PPL Center PPL Center is a sports arena in Allentown , Pennsylvania that opened on September 10 , 2014 . Its naming rights are owned by the PPL Corporation , which is headquartered in Allentown . PPL paid an undisclosed sum over ten years . Overview . The arena is part of a larger redevelopment project of the central business district of Allentown . The project encompasses a 5 - acre square square block area , in which several new structures are planned to be erected : Part of the arena site was previously developed in the 1990s as an office building called Corporate Plaza ; shortly after opening , on February 23 , 1994 , it collapsed into a sinkhole , due to limestone in the ground and the decision not place the building on a concrete pad , but rather on spread footings ; the plaza was imploded on March 19 of that year . Inside the arena will be a new ground - floor studio that will house WFMZ - TV ' s news operation . Competition on building sites . Rebuilding an arena on the site of the Spectrum in Philadelphia was rejected in favor of the more profitable Xfinity Live ! project and a new 180 Renaissance by Marriott room hotel . The competition to build a new arena for the Phantoms in 2008 was primarily between Allentown and Camden , New Jersey . While Camden was closer , Allentown had a more elaborate proposal which helped secure Allentown ' s bid for the team . Plans to build the PPL Center at the corner of 7th and Hamilton Streets in downtown Allentown were announced in late 2009 . For much of 2009 and 2010 , the focus of the project was on securing funding . The project took a major leap forward when in 2011 , several properties were purchased by the city to help clear the way for the project to begin . By the end of January 2012 , all of the properties had been purchased with final demolition of all buildings occurring in early February 2012 . Parking . On May 31 , 2011 a comprehensive parking analysis conducted by Traffic Planning and Design , Inc . ( TPD ) was submitted to Allentown Economic Development Corporation . The conclusion that was reached is that the total number of parking spaces within the study area , between the public and private parking garages and surface lots consist of approximately 7 , 376 parking spaces . As a result of this parking analysis , the existing public and private parking facilities and proposed construction of an additional 500 parking spaces to be built with this development , will adequately accommodate the highest peak period parking demands of the proposed Allentown Arena and mixed - used development . In comparison Coca - Cola Park in the East side has 2 , 500 parking spots available . Traffic . Also on May 31 , 2011 a comprehensive traffic analysis conducted by Traffic Planning and Design , Inc . ( TPD ) was submitted to Allentown Economic Development Corporation . Based upon this Traffic Analysis , it is TPD ' s opinion that the existing roadway infrastructure can accommodate the new traffic generated by the proposed development . Conditions will be further improved with the recommended improvements . Controversy . Some concern about the PPL Center is centered on the cost of the arena relative to the cost of other dedicated American Hockey League arenas in the country . Nathan Benefield , the director of Public Analysis for The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Alternatives , a Pennsylvania free - market think tank which opposes public funding of stadiums , believes that the PPL Center benefited from funding a plan with no cap on public money beyond the annual revenue generated by the zone . As of October 2012 $ 224 . 3 million in bonds have been sold .