Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)

For other uses of "Wells Fargo Center", see Wells Fargo Center.
"Wachovia Center" redirects here. For the Winston-Salem, North Carolina building, see 100 North Main Street.
Wells Fargo Center
Wells Fargo Center logo
Former names CoreStates Center
(1996–1998)[1]
First Union Center
(1998–2003)[1]
Wachovia Center
(2003–2010)[1]
Location 3601 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. 19148
Coordinates 39°54′4″N 75°10′19″W / 39.90111°N 75.17194°W / 39.90111; -75.17194Coordinates: 39°54′4″N 75°10′19″W / 39.90111°N 75.17194°W / 39.90111; -75.17194
Public transit

AT&T Station:

  Broad Street Line
Owner Comcast Spectacor
Operator Global Spectrum
Capacity Basketball: 21,600[2]
Hockey: 19,543,[1]
Pro Wrestling: 19,514
Arena football: 17,597
Concert: 19,500
Construction
Broke ground September 14, 1994
Opened August 13, 1996[3]
Construction cost $210 million
($317 million in 2016 dollars[4])
Architect Ellerbe Becket
Project manager Fox Management Company[1]
Structural engineer Walter P Moore/Bernard Schwartz & Associates[5]
Services engineer Flack & Kurtz[6]
General contractor L.F. Driscoll Co.[7]
Tenants
Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) (1996–present)
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) (1996–present)
Villanova Wildcats (NCAA) (1996–present)
Philadelphia Soul (AFL) (2004–2008, 2011–present)
Philadelphia Wings (NLL) (1997–2014)

The Wells Fargo Center[8][9] (Spectrum II (prior to construction), formerly the CoreStates Center, First Union Center and Wachovia Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It is the home arena of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, and the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League.

The Wells Fargo Center was completed in 1996 to replace the Spectrum as the home arena of the Flyers and 76ers, on the former site of John F. Kennedy Stadium (originally Philadelphia Municipal Stadium) at a cost of $210 million, largely 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, and is operated by its arena-management subsidiary, Global Spectrum.

The Wells Fargo Center lies at the southwest corner of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and Xfinity Live!.

Naming rights

The Wells Fargo Center as the Wachovia Center

Before its construction, the proposed arena was tentatively called "Spectrum II".[10] The Wells Fargo Center was originally named for CoreStates Bank, which agreed to pay $40 million over 21 years for the naming rights, with additional terms to be settled later for an additional eight-year period at the end of the contract.

However, the contract has gone through multiple hands due to various bank mergers; first by First Union Bank in 1998, Wachovia in 2003, and currently by Wells Fargo in July 2010.[8][9][11] Installation of the new Wells Fargo Center branding began on July 27, 2010, with the removal of the Wachovia Center signage, followed by the installation of the new Wells Fargo Center signage. Work was completed in September 2010.[12]

Beginning in the 2015–16 NBA season, the 76ers ceased recognizing Wells Fargo's naming rights and referred to the facility exclusively as "The Center", as the institution is not a sponsor of the team. The Wells Fargo Center logo decal which sits on the 76ers court was in the most minimal text discernible by television cameras, colored in white to blend in with the floor (Reportedly, 76ers CEO Scott O'Neil's first idea was to color it with invisible ink, with blacklights showcasing the logo during the opening of Sixers games; however, the team, after discussion with their lawyers, elected not to do so.) However, as of January 2016, despite the Sixers signing a new sponsorship with Firstrust Bank, the logo decal was made more visible and recolored with black ink. [13][14][15][16]

Facilities

Wells Fargo Center prior to a 76ers game on the old floor design.

The Wells Fargo Center officially seats 20,318 for NBA and NCAA basketball and 19,541 for NHL hockey[1] and indoor NLL lacrosse. With additional standing-room admissions available in luxury and club-box suites, the total paid capacity increases. The Wells Fargo Center has 126 luxury suites, 1,880 club-box seats, and a variety of restaurants and clubs (both public and private) available for use by patrons. In addition, the offices, studios, and production facilities of NBC Sports affiliate Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia are all located in the facility.

Flyers fans leaving Wells Fargo Center after Playoff Game in 2010.

On June 10, 2005, the Wells Fargo Center set a record for the highest attendance for an indoor hockey game in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania (20,103) when the Philadelphia Phantoms won Game 4 of the 2005 Calder Cup Finals over the Chicago Wolves to win the Calder Cup. The attendance record was broken on June 9, 2010, as the Wells Fargo Center set another attendance record of 20,327 for Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals; the Flyers lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime, which gave Chicago its first Stanley Cup since 1961.[17] The Wells Fargo 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.[18]

On August 1, 2006, Comcast Spectacor announced it would install a new center-hung scoreboard to replace the original one made by Daktronics. The new scoreboard, manufactured by ANC Sports, is similar to other scoreboards in new NBA & NHL arenas. An additional linear LED display lining the entire arena was also installed between the suite and mezzanine levels. Other renovations for the Wells Fargo Center's ten-year anniversary included upgrading the suites with more flat screen HDTV's, as well as changing ticket providers from Ticketmaster to New Era Tickets, which is owned by Comcast Spectacor.

The PA announcer at the Wells Fargo Center for Flyers games is Lou Nolan, who moved with the team from the Spectrum, where he worked since 1972. Matt Cord is the PA announcer for 76ers games. Jim Bachman is the PA announcer for Villanova basketball games. Kevin Casey handled PA duties for the Philadelphia Wings during their tenure.

Concerts

Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel sellout banners hanging in the rafters

The arena has a concert seating capacity of 21,000 seated and at least 21,499 standing.

In addition, hanging from the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center are two banners in the orange and black colors of the Flyers honoring both Billy Joel's 48 Philadelphia sellouts and Bruce Springsteen's 53 Philadelphia sellouts respectively.

Tenants

The Flyers playing the New Jersey Devils at the Wells Fargo Center

Full time

Part time

Former full time

Former part time

Capacity

The capacity for 76ers games has gone as followed:

The capacity for Flyers games has gone as followed:

Notable events

Wells Fargo Center prior to a Flyers game against the New York Islanders.

Sports

Television

The AHL Phantoms winning the 2005 Calder Cup before an SRO crowd of 20,103 on June 10, 2005

Politics

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2014-2015 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide" (PDF). National Hockey League. p. 10. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.insidearenas.com/eastern/WellsFargoCenter.htm
  3. 1 2 "Wells Fargo Center History". Wachovia Center Official Website. Comcast Spectacor, L.P. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Case Histories" (PDF). Chance Civil Construction. May 8, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ Lampert-Greaux, Ellen (May 1, 1997). "CoreStates Center: The New Home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers Mixes Sports and Entertainment in a High-Tech Setting". TCI. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  7. ↑ "The Wachovia Center". LF Driscoll Co. 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Seravalli, Frank (July 2, 2010). "It's Officially the Wells Fargo Center". The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Holdings). Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  9. 1 2 O'Brien, James (July 2, 2010). "Flyers' Arena Undergoes Name Change from Wachovia to Wells Fargo Center". NBC Sports. NBC Universal. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  10. ↑ Ford, Bob; McCoy, Craig; Macnow, Glen (November 30, 1993). "Spectrum II In Peril Again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ "The Building the Flyers and Sixers Play in" Prepares for Yet Another New Name". February 12, 2010. The700Level.com. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  12. ↑ DiStefano, Joseph N. (July 28, 2010). "PhillyDeals: Sixers-Flyers Arena Gets a New Name—Again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Sixers Decide To No Longer Refer To Home Arena As The Wells Fargo Center". Associated Press. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Sixers take passive-aggressive shot at Wells Fargo with logo placement on court
  15. ↑ Sixers enlarge Wells Fargo logo on court
  16. ↑ Firstrust Bank looks past 76ers’ Wells Fargo arena deal in new sponsorship
  17. ↑ "Flyers Break Single-Season Attendance Record". National Hockey League. June 9, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Connecticut vs. Villanova - Box Score". ESPN. February 13, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Guns N'Roses Tour Canceled after Philadelphia Debacle". Billboard (AllBusiness.com). December 21, 2002. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Wells Fargo Center Celebrates 15 Years". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 30, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  21. 1 2 Eichel, Larry (December 29, 2002). "Attendance dips for Flyers, 76ers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  22. ↑ Juliano, Joe (December 12, 2006). "76ers Playing Transition Game Empty: A.I.'s Things are Gone, but Losing Streak Continues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  23. ↑ Gabriel, Kerith (October 27, 2010). "Visit by Heat's James, Wade, and Bosh Makes Opener a Hot Ticket". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  24. ↑ Blockus, Gary R. (October 6, 1996). "Flyers Get Robbed Again By Vanbiesbrouck The Beezer Turns Away 31 Shots To Break In 'The Vault'". The Morning Call (Allentown). Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  25. ↑ Moran, Edward (April 21, 1997). "Quiet A Difference In The Arenas It's Same Fans, But Just Not As Loud". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  26. ↑ "2003 National Hockey League Franchise Directory". SportsBusiness Journal. September 29, 2003. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  27. ↑ Carchidi, Sam (January 12, 2009). "Biron Regaining His Playoff Touch". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  28. ↑ "NCAA taps Pa. for 2013, 2014 championship games". The Seattle Times. July 13, 2010.

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