Wells Fargo Center to Resume $300 Million Transformation Project
One of the things that fell by the wayside during the COVID-19 pandemic was that the Wells Fargo Center was in the middle of a huge transformation project. Massive upgrades throughout.
The concourses were redone and upper level completely switched up, with the new Revolutionary Row and standing-room area added to the mix. The food offerings were updated and upgraded and that gargantuan scoreboard was installed.
We got a press release from Comcast, the building owner, informing us that the transformation project is now resuming. It reads, in part:
After pausing construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Comcast Spectacor announced today that it has resumed the Wells Fargo Center’s $300 million, multi-year Transformation project. The project supports hundreds of jobs in South Philadelphia and throughout the region and will ensure that Wells Fargo Center remains a world-class, top-of-the-line venue for hockey, basketball, concerts, and more for decades into the future. The Transformation project, which began in 2016, is approximately two-thirds complete, with nearly $100 million of work still ahead.
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The next phase of the building enhancements, which started this month, will overhaul the Club Level, beginning with the installation of upgraded, brand-new guest seating, to be completed by Fall 2021.Because the pandemic dramatically shortened the NHL and NBA off-seasons, more enhancements, including upgrades to the building’s exterior façade, exciting new food and beverage options, remodeled and modernized entrances, and more will begin next summer.
The Wells Fargo Center Transformation project has already been a significant economic driver for South Philadelphia and the entire region, supporting local businesses and hundreds of jobs. The project also serves as a critical, long-term investment in the one-of-a-kind South Philadelphia Stadium District, home to the city’s three major sports and entertainment venues. The Stadium District is the product of decades of continued investment, and boasts significant supporting infrastructure, including highway and mass transit access, strong neighborhood engagement, and future development opportunities that are impossible to replicate.
Over the last year, Wells Fargo Center has also undergone a comprehensive health and safety transformation. Earlier this year, the venue was awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, a widely-respected, evidence-based, third-party-verified rating of the venue’s health and safety protocols. The arena also recently completed an $11 million replacement of its HVAC systems, installing a new, state-of-the-art air filtration system that replaces all the air in the arena’s seating bowl every 30 minutes.
Comcast says the initial phase of the Club Level rework is expected to be done by this Fall. The seating revamp is set to debut next season, and then the project shifts to the floor plan upgrades and “amenity advancements” next summer.
Last March, just before COVID shut everything down, Comcast put out this video providing us with a flythrough of what the new club level will look like: