach of Penn State University Men’s Basketball.
During the 2013-14 season, Drexel finished 16-14. The Dragons return eight letter-winners, including Damion Lee, a Second Team All-CAA performer two years ago. Lee missed most of last season with a knee injury.
“We look forward to playing at the brand new PPL Center,” said Bruiser Flint, Head Coach of Drexel University Men’s Basketball. “Our players are excited to have the opportunity to play at the state-of-the-art facility. We believe this game will be an exciting showcase for college basketball fans in the state of Pennsylvania,”
For exclusive behind-the-scenes info and photos follow us at @PPLCenter. To receive advance notice and special offers to future events, join the free PPL Center Cyber Club by clicking here.
PPL Center will begin a season-long opening celebration with a nearly sold-out performance by The Eagles (Sept. 12), followed by Cher’s D2K tour (Sept. 15), legendary rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Sept. 16), country powerhouse Rascal Flatts (Sept. 26), the Original Harlem Globetrotters (Oct. 3), the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series (Oct. 10-11), Judas Priest (Oct. 15), and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms home opener (Oct. 17).
Russ Potts Productions, Inc. has organized and promoted over 800 sporting events including some of the biggest college basketball and college football events in the country. RPPI was founded in 1982 and is the oldest and longest standing promoter of sporting events in the Nation. In addition to the Penn State vs. Drexel game this fall, this year RPPI is also organizing the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game at FedExField on Nov 1st and the Men Against Breast Cancer Classic Men’s Basketball Event at Kent State. Highlighted basketball events of the past include Georgetown vs. Virginia in 1982 (Sampson vs. Ewing) and LSU vs. Georgetown in 1989 at the New Orleans Superdome (attendance of over 66,000). Future event highlights in college football include, West Virginia vs. BYU at FedExField in 2016, Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia at FedExField in 2017, and Texas vs. Maryland at FedExField in 2018. Please visit www.rppi.net for more information.
PPL Center (pplcenter.com) is a state-of-the-art multipurpose arena currently under construction in downtown Allentown, Pa. The arena will seat more than 10,000 for concerts and more than 8,500 for Phantoms professional hockey games, making it the region’s largest events venue. The amenities-packed PPL Center will host more than 140 events each year, offering something for everyone, including the Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the NHL Philadelphia Flyers, live concerts, family shows, trade shows, figure skating events, youth sports, high school and collegiate events, Disney on Ice, conferences, graduations and many more events. PPL Center will be the heart of the Lehigh Valley and is currently the main catalyst to the revitalization and growth of downtown Allentown.
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