Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)
The Wells Fargo Center[1][2] is a multi-use indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was called Spectrum II before it was built. It has previously been called the CoreStates Center, First Union Center and Wachovia Center.
The Wells Fargo Center is the home arena of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League, and the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. The Center was finished in 1996 to replace the Spectrum as the home arena of the Flyers, 76ers, and Wings. It was built on the former site of John F. Kennedy Stadium (originally Philadelphia Municipal Stadium). The cost of it was $210 million, and it was mostly privately financed (though the city and state helped to pay for the local infrastructure). It is owned by Comcast Spectacor, which also owns the Flyers. Global Spectrum operates the arena. Comcast Spectacor also owns Global Spectrum.
The Wells Fargo Center is at the southwest corner of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Some of the buildings there are Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and Xfinity Live!.
Facilities
The Center officially seats 20,318 for NBA and NCAA basketball games and 19,537 for NHL hockey and indoor ("box") NLL lacrosse. With more standing-room areas available in luxury and club-box suites, the total paid capacity is actually more than that. The Center has 126 luxury suites, 1,880 club-box seats, and a many restaurants and clubs (both public and private) available for use by patrons. The offices, studios, and production facilities of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia are all located in the facility.
On June 9, 2010, the Center set the record for the highest attendance for an indoor hockey game in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania (20,327) when the Flyers lost Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals to the Chicago Blackhawks.[3] The Center also set a record for the highest attendances for a college basketball game in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania on February 13, 2006, when Villanova University played and defeated the #1 ranked University of Connecticut before a crowd of 20,859.[4]
On August 1, 2006, Comcast Spectacor announced it would add a new center-hung scoreboard to replace the original one made by Daktronics. The new scoreboard, manufactured by ANC Sports is like other scoreboards in new NBA & NHL arenas. Another linear LED display lining the entire arena was also added between the suite and mezzanine levels. Other renovations for the Center's ten-year anniversary included upgrading the suites with more flat screen TV's, as well as changing ticket providers from Ticketmaster to New Era Tickets, which is owned by Comcast Spectacor.
The PA announcer at the Center for Flyers games is Lou Nolan, who moved with the team from the Spectrum, where he has worked since 1972. Matt Cord is the PA announcer for 76ers games. Jim Bachman is the PA announcer for Villanova basketball games. Kevin Casey handles PA duties for the Philadelphia Wings.
Tenants
Full time
- Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL
- Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA
- Philadelphia Wings of the NLL
- Philadelphia Soul of the AFL
Part time
- Villanova University Wildcats of the NCAA Big East Conference; some big men's basketball home games which the on-campus arena, The Pavilion, is inadequate to use.
Former part time
- Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL); the Flyers' AHL development club played some regular season and Calder Cup playoff games at the Center each season between 1996 and 2009 when the Spectrum was unavailable because of other events.
- Philadelphia Soul of the original AFL; split games between the Center and the Spectrum between 2004 and 2008. The AFL folded in 2009. The Soul returned in 2011 (see above).
Capacity
The capacity for 76ers games:
The capacity for Flyers games:
Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia) Media
Wells Fargo Center - 2019 OWL Grand Finals
The Wells Fargo Center, then named the Wachovia Center, in December 2005
Philadelphia Flyers fans leaving the Wachovia Center after a playoff game in 2010
Rink-side view of the Wells Fargo Center's hockey rink during a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2018
The Flyers playing the New Jersey Devils at the Wells Fargo Center in March 2014
The 76ers playing the Los Angeles Lakers at the Wells Fargo Center in December 2016
Villanova Wildcats' 1985 and 2016 NCAA national championship banners on display in the Wells Fargo Center rafters; the Wildcats play select home games at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Villanova Wildcats playing the Ohio Bobcats at the Wells Fargo Center in November 2019
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References
- ↑ Seravalli, Frank (July 2, 2010). It's Officially the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia Media Holdings. http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/97648719.html. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ↑ O'Brien, James (July 2, 2010). "Flyers' Arena Undergoes Name Change from Wachovia to Wells Fargo Center". NBC Sports. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Flyers Break Single-Season Attendance Record". National Hockey League. June 9, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- ↑ "Connecticut vs. Villanova - Box Score". ESPN. February 13, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Eichel, Larry (December 29, 2002). Attendance dips for Flyers, 76ers. http://articles.philly.com/2002-12-29/sports/25359687_1_sixers-comcast-spectacor-ventures-first-union-center/2. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ Juliano, Joe (December 12, 2006). 76ers Playing Transition Game Empty: A.I.'s Things are Gone, but Losing Streak Continues. http://articles.philly.com/2006-12-12/sports/25398740_1_sixers-locker-allen-iverson. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ Gabriel, Kerith (October 27, 2010). Visit by Heat's James, Wade, and Bosh Makes Opener a Hot Ticket. http://articles.philly.com/2010-10-27/sports/24953008_1_stubhub-sixers-hot-ticket. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ Blockus, Gary R. (October 6, 1996). Flyers Get Robbed Again By Vanbiesbrouck The Beezer Turns Away 31 Shots To Break In `The Vault'. Allentown. http://articles.mcall.com/1996-10-06/sports/3125333_1_john-vanbiesbrouck-eric-desjardins-center-ice. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ Moran, Edward (April 21, 1997). Quiet A Difference In The Arenas It's Same Fans, But Just Not As Loud. http://articles.philly.com/1997-04-21/sports/25532291_1_lower-bowl-luxury-seating-fan. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ 2003 National Hockey League Franchise Directory. September 29, 2003. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/09/20030929/Special-Report/2003-National-Hockey-League-Franchise-Directory.aspx. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ Carchidi, Sam (January 12, 2009). Biron Regaining His Playoff Touch. http://articles.philly.com/2009-01-12/sports/25279656_1_defenseman-braydon-coburn-flyers-figure-penguins-coach-michel-therrien. Retrieved February 5, 2013.