Covelli Centre


The Covelli Centre is a multi-purpose arena in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It opened in 2005 and is home to the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League. It also hosts concerts and other convocation events.

History

The Covelli Centre was funded primarily through a $26 million federal grant secured in 2000 by then-Congressman James Traficant. The arena's grand opening was on October 29, 2005, when it hosted a concert by 3 Doors Down. The first hockey game was played about a week later, on November 4. It was initially named the Convocation Center before the naming rights were bought by General Motors, who called it the Chevrolet Centre. GM's naming rights expired in 2008, and restaurant franchisee Covelli Enterprises bought the naming rights the following year.
Starting in November 2008, the Youngstown Phantoms of the North American Hockey League played select home games at the arena. Upon joining the USHL, the Phantoms moved into the Covelli Centre full-time in 2009. The Ohio Junior High wrestling championships were held at the arena in 2019.
The facility was utilized to house the "Mercy Health Covelli Field Hospital," an additional medical space for COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Records

The arena's first sold-out performances were on November 12, 2005, when it hosted two concerts by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Both 2:30 and 7:30 shows were sold out. The first sold-out hockey game was on January 14, 2006.
On March 8, 2010, it was announced that the Covelli Centre would host Elton John on May 1, 2010. The event sold out in a record time of 30 minutes on March 12, 2010, which eclipsed the previous record set by Carrie Underwood, an event that sold out in 48 hours.

Selected events