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The arena, originally called Spectrum II during planning, 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. 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, Wachovia Center from 2003 to 2010, and Wells Fargo Center from 2010 to 2025. Naming rights were originally held by CoreStates Financial Corporation, which 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.
On January 12, 2025, Comcast Spectacor, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and the City of Philadelphia announced a deal to replace the arena with a new $1.3 billion privately financed arena to open by 2031. Comcast Spectacor and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment will jointly own the new arena. Demolition will follow once the new project is complete.
The arena, then named Wachovia Center, in December 2005
Prior to its construction, the proposed arena was tentatively called "Spectrum II".[10] The arena was originally named for locally based CoreStates Financial Corporation, 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.
The contract then went through multiple hands due to various bank mergers; first by First Union in 1998, Wachovia in 2003, and finally by Wells Fargo since July 2010.[11][12][13] 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.[14]
During the 2015–16 NBA season for a short time, the 76ers ceased recognizing Wells Fargo's naming rights and referred to the facility exclusively as "The Center", as the institution was not a sponsor of the team. The Wells Fargo Center logo decal which sat 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 clear-coat paint only visible with UV blacklighting showing the logo during the opening of Sixers games when the arena lights were drawn down; however, the team, after discussion with their lawyers, elected not to do so.) With the start of the new year in January 2016 with input from Comcast Spectacor, the logo decal was enlarged and repainted in black. The 76ers then signed a non-signage sponsorship agreement with Firstrust Bank as their official banking sponsor.[15][16][17][18]
On July 24, 2024, Wells Fargo announced that it would not renew its naming rights deal once it expired in August 2025.[19] On May 6, 2025, Comcast Spectacor and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment announced the arena's new name would be Xfinity Mobile Arena, and lasting through the 2030–2031 season.[20]Xfinity Mobile is a service of Xfinity, a subsidiary of Comcast. The name change was made official on August 14, 2025.
The arena officially seats 21,000 for NBA and NCAAbasketball and 19,173 for NHL hockey and indoor NLL lacrosse. With additional standing-room admissions available in luxury and club-box suites, the total paid capacity increases. The arena 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 Philadelphia are all located in the facility.
On June 10, 2005, the arena 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 arena 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.[21] The arena also set a record for the highest attendances for a college basketball game in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania on January 29, 2017, when Villanova played and defeated Virginia before a crowd of 20,907.
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 arena'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 public address (PA) announcer at the arena 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. Vinnie Caligiuri was the PA announcer for the Philadelphia Soul during their tenure.[22] Kevin Casey handled PA duties for the original Philadelphia Wings during their tenure. Marc Farzetta is the PA announcer for the current Philadelphia Wings.[23]
The arena continued further renovations as part of a $265 million "Transformation 2020" initiative. It debuted a new kinetic 4K-resolution scoreboard in September 2019 also by ANC Sports, which features two main arrays of outside displays that can expand outwards to a width of 62 feet (19 m), and two 65 foot (20 m) "crown" panels that can be raised and lowered as part of sequences. The arena also unveiled a new premium area for selected ticketholders known as the "Center City Club", and—as part of a partnership with Rivers Casino Philadelphia—two sportsbook lounges open to all visitors, which will feature a bar and seating areas, televisions and odds boards, and Rivers Casino ambassadors promoting use of the casino's sports bettingapp.[24][25][26][27]
The arena also announced the New City Terrace, a revamp of the standing room deck into a 23,000 square foot (2,100 m2) "Assembly Room" (inspired by Independence Hall), with bars and eateries, fireplaces, and communal areas. The area is designed to provide a "first-class experience at an accessible price point"; the arena's cheapest tickets will feature access to the level.[28][29]
On August 12, 1996, a private concert by Ray Charles was the first event at the arena, with a crowd of nearly 12,000. Each spectator was given a commemorative key acknowledging they helped "open the arena". The inaugural concert, on September 2, 1996, featured Oasis, with The Manic Street Preachers and Screaming Trees, before an estimated crowd of 12,000.[9] The arena has since held other concerts by many famous artists.
On December 6, 2002, hard rock band Guns N' Roses was scheduled to perform there on its Chinese Democracy Tour. The opening bands CKY and Mix Master Mike performed, but Guns N' Roses never appeared, fueling a riot in the arena and causing about $30,000 to $40,000 in damage. No reason was ever given for the non-appearance by Guns N' Roses, other than the public announcement that one of the band members was ill.[30]
In 2006, Billy Joel set a record when he sold-out his 18th concert at the arena.[31]
In 2016, American rock band Pearl Jam played two shows, during which they were awarded a banner for ten sell out shows. This then prompted the band on the second night to play their debut album Ten from start to finish.
In addition, hanging from the rafters of the arena are three banners in the orange and black colors of the Flyers honoring Pearl Jam's 10, Billy Joel's 48, and Bruce Springsteen's 56[32] Philadelphia sellouts, respectively.
Big 5 Classic; The men's iteration of the tournament featuring the six members of the Philadelphia Big 5 is held annually at the arena on the first Saturday of December.
Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL); the Flyers' AHL development club played some regular season and Calder Cup playoff games at the arena each season between 1996 and 2009 when the Spectrum was unavailable because of other events.
^Villanova utilized the venue full-time 2017–2018, part-time in other years.
^Phantoms utilized the venue full-time 2004–2005, part-time in other years.
^The first iteration of the Wings used the venue full-time from 1997 until their relocation in 2014. The current iteration of the franchise has used the venue since 2018.
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