If diversity is the spice of life, then options and alternatives are a real pleasure. Run My Heroes Stage for five, four, three, two, one.
Mi Heroes Stage is the newest venue for live music in central Pennsylvania. Located in the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, it brings to the Harrisburg region famous performers from the fields of rock, pop, country and western.
For Hollywood Casino, this place is a way to expand your business footprint, to spread your entertainment wings. But the real winners are the locals who love music.
“My Heroes Stage is more than just another place to have fun at the casino,” said Dan Ihm, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. “We wanted to provide a different experience. We are not here to compete with Hershey. We are here to supplement them. They bring in a different type of artist than we would. ”
More than another concert, the performance at My Heroes Stage at the Hollywood Casino is an intimate experience in music.
Located on the north side of the complex, Mi Heroes Stage is within walking distance of the casino building, and pictures of the Blue Mountains serve as the backdrop for a huge stage. The open-air seat can accommodate 5,000 guests, and the concerts are held in a festive carnival-style atmosphere.
Vendors, food trucks and outdoor bars are nearby, entrance is reasonably priced and parking is free.
“I went to see the Journey last summer, just to see how it was,” said Glen Hamilton, program director and morning host of the Harrisburg radio station, VRVV 97.3 FM. “What impressed me was the big stage and the quality of the production. For their first-year endeavor, they put on a great show. Nobody knew what to expect. You are surrounded by mountains, and the surroundings are absolutely beautiful. ”
From a business standpoint, My Heroes Stage was an opportunity born out of a pandemic. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, August 2021 proved to be the perfect time to open a new outdoor music space.
Or, as Ihm said, “Last year we seized the moment, and now it’s growing.”
“I think, in general, we’re just making Dauphin County more of a destination,” he said. “We create value for fun. We bring in new people who may not have come before. The more reasons we give people to come to this area, the more opportunities for economic growth. ”
Last year, My Heroes Stage offered a limited series of six shows, in a schedule that included music legend John Fogerti, comedian Larry Cable Guy and rock band Journey. The schedule for 2022 has been expanded to 15 concerts, which will feature big names such as Martina McBride, Bush, Big & Rich, Collective Soul, Rick Springfield, Man At Work and John Waite.
“I think they have a great place that fits into the local live music scene,” Hamilton said. “There is a need and it meets the need in that market. There is no better way for an artist or band to connect with their audience than through a live performance. You are there personally with someone you like or love. ”
There is also a direct element of the community on My Heroes Stage.
The place is named after the active army, veterans, police, firefighters and emergency services. In addition, part of the income from the show is donated to charities miheroes.
“The My Heroes concept is part of our loyalty program,” Ihm said. “Penn National is very involved in providing services to the military. It was very important for us to reciprocate and provide live entertainment to the community. For me, it is a return to all the people who have given so much to us and our community. ”
In a unique way, My Heroes Stage is a natural progression of entertainment at Hollywood Casino and Penn National. Race horse racing on the Grantville estate began on August 30, 1972, and the Hollywood casino was built in 2008.
“You have all these benefits, all the different things you need to do in one place,” Ihm said. “In my opinion, there is no better place to go. People can come here and they don’t have to gamble. We just want to introduce more people to our product. We have fun and we do it well. ”
Few vehicles with as much universal appeal as music. Music has the power to bridge generations and bring people together.
“Central Pennsylvania loves live music,” Hamilton said. “It simply came to our notice then. None of the places hurt; all work well. My advice would be, buy a ticket, experience the show and judge for yourself. There is nothing like it. ”
My Heroes Stage is located at the Hollywood Casino on Penn National Race Course, 777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville. For more information, visit www.hollivoodpnrc.com/entertainment/myheroes-stage.
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