The project encompasses a five-acre square block area in which several new structures are planned to be erected:[11] Part of the arena site was previously developed in the 1980s as an office building called Corporate Plaza.

On February 23, 1994, it collapsed into a sinkhole, due to limestone in the ground and the decision to not place the building on a concrete pad, but rather on spread footings; the plaza was imploded on March 19 of that year.

[11] Rebuilding an arena on the site of the Spectrum in Philadelphia was rejected in favor of the more profitable Xfinity Live!

It had been home to the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, an indoor football team, who played four seasons in the arena from 2015 to 2018.

Since its opening in 2014, PPL Center has hosted a number of notable concerts, including:[14] On May 31, 2011, a comprehensive parking analysis conducted by Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. (TPD) was submitted to Allentown Economic Development Corporation.

The report stated that the existing roadway infrastructure can accommodate the new traffic generated by the proposed development.