Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)

Wells Fargo Center

Wells Fargo Center in 2019
Wells Fargo Center Location of the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia Show map of Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Wells Fargo Center Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Former names	CoreStates Center (1996–1998)[1] First Union Center (1998–2003)[1] Wachovia Center (2003–2010)[2]
Address	3601 South Broad Street
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	39°54′4″N 75°10′19″W / 39.90111°N 75.17194°W / 39.90111; -75.17194
Public transit	Broad Street Line NRG SEPTA bus: 4, 17
Owner	Comcast Spectacor
Operator	Oak View Group
Capacity	Basketball: 21,000 Hockey: 19,173[3] Arena football: 17,597[4]
Construction
Broke ground	September 14, 1994
Opened	August 12, 1996[9]
Construction cost	US$210 million ($432 million in 2023 dollars[5])
Architect	Ellerbe Becket
Project manager	Fox Management Company[1]
Structural engineer	Walter P Moore Bernard Schwartz & Associates [6]
Services engineer	Flack & Kurtz[7]
General contractor	L.F. Driscoll Co.[8]
Tenants
Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) (1996–present) Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) (1996–present) Villanova Wildcats (NCAA) (1996–present)[note 1] Philadelphia Big 5 (NCAA) (2023-present) Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) (1996–2009)[note 2] Philadelphia Wings (NLL) (1997–2014, 2018–present) Philadelphia Soul (AFL) (2004–2008, 2011–2019)
Website
wellsfargocenterphilly.com

The Wells Fargo Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia. It serves as the home of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The arena lies at the southwest corner of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and Xfinity Live!.

The Wells Fargo Center, originally called Spectrum II, was completed in 1996 to replace the Spectrum as the home arena of the 76ers and Flyers, on the former site of John F. Kennedy 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. Since opening, it has been known by a number of different names through naming rights deals and bank mergers, including CoreStates Center from 1996 to 1998, First Union Center from 1998 to 2003, and Wachovia Center from 2003 to 2010. Since 2010, naming rights have been held by financial services company Wells Fargo, after their acquisition of Wachovia. CoreStates Financial Corporation was acquired by First Union, which later also purchased Wachovia National Bank to rename itself Wachovia Corporation; the combined company was acquired by Wells Fargo in 2008.

In addition to hosting home games for its main tenants, the arena has been the site of a number of other notable athletic events including games of the 1997 and 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, three games of the 2001 NBA Finals, and various collegiate events for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Wells Fargo Center has hosted two political conventions, hosting the 2000 Republican National Convention and 2016 Democratic National Convention. The arena is a regular venue for concerts and WWE events. The arena has a concert seating capacity of 21,000 seated and at least 21,500 standing.

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