$15 million upgrade of Live! plaza will create a brand-new destination for festivals, sports watching, and community events in the heart of Philadelphia’s beloved Sports Complex
PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 13, 2024) – The Cordish Companies and Comcast Spectacor today unveiled their vision for a $15 million upgrade to Xfinity Live! and surrounding community plaza in the heart of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The expansion includes external and internal elements of Xfinity Live!, with a special focus on transforming the Live! plaza into a central two-story building featuring an upscale rooftop oasis, AVA Rooftop Bar.
Renderings can be downloaded here.
“We are proud to continue investing in South Philadelphia to create an unparalleled experience for guests and fans,” said Blake Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies. “This investment reflects our commitment to create a gathering space for festivals, sports viewing, and community events unlike anything in the area. We look forward to offering an enhanced experience that will continue to make Xfinity Live! the heart of Philadelphia’s Sports Complex for years to come.”
“The Xfinity Live! expansion is the final step in our recent efforts to enhance the Wells Fargo Center and Sports Complex and is a precursor to our broader project to create a world-class, year-round sports and entertainment district,” said Phil Laws, Chief Operating Officer, Wells Fargo Center.
“The Sports Complex is a unique destination that is home to all of Philadelphia’s professional teams, and this is a natural next step in its evolution that will create more gathering spaces for visitors for a variety of events. We are confident this project will be a keystone for Philadelphia’s continued growth.”
Xfinity Live! Updates
Xfinity Live! Plaza will include the following updates:
- Open-air Beer Garden perfect for social gatherings
- Crush Bar featuring a variety of refreshing hand-squeezed Crush drinks
- Major expansion of PBR Cowboy Bar, with an outdoor backyard area featuring a stage and new bar offerings
- Upgraded turf area, providing a versatile space for various activities and community activations
- Dedicated area to host rotating local Philadelphia food trucks
- State-of-the-art AV, including LED screens for dynamic sports watching
- Public art installations integrated throughout the plaza creating a sense of community to the upgraded space
In addition to the plaza, Xfinity Live! itself is undergoing substantial improvements, the first of which is the recent $2 million expansion of Broad Street Bullies Pub into the NBC Sports Arena. The renovated space, which includes an expansion of Chickie & Pete’s, additional LED screens, a new indoor/outdoor bar, and a major outdoor patio renovation adjacent to Citizens Bank Park, is now open.
“We are thrilled to unveil our vision for the new community plaza and continue interior upgrades at Xfinity Live!,” said Erin Seifert, Director of Operations for Xfinity Live!. “The expanded plaza at Xfinity Live! will serve as a central hub for the Sports Complex, with new offerings such as an open-air beer garden, enhanced bar space, and outdoor gathering areas. We look forward to welcoming more guests and fans than ever before.”
The partnership is proud to have exceeded MWBE thresholds for minority and local participation during the construction of Xfinity Live!, achieving a 45 percent contracting diversity percentage, and is committed to the same during the upgrades to the interior, exterior and plaza areas. In addition to Xfinity Live!, The Cordish Companies has invested over $800 million in the Philadelphia Sports Complex with the opening of its Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia in 2021, reaching 51 percent MWBE participation during construction.
Xfinity Live! updates are already underway, and the full project is anticipated to be completed in early 2026. The facility will remain open throughout construction.
