Philly Live!? No, Xfinity Live!
Comcast assumes the naming rights to the entertainment complex coming to the old Spectrum site.
Philly Live!? No, Xfinity Live!
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Filed Under: TableTalk
Artist's rendering of the new Xfinity Live! entertainment complex as seen from the street.
Comcast and its NBC brand will be amply represented at the new Xfinity Live! sports/entertainment complex on the former site of the Spectrum in South Philadelphia.
So will local restaurants, including Victory Brewing Co., Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co., Chickie’s & Pete’s, and Nick’s Roast Beef.
The project, whose working name was Philly Live, has the backing of the hometown cable giant.
Cordish Cos., the developer, and Comcast-Spectacor, the operator, view the project as a "fourth stadium experience," complementing neighbors Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park, and Lincoln Financial Field.
Announced moments ago:
- An Xfinity On Demand Theater, an outdoor viewing experience that will feature everything from sports games to family movies.
- The NBC Sports Arena, featuring an indoor 32-foot diagonal, 6 mm, million-dollar Sony LED screen
- The NBC Sports Field, which will play host to numerous outdoor activities and sports leagues
- NBC Sports Fantasy Board with stats
- NBC Sports Game Experience, in the Broad Street Bullies Pub, featuring video games
- A 100-foot LED Comcast SportsNet Ticker inside a venue called the Philly MarketPlace, a gathering place with food vendors including the Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co., Chickie’s & Pete’s, and Nick’s Roast Beef; more will be announced.
Other dining options:
- Spectrum Grille, an upscale restaurant
- Broad Street Bullies Pub
- PBR Bar & Grill, a country-western themer based on Professional Bull Riders; Tex-Mex cuisine served during the day and a country & southern rock party at night (featuring a mechanical bull)
- Victory Beer Hall, featuring beer hall-style tables, a stage for live indoor entertainment, and a 2,000 square-foot patio complete with a fire pit and a unique panoramic view of the Philadelphia skyline.
- And free parking on nonevent nights!
Grand opening: April 5.
Stay tuned for more...
Comments (91)
Comment removed.
Get Fios comcast is some trash I bet they suckered you in with Inifnity same carrier same lousy service— douglasrdd- Tired of Comcast throwing its name on everything— MASTERNC
- Comment removed.
- Poor forethought since the name will one day be dropped because most people simply refer to it as COMCAST. — PhillyMedia
- April 5th? They think they can get all this done by then?— Phantoms9805
- April 5th, 2013 maybe.
I have a hard time believing they will build all of this and have it up and running in less than four months. What is this? Extreme Makeover: Comcast Edition?— Hutch - there building it in phases you dope. Read the article. — BRIANMC
- There Building in Phases. Read the Article. Only Phase one will be finished by April. — BRIANMC
- The "Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co." was founded in 1981; its name is a lie.— Adam B.
- Who would want to go anything Comcast related if you didn't have to?— JFD
- Who cares what they call it, this place sounds like fun!— philly337
- Nice job getting Victory Beer to come out from the suburbs.— willthethrill11
- For this they tore down the Spectrum? What a fiasco, but that's to be expected where Philadullphia is concerned.— Servo
- Comcast has been permitted to keep the cash cow alive. They just rake it in at the Sports Complex. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia School District is in despair. Nice. Glad we know where our priorities are.— Ferrell31
- Ugh! more Comcast. Fios rocks!— pieman
- Have fun trying to tailgate after April 5th. No doubt that the first thing on the Xfinity Live hit list will be eliminating people eating and drinking wihtout paying their Comcast tax. Don't be suprised if rules or laws are in place to stop the practice before then.— superturtle
- PBR? Im up for some Pabst Blue Ribbon Action....
The place looks small from the outside..... so I doubt all of this will be ready for launch.— flyersjoe - I guess that Nick's will be closing the 20th & Jackson location. The neighborhood has gone to the dogs.— The Big Paesano
- That Victory is doing the beer garden is the first positive thing I've heard about this. Hopefully they have the outdoor screen showing the games home and away, one thing the Phillies and Flyers playoff experience has been lacking is outdoor viewing like other cities have done.— Pelti
- Its funny to see everyone bash comcast. yet the company gives away free computers and low priced internet to families who otherwise couldnt afford such equipment. Granted their nbame is on the place but does that really have to do with anything this place? Seems like their technology is going to help this place alot.— eyerash
- Yeah, I can't believe they tore down a rotting, old, obsolete structure to establish a place that could be vibrant and fun. The nerve!— guyguy4
- JFD - no, you HAVE to go to this place. It is REQUIRED. ...... what a dim bulb. If you don't like it, don't go. More beer and food and fun for the rest of us.— Tacklebury
- We really need to do something about these cable companies. They are definitely getting too big by fleecing their customers and slapping their name on everything in Philly.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Fios is crap.... Had it for a few weeks and had issue after issue. Comcast has its flaws as well but with the steep competition just keep on calling and threaten to cancel and hopefully get a lower rate like I did.— philly10120
- This place will be just like Comcast....grossly overpriced with lousy product & service. Sounds like the name is appropriate to me...— kelprod2
- Haters gonna hate.— joe smith
- Verizon has its headquarters in Manhattan, and Comcast has its headquarters here in Philly - and people on here bash Comcast and praise Verizon... go figure. Both companies have their issues with cable TV service.— ObamaSolyndra
- Comcast has been given huge tax rebates and breaks to stay in Philly after they threatened to leave. They also are building on land with ZERO taxes and no fees for the property. What a magnanimous gesture on their part.
- Here's the rub, though. Every giant corporation, including Comcast and Verizon, can choose where to place their headquarters and other facilities. It's a shame, but tax breaks and incentives are key negotiating tools that local governments use to keep those businesses (and thousands of jobs) in their cities. Philadelphia isn't competing with Comcast. It's competing with all of the other cities who WILL give them tax breaks if Philadelphia won't.
In the long run, what would you prefer? For Comcast to get these tax breaks and keep thousands of jobs in Philadelphia, or for them to leave and have all of those former Comcast employees collecting unemployment?
The problem here isn't the corporations. It's the power that our government has given them. On the federal level, we have allowed these companies and their lobbying interests to have too much influence in the way our county is run. The Supreme Court has given corporations all the rights of "persons" now, without the limitations that we have as individuals. In that climate, of course the corporations will use the power they've been given to enrich themselves.
You want to change this? Get behind the People's Rights Amendment. Encourage congress to vote for real campaign finance reform and serious regulations to limit how much power we give these giant corporations.— Hutch 
No wonder my cable bill is a buck forty an month, between this and the big screen in their lobby.
I do like the Victory piece, however.- I'm pretty sure the name of this place is the least important detail.— bobbyd24
- Comcast is so much better than Fios (bankrupt-os). Fios loses money for verizon, literally in the negative, only a matter of time before it will be completely abandoned, lol.— Capsulef
- Hopefully they will outlaw tailgating as soon as this is ready to go. Definitelyworth the extra money to drink in a Comcast sanctioned facility!!
- We we are in "Comcast Country"— storebrandmayonnaise
- This would be more appealing if "Xfinity Victory Beer Hall" and "NBC Broad Street Bullies Pub" were part of the complex.— frankenslade
- While I applaud more density and program mass at this site, particularly serving the needs of the sports crowds, this is but a drop in the bucket. These stadiums need to be urbanized. The parking fields need to be contained and the transit improved. Lastly, a broader master plan of the area would be welcomed, along with a vision of architecture that goes beyond the pedestrian, corporate, trendy mosh that we get from architecture firms that have lost their way.
Hiring banal architects. Shame on the public for not understanding, appreciating and affording good design. It doesn't cost more.— 24sDad - The suburbanites who are afraid to come into the city can now come in and spend money without really venturing into the city. It will be safe and clean with easy access in and out. This will help the city with tax revenue. It will be intersting to see how many come down on non game days. I doubt many city residents will go because there are better options in the neighborhoods. All the same, I hope it works out.— OldCityJoe
- Why don't we just change the name of the city to Xfinity? You know there going to charge for parking down there also.— alihajishank
- anyone who pays anything more than the introductory rate for comcast service is a fool. First off the introductory rate lasts for 6 months, not 3. And when it's over, call them up, and get it again! There are no commitment contracts with comcast, you can leave at any time.
All the hate for comcast is way overblown. It would be one thing if you lived in NYC or Richmond or something and hated comcast, but all the jobs they provide for the region and all the community work they do is really worth nothing to you people? Ungrateful; they could have picked up and left like so many companies have when they get so huge, instead they're still here, pumping money into the philadelphia economy.
also FIOS is terrible.— flyers70 - Listen to you people whining about a major company investing in the city is so tiresome. The more the city's profile gets built up the better, I don't see anyone else fronting the money to do it. If you're all so irritated, why didn't you pool your money together and buy the lot yourself, so you could do what you please with it. But you didn't, relegating you to a bunch of the usual JACs (just another complainer).
Move along.— evolutionary - Why is everyone complaining because of how it's named? I'm sure the Ed Snider and Co. got plenty of money for the land and the naming rights. And I'm sure Comcast is paying for the Xfinity name to be put up there. Did all you knuckleheads care when Lincoln Financial or Citizen's Bank got naming rights? Probably not.
Who cares about who pays to have their name up there. At least it's a good place to watch games if you are down there tailgating with friends and don't have a ticket. Everyone always has to hate everything.— jimmybean42 - Haters gonna hate.— Timmy
- Comcast Liberty Bell— all-or-nothin
- It all sounds great but we will have to wait and see how they do on non-event days. McFadden's across the street doesn't do much when there is no game going on. I have to admit this sounds pretty good.— rjw817
- Why would Victory associate themselves with something like this? Bad move for a company with a good image.
— justguessing - I'm not sticking up for Comcast, but this company started out as just a small neighborhood cable company. Isn't this what the American Dream is all about? Starting small, working hard and becoming successful. I have both Comcast and Direct TV. Comcast for SportsNet and DirecTV for NFL Sunday Ticket. If DirecTV ever wins their lawsuit and is allowed to broadcast SportsNet then I will get rid of Comcast. On the other hand, if Comcast ever gets NFL Sunday Ticket I will get rid of DirecTV. We are a big sports family and need both!— rjw817
- More great news for Fatadelphia.— FishtownSkeptic
- Everyone will end up loving it as they should. It will be a good draw any day and I look forward to this good investment for the city of Philadelphia. If Comcast was not headquartered in Philly, it would be Detroit Sr!!— pritter
- HAHAHA F-ing Awful. I have FIOS and it's cheaper and awesome.— Nezhy
- Victory makes real good beer. real good— murdock101
- Comcast pays ZERO taxes to the city. Big investment. Ask ppl who work there, it's AWFUL— Nezhy
- For those of you complaining about the ever increasing cost of Comcast's services I have a suggestion. Get rid of it and stop whining.— The_Unknown-Poster
- Xfinity strikes again..Comcast is a joke...and free parking only on non event nights!? They have essentially the same thing, called WestGate next to the Arizona Cardinals & Coyotes stadiums and its free parking every day. Cmon Philly— dae2217
- Good idea, wrong location. Should be on the river.— Captain Terrific
- Who are they kidding? NO ONE calls it Xfinity. Comcast is the devil.— Steffi1
- DirecTV rocks. Comcast should roll...out of this country. Worthless. Still doesn't put Flyers games with JJ and Jonesey on DirecTV. They should be impaled for being such losers.— RichieLemon
- Would you expect anything less from one of the organ I zations that are pushing for $60 admission to public skating on the winter classic ice? And $8,000 per hour to rent that ice for hockey games?— AEPi71
- Most of you posting are a-clowns. 51 comments and only about a dozen positive. Don't go if you don't like it, Don't go if you don't like it.— Jimmy Two Times
- is any taxpayers money being used in this project?— jtw
- 4th stadium experience? How about some championship experience from the Eagle, Flyers and Sixers?— jimmymack
- Where the hell does 'haters gonna hate' come from as a relevant respoonse to any of these posts here, or anywhere else. I see this statement pop up again and again. That is a little like saying, 'well someone else voted for (place name here) I didn't have anything to do with it'. Or further, that the pablum most post here is more important as opinion than those that actually care, or have an opinion that is informed. Furthermore, strident opinions aren't necessarily hate - particularly as they relate to the public welfare or good - and particularly when directed at corporations, greedy individuals or others who believe they, somehow, are acting in the public good.
If none of you have been paying attention, the past three years have been Exhibit 1 in corporate greed, and corporate interest over public interest.
On the other hand, simply slinging mud at Comcast or Ed Snider, ad hominem, is also out of line simply because they try to add value to a place that desperately needs it, my comments on design stated earlier, aside.— 24sDad - Why do I sense this is going to bomb?— PhillySubsMac
- f'ng cry babies. people will find a reason to complain about anything.— AndyReidsMustache
- so those non event days equate to what? About 30 days per year? Brilliant.— AEPi71
- How about using non-union labor to build the place? That would be a step in the right direction.— bushmciworlcomenron
- The project as a whole is a great idea. And I don't care WHO is putting their name to it, I'm just tired of the incessant corporate sponsorship of literally EVERYTHING! Why do hits in a football game, or sliding safely in to a base at a baseball game, need to have corporate sponsors???— uncle meat
- Xfinity, Comcast, FIOS...they all suck.— The Monk
- The Original Philly Cheesesteak Co? REALLY!? A mass manufacturer of frozen "Philly" style products? In Philadelphia? They couldn't find an actual local steak shop to set up camp there? Disgraceful.— RBA
- Comment removed.
- The stadium area has the potential to grow into a pretty neat destination neighborhood. If I were the Phillies I would look into building hotels,condos,apts in the parking lots that extend beyond the outfield. Sort of like San Diego did around their new ball park. I would buy a condo overlooking center field.— joe smith
- Do they have their back up plans in naming when Comcast has something newer than "xfinity" and microbrews lose their popularity (Victory) not to mention whatever merger or sell off happens to change the building? I remember going to a Flyers game in the CoreStates Center, grabbing a beer in the Red Bell Brewery and that was only 10 years ago or so.— rvb2321
- Do they have their back up plans in naming when Comcast has something newer than "xfinity" and microbrews lose their popularity (Victory) not to mention whatever merger or sell off happens to change the building? I remember going to a Flyers game in the CoreStates Center, grabbing a beer in the Red Bell Brewery and that was only 10 years ago or so.— rvb2321
- This project was privately financed, no public money involved, creates construction jobs today, and almost 1,000 jobs when it is up and running. This is also only the first phase of the development, as they had to scale back the master plan due to the economy. I'd rather have Comcast's discretionary marketing dollars go to funding and naming something here in Philly than anywhere else.— intheweeds
- Comment removed.
- Hey, Ferrel31, the Philadelphia School District gets over $20,000/year per student. Stop the moaning over a private company's profit. If you have a beef, it is with the Philly Board of Ed. Don't buy into the nonsense that "we haven't spent enough on the children!" And furthermore, if you don't like Comcast, go to FIOS or another TV option. Just stop the itchin' and moaning. It sounds like pure jealousy!— Original #11
- Comment removed.
- is that commenter serious about the philly school district? They spend Billions and there is nothing to show for it. Id rather money be spent on stuff like this. At least there is something to show for it.— theeman1
- The negative comments are unreal - you people really make it embarrassing to be a Philadelphian....1) Comcast is PAYING for much of this so they can put their name on it......2) bars, restaurants, sports-related info and games, etc - yea sounds real dull and bad......GET A LIFE!!— PhillyExcitement
- To Hutch and Phantoms if you read the article you dopes you will see the part where it says there building it in phases due to the down economy.— BRIANMC
- Is is necessary to promote the word "BULLIES," regardless of the Flyers past. Seems that naming a restaurant "Broad Street Bullies Pub" only serves to glorify the word. Perhaps "Weed Are The Champions" is next...— PhillyMedia
- Victory brewing is a real coup great beer.— The One Who Knows
- Philadelphia wants to be known as a great restaurant city and instead we get this.— Freedom Fries
- Yup, that is what the stadium area needed - more bars -
because people going to the games weren't getting drunk fast enough in the parking lot - and an outdoor theater wont be much use to anybody in the winter will it? Why not a nice regular movie theater? Philadelphia still doesn't have a decent one.— phillydude - Comment removed.
Chickie's and Pete's is way over rated/priced and in need of some serious competition.— Tacony Palmyra
Maybe it's just me, but it's got a "If you build it, they won't come" feel to it for some reason.— wfs0868- Negativity LIVE! The bulk of comments all center on there is "something wrong" about this. It has the wrong feel. WHY HAS IT BEING EX-CLUDED FROM THE STADIUM SPECIAL SPORTS DISTRICT definition...oh just give us the money for parking & beer and give nothing back to the City or the Community nearby. They should be forced to becoe park of the District//hey but who will listen this is about BIG MONEY. (Back to the Daily Planet to find a journalist)— Clark_Kent_SuperHero
- Been there! It is small and on a very heavy traffic night you will be in a tight squeeze inside or out. It looks like a indoor food court only with a lot of drinking going on. It is not very family friendly with small kids especially not anything for them to do really except watch a lot of drinking and eating gone on. Perfect for adults 21 and over if you like to drink and eat and drink and eat and well....it looks like a place a lot of fights may break out in because of how small and confined all the bars are to one another inside.....And on a night when games are gone on good luck your gonna be not able to move well inside. Except for the huge TV and Bull I didn't see anything else that didn't look like a huge drinking place and eating place all in one building....It was as impressive as I thought it would be. I would imagine parking on game nights will be a nightmare if you are just gone out to dinner with your family. It seems like they rushed into this design instead of really looking at everything before going ahead with it. All and all if you like to drink get drunk and eat and maybe get into a fight this is the place to be...good luck don't say I didn't let you know...OH and the upstairs is a great place for the drunks to drop beer bottles on you or maybe fall over the side it wasn't a very good idea to do this with all the drinking that will be gone on here...Or maybe you will get spit on or something....— sjmfmtr7
- Well is this a success or fading fancy? Adding food places is no substitute for Spectrum Arena.....Something like the Valley Forge Music Hall should have been built to better serve the public needs for entertainment...beer can be bought anywhere, a entertainment hall is a gem worth the money times over!!!!!— Clark_Kent_SuperHero
- Well is this a success or fading fancy? Adding food places is no substitute for Spectrum Arena.....Something like the Valley Forge Music Hall should have been built to better serve the public needs for entertainment...beer can be bought anywhere, a entertainment hall is a gem worth the money times over!!!!!— Clark_Kent_SuperHero
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Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here.
Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.
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