Thursday, November 1, 2001

THE GIANT CENTER TOPS OFF TODAY

Hershey, PA – The new state-of-the-art GIANT Center’s final roof truss was placed today, Thursday, November 1, 2001 at the South end of the building. An American flag and an evergreen tree lie atop the truss. The tree symbolizes good luck and stresses the fact that construction has proceeded without any loss of life.

A total of 23 roof trusses have been used as the backbone of the roof and the first was placed on July 20. The roof trusses are made of steel and are 280 feet in length. They were put on the GIANT Center by halves starting from the outside point and then were rotated toward the middle to meet their match. The two roof truss halves were then connected in the middle where they meet.

Scheduled to open for the HERSHEY BEARS 2002-2003 season, the 306,000 square foot GIANT Center will have 10,500 seats, and is under construction on 56 acres of undeveloped land, southwest of the intersection of Hersheypark Drive and Park Boulevard in Hershey, PA. For more information on the GIANT Center please log on to the GIANT Center website at GiantCenter.net.

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Copyright 2001 Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. HERSHEY and HERSHEY BEARS are trademarks used under license.