Wells Fargo Center will operate under the new name of Xfinity Mobile Arena following the conclusion of a sponsorship deal for the current home of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.
Under the deal announced by Comcast Spectacor, which owns the arena and the Flyers, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), which owns the Sixers, the Xfinity Mobile partnership will begin on September 1, with installation of new signage to be revealed on the following day.
The partnership will run through the 2030-2031 season and include exterior branding, interior digital signage, inclusion in advertising, branded WiFi, hospitality and official partnerships with both teams.
Owned by Comcast Spectacor’s parent company, media corporation Comcast, Xfinity Mobile is one of the fastest-growing wireless services in the US and was first launched in Philadelphia in 2017. As part of the partnership with Comcast Spectacor and HBSE, Xfinity Mobile will bring “cutting-edge WiFi capabilities” to the arena.
The arena took on its current moniker in 2010, when financial services company Wells Fargo merged with previous naming rights-holder, Wachovia. Wells Fargo announced in July that it would not seek to extend its deal.
After the completion of its multi-year $400m (£299.9m/€352.1m) transformation last year, every inch of the venue, which first opened in 1996 has been completely reimagined. The project produced full upgrades and overhauls to the fan experience, technology, food and beverage, seating options, performer amenities, sightlines, and sustainability.
“This arena is an anchor in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and broader region,” said Dan Hilferty, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor.
“As we complete our historic relationship with Wells Fargo, we wanted to ensure that our new partner matched our enthusiasm for delivering world-class service to our fans and guests. We are committed to continuing investing in our venue to ensure we’re at the forefront of technology, innovation, and cutting-edge fan experiences.”
The Xfinity Mobile deal comes with HBSE and Comcast Spectacor pursuing a new arena. In January, HBSE and the Sixers abandoned plans to build a downtown arena after striking a deal with Comcast Spectacor to develop a new facility in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
The Sixers had been planning a new $1.3bn arena, provisionally dubbed 76 Place, and in December the team had received the green light to proceed with the project after Philadelphia City Council gave a final 12-5 vote on bills to approve the scheme.
HBSE and Comcast Spectacor’s subsequent binding agreement resulted in a 50-50 joint venture to build a “world-class, state-of-the-art arena” in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex that would serve as the new home of both the Sixers and the Flyers.
The arena is slated to open for the 2031-32 season, with HBSE and Comcast Spectacor stating it will be “one of the finest, most technologically advanced, and sustainable” sports and entertainment arenas in the US. Comcast is due to hold naming rights to the future venue.
Commenting on the Xfinity Mobile deal, Tad Brown, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and HBSE, said: “Alongside our partners at Comcast and Comcast Spectacor, we have a shared vision of strengthening the home court advantage in South Philadelphia, and this announcement is another step in an exciting new chapter together.
“Xfinity Mobile Arena will offer fans enhanced connectivity and high-speed capabilities to maximise their in-arena experience. By focusing on new and emerging technology, Xfinity Mobile Arena will allow fans to create incredible memories at games, concerts and live events in the future.”
