Over the coming years, Wells Fargo Center–home to the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers–will receive an estimated $250 million in improvements.
Arena owner Comcast Spectacor has discussed some details about the multi-phase project. Beginning with a phase that will take place over this summer, Wells Fargo Center will be overhauled in several areas. The renovation is expected to follow some recent trends in arena upgrades, as it results will include revamped premium seating offerings, improved concessions and concourses, and the replacement of approximately 21,500 seats.
On the current schedule, the majority of the Wells Fargo Center renovations will take place over the next three summers. The first round of upgrades will focus on the mezzanine level, while subsequent phases will bring changes to other parts of the arena. More from The Philadelphia Inquirer:
First up for the upgrade: the mezzanine (200 level) this summer. Here, Comcast Spectacor will carve out two lounges by tearing out cinder block walls on the southeast and northeast corners, adding about 7,000 square feet for fans to drink and talk. Both were “void spaces” without public access, and one has served as the employee gym for years.
“Folks want a more social experience when they go to the game,” Phil Weinberg, executive vice president and general counsel at Comcast Spectacor, said. “They want to get up and go back and text and show photos. They want it more open.”
Next summer, Comcast Spectacor will upgrade the main concourse and seats on that level, possibly adding food concessions, and brightening the area as fans enter the arena.
In the summer of 2020, the “event level” — the area underneath the main concourse — will be upgraded. This is expected to include the court-side and rink-side suites that Comcast Spectacor says will not obstruct the view of other fans. These suites will be wedged into the arena underneath the existing seats. From these suites, fans could enter a pod of court- or rink-side seats to watch the game. Similar seating closer to the action is available at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City for the Utah Jazz and the Air Canada Centre in Toronto for the Raptors.
This project will make Wells Fargo Arena the latest major indoor sports venue to undergo a major overhaul. In the NHL, The St. Louis Blues are expected to continue with a multi-phase upgrade to the Scottrade Center, while Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and Atlanta’s Philips Arena are among the NBA facilities that will undergo renovations this summer, and Washington’s Capital One Arena will receive changes that affect the fan experience for both NBA and NHL games. Wells Fargo Arena (originally known as CoreStates Center) opened as the home of the Flyers and 76ers in 1996.