Sorrentino Gymnasium – Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00

Sorrentino Gymnasium 101 N College Ave Annville, PA 17003

Year Opened: 2003

Capacity: 1,650

Champions Gym

Lebanon Valley College is a liberal arts college in downtown Annville, PA. Annville is in Lebanon County, east of Hershey. Founded in 1866 Lebanon Valley has approximately 1,600 undergraduates. The Princeton Review has recognized the college as “A Best in the Northeast” and they have over thirty-five fields of study.

Lebanon Valley College is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The school has produced 11 all-Americans and was the 2009 and 2011 ECAC Southwest Bowl champions.

The school’s teams are the Flying Dutchmen, and its mascot is the Dutchman.

The college is known as the home of the 1994 NCAA Division III National Champions in basketball. That 1994 championship victory over New York University was a controversial affair when a Dutchmen shot that won the game may or may not have been by the sound of the buzzer. But no matter what, the school hosts that championship proudly, as they should.

Sorrentino Gymnasium is located within the Arnold Sports Center, The headquarters of LVC Athletics. The Arnold Sports Center is home to the Arnold Arena fieldhouse and LVC's pool, as well as offices for LVC's athletic administrators and coaches. The building houses a 196-meter track, and the infield can be converted to four basketball, volleyball, or tennis courts.

Food & Beverage 2

There is no real official concession stand at the venue.

There is a small vending machine area and the venue has plenty of room for temporary stands if they so choose. You can bring outside food to the venue.

Atmosphere 5

The small college pride of Lebanon Valley College was in full effect at this game. The arena was packed and all sides of the gym were filled with fans.

The arena is a very nice facility and exudes the energy of a Division I facility.

Some cheerleaders help the atmosphere.

There is a small, old scoreboard, which may be the only real negative for the venue. A videoboard would pump this venue to the highest levels.

Neighborhood 4

Annville is a great little town of a little less than 5,000 about 8 miles east of Hershey, PA. The college is right in the heart of downtown.

Funck’s Family Restaurant, Corvette Grille and Bar, and Harper’s Tavern are all local establishments that offer good food pre and post-game. The Pennsylvania chain, Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, is another option right in Annville. The food is good, cheap, and certainly plentiful.

J & S Pizza is a decent option within walking distance of campus.

Fans 4

The crowds at Lebanon Valley do not disappoint. There is quite a bit of obvious school pride with fans attending in droves. The athletic teams here are supported well and have shown a great deal of ability for their fans.

Access 4

Located on Route 422 between Lebanon and Hershey, Annville is easy to find and has no problem handling the crowds for such a small stadium. Expect that on busy game days, you will hit some traffic on Route 422, especially on Bellegrove Road by the athletic complex.

There is a good amount of parking, but do plan ahead of time. You can also try to park in downtown Annville and walk over the railroad pedestrian bridge to the athletic fields.

The athletic fields are located north of the main campus, separated by a railroad.

Return on Investment 4

There is a $5 cash price for admission. The value is good for this high quality of venue.

Extras 5

There are so many sports venues in the same area as the gymnasium so check to see if any other sports are going on at the same time.

Check out the LVC Hall of Champions. This museum-like display space commemorates the great individual and team achievements of Flying Dutchman athletics.

Take a look at the 1994 National Championship basketball banner.

The team is supported by a very good cheerleader squad with some nifty cheers.

Final Thoughts

Sorrentino Gymnasium is one of the finest small college arenas we have seen. sports fan visiting central Pennsylvania owes it to themselves to see if a game is going on when they are in the area.