Developer unveils $100M plan for Spectrum land
A plan to bring life to the vast asphalt desert at Philadelphia's sports complex took another step forward today when a Baltimore developer released drawings for a $100 million entertainment center connecting the Wachovia Center to Citizens Bank Park.
Developer unveils $100M plan for Spectrum land
Inga Saffron, Inquirer Architecture Critic
Architect's rendering of the Philly Live Project. Image courtesy Warren Strovel Design Collective
A plan to bring life to the vast asphalt desert at Philadelphia’s sports complex took another step forward today when a Baltimore developer released drawings for a $100 million entertainment center connecting the Wachovia Center to Citizens Bank Park.
The glitzy architectural renderings, which were presented to the city Planning Commission, showed a two-block-long, diagonal street running between the two sports venues, across the land now occupied by the Spectrum. Modeled on such destinations as Boston’s Quincy Market and Baltimore’s Power Point Live, the street would be lined with restaurants, bars and shops.
The project would replace the Spectrum, which is scheduled to be demolished early next year. It is being developed jointly by Comcast-Spectacor and the Cordish Company, the developer behind much of the nightlife at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Comments (84)
correction to article: Power Plant Live is the venue in Baltimore— rajesingh- this is dumb, cant wait for it to fail all over snyders face— PHILLYINNE
- I wonder who will be the first person shot in the parking? This things will make the Phillies much less family friendly, especially the weekend night games. Bang Bang there's another open seat on the bus.— LGbalsac
- Do they really expect people to start heading down to the stadium area when no teams are playing? Get real, this will die a slow and painful death.— catnameddomino
- I think it will be great. This will create jobs and improve the social element at the sports complex. All you complainers can stay home.— rascal b. schuylkillian
I agree - this place will be great. lots of things for everyone. It's about time we capitalize more with that space down there.
Comment removed.- Let's get started and get people to WORK!!— MJMcDevitt
- 8$ beers, overpriced junk, and lousy fast food? ... I’ll be in the parking lot with a cooler, a sandwich from Tony Luke’s, and my radio— Fed_up_with_bs
- I am jealous. I am a Phillies fan that grew up in the area and I now live in Atlanta. It is really nice to see how far that area has come. This is a wonderful venue and it will thrive. There are so, so many travelers that stay at the airport (including me when I come for business( and there hasn't been much within close proximity of the airport....this is a good opportunity for the business travelers and also the post game parties. Fans there should be grateful and look at how bad other cities are!— ROBPHI
- about time ... now 45,000 people will have something to do after a game other than sitting in traffic ... the cubs have wrigglyville, the red sox have yawkey way and the yankees have river street ... soon philly will have "philly live" ... oh well, its just a name ... great idea, but a dumb name— johnnyMo
- Less parking and more people, brilliant.— steakhead
- It will only happen if the suckers , that is , the taxpayers pick up most of the tab , like they did for the stadiums .— publius sempronius tuditanus
- Let's live up to our reputation as the best tailgaters in the country and tailgate the construction of this project!— DrexelDragonFan
- Comment removed.
- Why don't they just put one of the casinos there??? Seems like that would make a lot of people happy too.— MtAiryDweller
- agree with johnny. instead of Philly Live can we call it Dick Cheney's house of pain just to annoy Will Bunch?— beeron
- "about time ... now 45,000 people will have something to do after a game other than sitting in traffic ... the cubs have wrigglyville, the red sox have yawkey way and the yankees have river street ... soon philly will have "philly live" ... oh well, its just a name ... great idea, but a dumb name....."GOOD POINT....PHILLY NEEDS TO STOP ACTIN LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITY.....ALL THE OTHER BIG MARKET CITIES HAVE THESE DESTINATIONS AND YOU GOT THESE DOPES COMPLAINING...MOVE TO READING YOU DOPES..........— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- It COULD work, but it depends on the clientele they draw, especially at times when there are no games going on. But if it becomes a place for drunks to hang out a couple hours before/after a game, it's doomed.
- Manufactured fun full of the same chain stores and chain restaurants that serve least common denominator food in the 'burbs. The difference between this and Inner Harbor is that there's always a reason to go to Inner Harbor (Md. Science Center, harbor tours, National Aquarium, Fort McHenry, etc.), and its on the edge of the business district and historic district. There's nothing like that down in the sports complex. This will die an ugly death........ALL THESE ARMCHAIR DEVELOPERS.......THERE ARE 81 PHILLIES GAMES,TEN EAGLES GAMES, 41 SIXERS GAMES AND 41 FLYERS GAMES.....THE CITY NEEDS THE TAX BASE, JOB CREATION.— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- How about putting that Slots Parlor in Philly Live, that has the Chinatown community so up in arms? A Slots Parlor would also draw a steady stream of consumer spending, add to the state and local tax revenue and make the entertainment that much more attractive... It's too logical, so probably not politically viable...— JimmyD
- It will never happen, just like the Comcast building didn't get built :)— Philly Phorever
- I hope it is a total failure. Long live The Spectrum!— BobbyD
- Cordish is the same company that screwed the Seminole Indians in Florida.— bwalsh00
- I'll go check that out when it opens, but I hope I'm not the first person shot there...
- if you build it ... they will come— johnnyMo
- Why not add a casino...— phlyfumblr
- Once again makes me hate the fact that they didn't have enough vision to build the baseball stadium downtown. ugggh!!— BLKMD
- I think this project is a great idea.— TU Owls
- I think this project will bring someplace to go/meet before or after the game or event. To bring in people there when nothing is happening in any of the big venues, this new project needs to be a "destination" in itself. I believe the design includes a large area with a stage that might have live music. That would be great.
- I probably won't use it, but it's a good idea. people will find fault with anything.— dreinterests
Ed Snider had the Tycoon 101 blueprint. Build a sporting venue in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing, and watch the money flow right into Sniders bank account. Meanwhile center city which could have used the 250 booking nights Spectrum/Wachovia Center pretty much languished for a few decades. CBP, Wachovia Center, Spectrum all should have been built in the Center City vacinity. Its absolutely pathetic that 5 years after CBP was built its surrounded by nothing but parking lots. Egregious. Those parking lots should be filled with condos,hotels, mid rise corporate offices.Unbelievable.— argonne- Comment removed.
- i hope that Snider chokes on it— nephilly78
- Comment removed.
- I can't wait for this project to get started. You can bet this will break ground before any riverfront casino. With a venue virtually every night of the wk it will be a great attraction and competition is good, McFaddens basically has a monopoly now. I just hope they dont go crazy w/ the chain restaraunt/bars. We need some original spots that support the local brews and authentic local foods, not ready made meals shipped frozen and defrosted.— cogs_bars
- Baltimore's Power Plant Live is NOT the Inner Harbor. It's a place where people go to hangout, mostly young people. At any rate, what struck me is why is the diagonal walk between citizens Bank and the Wachovia Center? no one walks between the two. If anything, it should be between the subway stop and the FY Center and Linc. People riding the subway will take the diagonal route because it's the shortest route. People parking may also walk through here, people parking will not walk to the bank through here.— dreinterests
Great Idea...Should bring alot of much need dollars to the city, Typical philly idiots are on here to put it down as usaual.— citysims- Great Idea...Should bring alot of much need dollars to the city, Typical philly idiots are on here to put it down as usaual.— citysims
- they should definitely put the casinos there.
- Looks a lot like the Fremont Street experience in downtown Las Vegas!— david wayne
- Comment removed.
- lame— sendhelp
Families will not travel down there on non game days. So what you will end up with are drunk twenty somethings causing problems. I hope Ed Snyder looses his shirt on this one. The city lost a legitimate place for families to spend time together just so Snyder and Comcast can try to cash in and fill up their pockets even more. They both suck!— hopster- Citysims, who goes to the games at the sports center? People in the burbs, thats who. That is why there needs to be so many parking spaces. that place will not be a destination spot. it would only get used during game/event times. Although I do like the casino idea.— hopster
- It will have people before and after games and be empty otherwise. These sorts of developments in the middle of nowhere may do well in a place lacking a vibrant downtown, but who's going to pick going out to this generic creation over South St., Old City, Rittenhouse, N. Lib., Manayunk... Move a casino there with this entertainment and it might work. And it would get the casino out of another neighborhood which does not need it.— plugh
- dreinterests is unfortunately completely wrong. The Power Plant Live complex is right in the Inner Harbor area, next to the National Aquarium. Their own web site points that out. Three of their restaurants have closed for health violations this year already. The Spectrum parking lot is not the Inner Harbor or Quincy market, where there is much more than asphalt, which is all this project is replacing. Another big problem is that the two "anchors", Citizens Bank Park and the Wachovia Center, have different seasons so they are not usually open at the same time. That may be good for congestion, but it reduces the potential volume of customers per night. The drunk, obnoxious twentysomethings that these things draw is exactly what Snider wants. Lots of booze and food to sell. What does he care about your kids coming to the Phillies game? And don't kid yourself. If all else fails they have the casino lobby waiting in the wings. In fact this complex is probably set up to eventually accomodate gambling - it could be the real reason it's going up.— Bob1
- are you kidding me? Quincy Market? c'mon..qunicy market is in the heart of the historic part of boston..also, leads you right into the famous North End...it's is surrounded with history. and looks nothing like this picture..nothing. this will only lead you to packer avenue and medora's mecca
- Oh, the negativity. This would be a great area. Some of philly's top night spots and eateries will take up residence here. It will be a boardwalk of sorts. Lots of energy. Philly needs to do something like this. It needs an upscale place for folks to gather before and after games and concerts. People love the vibe of the food scene at the bank. Now they don't have to actually go there to have that game day atmosphere.— trainrdt
- bad idea— longlane06
- With the economy the way it is this will never be built. Even as the economy improves this won't happen. Once they demolish the Spectrum it will stay a vacant lot with concrete pieces on it like the Vet lot did for so many years. I guarantee that the Spectrum wouldn't have closed if they knew what the current conditions would be when they made the initial decision.— Drew777
- As I understand it, the reason you cannot build the casino there is because it is too close to the casino in Chester. Under the laws permitting the casinos, I believe that the casinos in philadelphia cannot be within 10 miles of the one in Chester. This is why they cannot use land near the airport.— rs505
- arghhhhhh im a negaldelphian. i hope it fails because ed snider is stupid and a big jerk face even though he puts his teams in a position to win every year and gives back to the community 100 times more then I will in my entire life time. I dont care how many jobs this brings to the city via contruction and the shops/resturants/attractions it will bring. NEGADELPHIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— beeron
- will never set one foot in it.— Fabiogump
- the first reasturant bar could be open by the end of the 2010 season. If the phils keep playing like this ... forget about it, its a grand slam— johnnyMo
- ugGHH PEOPLE ARE SOOOOOOOOO NEGATIVE.....WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING SOMETHING INTERESTING TO THIS CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME AND ALL WE HAVE ON HERE ARE NAYSAYERS....AND NEGATIVE NINJAS.....COULD YOU GIVE ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THE SPECTRUM....LET ME GUESS LEAVE IT OPEN IN ITS CURRENT OUTDATED MONEY LOSING STATE.... FOR YOU GENIUSES THE PHILLY LIVE STRUCTURE ISNT GOING TO BE THAT HUGE IF 10,000 THOUSAND OF THE 15-40 THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT ATTEND EVENTS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT STOP BY PHILLY LIVE IT WILL BE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO MAKE IT A SUCEESS TRUST ME PEOPLE WILL DRIVE OR TAKE THE SUBWAY DOWN THERE JUST TO GO TO PHILLY LIVE AS WELL IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE JUST COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH AND HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE NIGHT LIFE PATTERNS OF THIS CITY AND METROPOLITAIN AREA (OR ANY CITY FOR THAT MATTER)...AND THUS YOU ARE NOT THE TARGET MARGET THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CORDISH FAMILY THEY DON'T FAIL NEITHER DOES ED SNIDER.....THIS WILL BE A SUCCESS....— Pragmatic
- I'M NOT A FAN OF CASINO'S IN THE CITY AT ALL BUT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOME OF YOU, THIS LOCATION WOULD BE GREAT FOR ONE— Pragmatic
- Sweet, just last night I was complaining that there were not enough bars in isolated areas with overpriced beers and bland food.— AreaMan
- Although I hope this project will add extra revunue and needed jobs to the area, I agree with the people who say this project will die. The sports complex area is a great space for sports venues, and that's all it should be. I think this project has potential, but would best be placed on the waterfront along Delaware Ave. and Columbus Blvd. This area BADLY needs something for people to do other than just look at the river.— citizenbjm
- Comment removed.
- The Sports complex should have been built in Center City. Philly Missed their chance. The Convention Center should have been put in South Philly. The Planning is kind of Backwards for this to Work.— Dexter
- Just what phila needs, more $8.00 an hour jobs after the Construction jobs are completed. That should do something to help the short fall in the Phila Budget.— Dexter
- that area is a barren wasteland besides the stadiums. shops and bars and anything to do besides just watch the games down there will certainly be welcome.— Ryan
- There must be no gambling there! For gambling, empty your checking account and come to Delaware. Buy enough gas to go home broke. Thanks. Your money builds our suburban state. We'll reciprocate by attending a game or two per year.— Delaware Jim
- Comment removed.
Carnival tricks by developers bound to fail at this location and everyone will wonder why it failed, just like the Gallery at 8th and Market that needs a Casino to bailit out. My super dog pal Krypto says, "CURB THIS DOG PROJECT and It Take to another Curb--Avenue of the Arts at Broad and Washington" It would succeed with Center City and be a major boon to the area..and there will be appropriate parking. So be a smart DOG not a hot DOG served at the Stadium. Complex.- Agee w/hopster and philly7, pparking will be cut down and this area will be populated by drunk twenty somethings. It may seem like a good idea now, but wait until it starts stuttering when there are games since most fans would rather tailgate...next thing you know the developers, who told the city how much many they would make in taxes on this, start complaining and what do we have???? New tailgate rules, no drinking in parking lots, etc. just to try to get people in their overpriced bars. More BS from people who think they know what we want...family friendly..yeah right!!— hoopfan1
- The Inner Harbor isn't doing so well these days, either. A lot of those stories are empty now.
- The Baltimore project had a major attraction in the waterfront harbor. This Philly plan is on a parking lot in South Philly.— AlonzoMoselyFBI
- The power plant in Baltimore is about as generic and un-exciting as you can get. Fake facades and no character in any of the establishments - hopefully the Philly version will improve on this.— danF
- I don't get it. I stay as far from the sports complex as I can unless I am going to a game. Their is too much traffic and not enough convient parking. When the game is over, I get out as quickly as I can. Baltimore works because it is on the water. Philly Live! should be built along the Delaware. No matter what or where it is built, it MUST BE GREEN!!!— OneMansOption
- We need some new venues in Philly! I agree with rascal! Stay home if you don't like it!— teds
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- I can't wait to get drunk at at Thee SugarHouse Slots Shack and then drive there!— TKone
- Inga, this is old news now; You need to put your investigative journalists boots on!— mjkfisher
- Tatts, you have a point, but so does johnnyMo, maybe this will lead to more density in the area and give the sports complex the urban setting those venues in other cities have. Like the baseball stadium should have had if it could have been built in Center City.— Scrapple
- It's about time we don't need to go to the burbs (ala Franklin Mills or Cherry Hills) for shopping and catching a movie.— h23nutcase
- What do you people want? You complain about the chain businesses it will bring, then complain that it's in the middle of nowhere. You complain about it bringing more people, then complain about parking. It's in the middle of a parking lot of size of a small ocean. I mean really, could the chronic Negadelphian whining at least hold off until the ground breaking. It's not like they're bulldozing some Mom & Pop bakery to put up a mall. If it flops, who cares. Sounds to me like a bunch of intimidated South Philly natives who are still depressed that the Vet was torn down. Times change, deal with it.— Philatonian
- Comcast-Spectacor and the Cordish Company are very good at what they do. My view,from the perspective of a season ticket holder of one of the teams,and a professional with ties to the shopping center industry,is that this is a "can't miss project". It's been thoroughly researched,has aready worked in other major markets,and will be successful here,the only issue is how successful.— diverjm
- Nice to see all the negative comments here. No one has any vision in this crappy city. I think this could work if it's done right.— dave202
- The negativity displayed here is a reason why the city can't get on the move. You complain about blight and crime, but when an innovative idea comes along, you still gripe and predict its failure. What's your idea to make the city better? And do you have the money or expertise for the project? If so, let's hear it!— cool guy
- I'm all for it so long as it is built with Comcast money. If it begins to fail, prices will be lowered until customers are drawn in.— Deepwater
- Gee, will it have free parking like all the other 'burb malls?? I wouldnt mind a coupla $8 beers if I could avoid paying $15 to park for the game— surfbear
- How bout we start incorporating some ingress and egress design off of 95
as all we need is another venue to jam things up— chesterfield
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Inga Saffron believes there is architecture and there are places, and you can’t write about one without writing about the other. Since becoming the Inquirer’s architecture critic in 1999, she has been just as likely to turn her eye toward Philadelphia’s waterfronts and sidewalks as to the latest glittering skyscraper. She is drawn to projects of all sizes and shapes, but especially those that form the backdrop of our daily lives.
Inga Saffron
Inquirer Architecture Critic
Inga Saffron came to architecture criticism after five years as a foreign correspondent in Russia and Yugoslavia, where she covered two wars and was a witness to the destruction of two great cities, Sarajevo and Grozny. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Read previous entries on her Skyline Online blog. Reach Inga at isaffron@phillynews.com.
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