Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies Announce $50 Million, Next-Generation Esports Arena in the Heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex
Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies today announced plans for a $50 million, next-generation esports and entertainment venue in the heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies today announced plans for a
$50 million, next-generation esports and entertainment venue in the
heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex. Adjacent to Xfinity Live!, the
first-of-its-kind venue will seat up to 3,500 guests and stand as the
largest new-construction, purpose-built esports arena in the Western
Hemisphere. Its primary tenant, the Philadelphia Fusion esports
franchise, is one of 20 international teams competing in the Overwatch
League. In addition to serving as a premiere destination for competitive
gaming events, Fusion Arena will also host a variety of live
entertainment programming and experiences.
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An exterior rendering of Fusion Arena, a 3500-seat esports venue coming to the Philadelphia Sports Complex. Credit: Comcast Spectacor/The Cordish Companies/Populous
To view and/or download high-resolution renderings and overview video click
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“We’re thrilled to introduce a venue like no other as we move forward
with the next phase of development within the Philadelphia Sports
Complex,” said Dave Scott, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Spectacor. “Fusion
Arena gives esports fans a best-in-class venue to call home and be proud
of. Beyond competitive gaming, it’s a stunning facility that will host a
wide array of events.”
“It is a tremendous honor for The Cordish Companies to grow its
partnership with Comcast Spectacor and bring a state-of-the-art,
world-class esports and entertainment venue to the heart of the
Philadelphia Sports Complex,” said Blake Cordish, Principal of The
Cordish Companies. “Fusion Arena will set the gold standard for
competitive gaming and debut on one of the country’s most exciting
platforms of sports and entertainment amid Philadelphia’s professional
sports teams. Today’s announcement marks an exciting moment for the
Comcast Spectacor-Cordish partnership as the next phase of Xfinity Live!
continues to unfold.”
Designed by Populous,
an architecture firm with deep experience in the fast-growing esports
space, Fusion Arena will boast 60,000 square feet of new construction,
featuring a stunning and futuristic design throughout. Construction is
set to begin this summer.
“Fusion Arena represents a watershed moment for the competitive gaming
market,” said Populous Senior Principal Brian Mirakian. “We’re taking
our 35 years of designing iconic experiences for traditional sports –
settings like Yankee Stadium – and applying those same principles of
design to the virtual world of gaming.”
Eliciting the venue’s first wow is the arena’s exterior, a sleek and
dynamic skin that draws inspiration from the hardware powering esports’
meteoric rise around the globe. The incorporation of industrial
materials throughout Fusion Arena’s design pays tribute to
Philadelphia’s heritage as the “workshop of the world.” A captivating
6,000-square-foot public entry will greet guests as they enter the space
and includes 2,000 square feet of interactive media surface hovering 30
feet above them.
The technologically-advanced arena will offer unique seating experiences
including two balcony bars, club seats with USB ports, flexible loge
boxes and exclusive suites. Additionally, nearly 10,000 square feet will
be dedicated to a training facility, broadcast studio and team offices.
The training facility in particular separates the Fusion from the pack,
offering unrivaled experiences and development opportunities for players.
“We are thrilled to bring this ambitious idea to life and celebrate the
arrival of Fusion Arena with gaming enthusiasts throughout the region
and beyond,” said Joe Marsh, Chief Business Officer of Spectacor Gaming
and the Philadelphia Fusion. “This project places esports alongside all
the major traditional sports that call South Philadelphia home.”
Details for Fusion Arena arrive at an exciting time as the Wells Fargo
Center is in the midst of “Transformation
2020,” an extensive, multi-year $250 million renovation initiative.
Fusion Arena adds $50 million of new development within Philadelphia’s
Sports Complex, complementing a transformed Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln
Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park.
Fusion Arena is the second of several announcements surrounding Comcast
Spectacor and The Cordish Companies’ real estate development within the
Philadelphia Sports Complex, adjacent to Xfinity Live!. In February, the
partnership announced plans for Pattison
Place, an $80 million, new construction Class-A office tower. Since
opening in 2012, Xfinity Live! has been a prominent dining,
entertainment and hospitality anchor for the region, dramatically
changing the fan experience for Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and 76ers fans,
as well as out of town guests. Welcoming millions of visitors a year,
Xfinity Live! has energized the Philadelphia Sports Complex via
year-round events and experiences including concerts, festivals, family
fun days, community functions, charity events, and watch parties.
For more information, please visit www.fusionarenaphilly.com.
About Comcast Spectacor
Comcast Spectacor is a professional sports and live entertainment
company that is part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and
technology leader that operates Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal and Sky.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the
Wells Fargo Center arena and complex, as well as a portfolio of
professional sports teams that includes the National Hockey League’s
Philadelphia Flyers, the Overwatch League’s Philadelphia Fusion, the
National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings and the Maine Mariners of
the ECHL. Comcast Spectacor also holds strategic interest in several
partner companies spanning the sports and entertainment landscape,
including Spectra, Learfield IMG College, Xfinity Live! Philadelphia and
N3rd Street Gamers. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com
for more information.
About The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four
generations of privately-held, family ownership. During the past ten
decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in
Commercial Real Estate; Entertainment Districts; Sports-Anchored
Developments; Gaming; Hotels; Residential Properties; Restaurants;
International Development; Coworking Spaces; and Private Equity. One of
the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish
Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute
Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique
significance to the cities in which they are located. The Cordish
Companies has developed and operates highly acclaimed dining,
entertainment and hospitality destinations throughout the United States,
many falling under The Cordish Companies’ Live! Brand, highly regarded
as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. Welcoming
over 50 million visitors per year, these developments are among the
highest profile dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored
destinations in the country. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies
has remained true to the family’s core values of quality,
entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships and integrity.
As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The
Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has
created. For more information visit www.cordish.com
or follow us on Twitter.
“The Cordish Companies,” “The Cordish Company” and “Cordish” are
trademarks used under license by independent corporations, legal
liability companies and partnerships (“Cordish Entities”). Each Cordish
Entity is a separate, single-purpose legal entity that is solely
responsible for its obligations and liabilities. No common operations or
financial interdependency, and no intermingling of assets or liabilities
of the Cordish Entities exists, or should be deemed to exist, as a
result of the potential common reference to multiple independent
entities operating under the names “Cordish,” “The Cordish Companies” or
“The Cordish Company” here or elsewhere.
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