Giant Center will have a different look at center ice this season as the Hershey Bears celebrate their 20th year of affiliation with the Washington Capitals.
Wednesday, the Bears revealed they painted a simplified version of the alternate logo they created over the offseason at the center faceoff circle. The mark is inspired by the vintage Washington Capitals’ Capitol Dome logo and utilizes design elements from other logos over the last two decades.
The Bears’ crossed sticks design, which includes six Stars to represent the five Calder Cups and one Stanley Cup claimed during the affiliation, is anchored by the Giant Center logo at the top and bottom. Two logos each from Shiloh Paving & Excavating and Abel & Son fill up the neutral zone.
In a brilliant touch, the red line also features bear paws inside the red line.
Zack Fisch, the voice of the Bears, noted on X that the center ice logo is currently flipped for the Washington Capitals’ preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night due to TV cameras being placed on the opposite side of the rink across from the benches. The preseason tilt will air on Monumental Sports Network locally.
In the coming days after the game, the Giant Center ice crew will then switch the design back toward its normal side ahead of the team’s preseason home opener on October 1 against Lehigh Valley.
The Bears’ crossed sticks logo is not just special for the Capitals’ preseason game — it will be utilized throughout Hershey’s entire 2025-26 season. The full alternate logo also operates as Hershey’s shoulder patch on their Screaming Bear alternate jerseys.
Additional sponsors will also be added on the ice later in locations that are permitted in the AHL, but not in the NHL.
