#WFCTurns20

Comcast Spectacor, owner and operator of the Xfinity Mobile Arena, is set to recognize the venue’s 20th anniversary on Wednesday, Aug. 31, exactly 20 years to the day the arena opened its doors with the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.

“At Comcast Spectacor, we transform events into unforgettable experiences for our fans,” said John Page, President Wells Fargo Complex. “These experiences create excitement, turn heads and make everlasting memories for millions of guests and visitors.”

“Since opening in 1996, the Xfinity Mobile Arena has been one of the busiest arenas in the world,” added Page. “When you look back at what we’ve been able to accomplish in only 20 years, it is remarkable. I don’t think there’s an arena anywhere that has done what we’ve done in a similar time span.”

Major Events at Xfinity Mobile Arena

In fact, the arena has been the centerpiece of sports and entertainment in the Greater Philadelphia region and prominently featured nationally. In addition to being the home of the Philadelphia Flyers (National Hockey League) and the Philadelphia 76ers (National Basketball Association), the Xfinity Mobile Arena, has hosted some of the most prestigious and historic national events and attractions, including:

Stanley Cup Finals (1997 and 2010)
U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1998)
Israel’s 50th Anniversary Gala (1998)
WrestleMania XV (1999)
American Hockey League All-Star Game (1999)
Republican National Convention (2000)
NCAA Women’s Final Four (2000)
NBA Finals (2001)
NCAA Men’s Basketball (2001, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016)
NBA All-Star Weekend (2002)
X Games (2001, 2002)
WWE Royal Rumble (2004, 2015)
AHL Calder Cup Finals (2005)
U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials (2008)
NCAA Wrestling Championships (2011)
NCAA Frozen Four (2014)
NHL Entry Draft (2014)
Democratic National Convention (2016)

“Our successes are really a tribute to our founder Ed Snider’s vision to build this state-of-the-art facility to put Philadelphia on the map and in the national spotlight,” added Page.

Attendance Records at Xfinity Mobile Arena

Largest Professional Hockey Attendance: 20,327

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Chicago Blackhawks on June 9, 2010

Largest Professional Basketball Attendance: 21,305

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls on April 17, 1998

Largest College Basketball Attendance: 20,859

Villanova University men’s basketball vs.  University of Connecticut on Feb. 13, 2006

Largest Concert Attendance: 21,424

Backstreet Boys ‘Into the Millennium’ Tour on Sept. 29, 1999

*NOTE: Largest Attendance Ever at Xfinity Mobile Arena

Largest Family Show Attendance: 286,884 (28 performances)

Disney on Ice Presents Frozen Dec. 25, 2013 through Jan. 4, 2014

 

Combined attendance at Xfinity Mobile Arena

                Total Flyers Home Attendance at Xfinity Mobile Arena: 16,646,902

                Total 76ers Home Attendance at Xfinity Mobile Arena: 15,012,252

 

Team Wins at Xfinity Mobile Arena

                Flyers Home wins at Xfinity Mobile Arena: 416

                76ers Home Record at Xfinity Mobile Arena: 424

 

Did You Know? Xfinity Mobile Arena Fun Facts

“Got Your Hot Dogs Here!”: Over the past 20 years, customers consumed over 2 million hot dogs, 800,000 cheesesteaks, 2.8 million soft pretzels, 1.2 million boxes of popcorn, and 8.1 million soft drinks. 

Prior to the first public event at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, Ray Charles held a private concert at the then CoreStates Center on Aug. 12, 1996. The first concert open to the public was on Sept. 2, 1996; it featured Oasis with The Manic Street Preachers and The Screaming Trees before an estimated crowd of 12,000.

The first fan to ever enter the Xfinity Mobile Arena was John Demmy, who attended the World Cup of Hockey game on Aug. 31, 1996. He attended the game with his son, Daniel.

The first goal ever scored at the Xfinity Mobile Arena was by Team USA’s John LeClair at 5:01 of the first period of the inaugural event – the World Cup of Hockey – on Aug. 31, 1996.

*LeClair will skate through the Xfinity Mobile Arena again as head coach for the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Thursday, September 22.

The first Flyers’ goal at the Xfinity Mobile Arena was scored by (then) rookie Dainius Zubrus at 4:04 in the first period of the home opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5, 1996.

The first Sixers point ever recorded at the Xfinity Mobile Arena was a foul shot by Derrick Coleman with 10:35 left in the first quarter of the home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 1, 1996.

Sherrie Davis, of Pennsauken, N.J., was the 1 millionth fan to walk through the Xfinity Mobile Arena when she attended a Philadelphia Flyers game on Jan. 9, 1997.

Israel’s 50th Anniversary Celebration began at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Jan. 24, 1998. Performing at the celebration were Richard Dreyfuss, Leonard Nimoy, Tony Bennett, Sarah Chang, The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.

Garth Brooks is the first musical artist to play six consecutive sold-out shows at the Xfinity Mobile Arena since the venue opened on Aug. 31, 1996. On Aug. 1, 1998, over 120,000 tickets for the Brooks concert were sold in three-and-a-half hours.

Metallica performed a free outdoor concert in the Xfinity Mobile Arena parking lot, drawing 40,000, on Nov. 11, 1997.

Phish performed the national anthem before two Philadelphia Flyers games (1997, 1999).

The Barenaked Ladies is the only band to perform at both the Spectrum and the Xfinity Mobile Arena in the same day (on October 3, 1998), when they performed the “Star Spangled Banner” before the Flyers game that afternoon.

Bruce Springsteen accomplished an unprecedented feat in Philadelphia music history when his tour traveled a distance of 758 feet, nine-and-a-half inches in less than one day from the Spectrum to the Xfinity Mobile Arena to perform on back-to-back nights in September of 1999, attempting to set a Guinness Book of World Record for shortest distance traveled between two concert performances.

Will Smith filmed portions of his “Freakin' It" music video during half-time of a Sixers-Pacers game at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in January 2000. WATCH
 
Brian McKnight sang the national anthem during the NBA Finals on June 10, 2001.

Boyz II Men national anthem during the NBA Finals on June 15, 2001.

Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift, at the time 11 years old, sang during a Sixers game in 2002. WATCH

The hit TV series Wheel of Fortune filmed a week of shows at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in 2004 and hosted “Teen Best Friends Week” at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in 2005.

Over 40,000 American Idol hopefuls attended the American Idol Season 7 Philadelphia auditions at the (then) Wachovia Center on Aug. 27, 2007.

March 24, 2010 - Bon Jovi performs two sold out shows on the same day at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Jon Bon Jovi, keeping his word, delivered a free afternoon concert to celebrate the Philadelphia Soul's Arena Bowl Championship. The band also played a sold out show later that evening.

A Comcast Spectacor employee proposed to his girlfriend during the Ringling Bros. Circus on Valentine’s Day in 2014. (She said yes! And they are now happily married)

Hanging from the rafters of the Xfinity Mobile Arena are three banners in the orange and black colors honoring Pearl Jam's 10 south Philadelphia sellouts, Billy Joel's 48 Philadelphia sellouts and Bruce Springsteen's 56 Philadelphia sellouts respectively.

Billy Joel has performed at the Xfinity Mobile Arena more than any other artist (18).

Walking four and 3/8 laps around the main concourse of the Xfinity Mobile Arena is equivalent to a mile.

 

Championships Won at Xfinity Mobile Arena

In the 20-year history of the Xfinity Mobile Arena, here is a list of past champions crowned at the home of the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers.

1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Todd Eldredge / Men’s
Michelle Kwan / Women’s

1999 WrestleMania XV
Stone Cold Steve Austin

2000 NCAA Women’s Final Four
UCONN

* Connecticut’s Shea Ralph was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Both of the teams in the national championship were number one seeds.

2001 NCAA Men’s East Regionals
Duke

2001 NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers

2004 WWE Royal Rumble
Chris Benoit

2005 American Hockey League Championship
Philadelphia Phantoms

2010 Stanley Cup Finals
Chicago Blackhawks

WWE Royal Rumble
Roman Reigns

2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Penn State

2014 NCAA Frozen Four
Union College
*Current Flyer Shane Gostisbehere (Union) was named Most Outstanding Player.

2016 NCAA Men’s East Regionals
University of North Carolina

 

Year-long Celebration at Xfinity Mobile Arena

 

Comcast Spectacor will commemorate the Xfinity Mobile Arena’s 20th anniversary with a year-long celebration including:

On Aug. 31, members of the Xfinity Mobile Arena’s CyberClub will receive an email with offers for $20 off select event tickets or 20% off select event tickets. To join the Xfinity Mobile Arena’s free email CyberClub, visit www.WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com.

A social media campaign to include #ThrowbackThursday posts to celebrate some of the most significant moments in the Xfinity Mobile Arena’s history. Fans are encouraged to share their favorite memories while joining the social media conversation by tagging the Xfinity Mobile Arena and using #WFCTurns20.

Upcoming birthday party celebration and more to be announced throughout the year.

 

Birthday Party at Xfinity Mobile Arena

 

Comcast Spectacor is set to treat Philadelphia sports and entertainment fans to a first-ever half-ice, half-court arena floor set-up during a free community open house birthday party at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Fans will be able to take a shot on the Flyers ice and a three-point attempt on the 76ers court, as well as capture a once-in-a-lifetime photo between both team logos at center ice/court and get a backstage experience of the world-class venue. In true birthday party fashion, all fans will receive official Xfinity Mobile Arena party favors. More details to come at WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com.

 

2016-17 Season at Xfinity Mobile Arena

 

As the Xfinity Mobile Arena turns 20, Comcast Spectacor is in the finishing phases of enhancing the premium seating experience by renovating 82 luxury suites. The renovations of the mid-level suites include reconfiguration of the dining area and cabinetry to allow for additional space, removal of glass partitions that will allow for open-air viewing and better sight lines, as well as new, luxury tile flooring and carpeting.

 

Events, games and artists scheduled to help the Xfinity Mobile Arena celebrate 20 years of history during the 2016-17 season are: Adele (Sept. 9 and 10), WWE Smackdown (Sept. 13), AC/DC (Sept. 20), USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game (Sept. 22), Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour (Sept. 23), Amy Schumer (Sept. 24), R. Kelly (Sept. 30), Kanye West (Oct. 4), Drake with Future (Oct. 13), Philadelphia Flyers (home opener on Oct. 20), Sia (Oct. 21), Philadelphia 76ers (home opener on Oct. 26), Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions (Nov. 4), Five Finger Death Punch & Shinedown (Dec. 1), Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 17), Disney on Ice presents Follow Your Heart (Dec. 23 through Dec. 31), Eric Church (Jan. 25), Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff (Jan. 28), Game of Thrones live concert experience (Feb. 26), Cirque du Soleil (March 8 through March 12), and many more events to be announced. Tickets for all events are available at www.WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com. 

To join the conversation, follow the Xfinity Mobile Arena on social media and use #WFCTurns20:

Twitter: @WellsFargoCtr  Facebook: WellsFargoCenter  Instagram: WellsFargoCenter

Snapchat: WFCPhilly

To receive advance notice and special offers to future events, join the free Xfinity Mobile Arena CyberClub at WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com.

 

The Xfinity Mobile Arena showcases Comcast Spectacor’s industry-leading qualities as an operator and an innovator in the live event experience.

Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a Fortune 50 media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, the Xfinity Mobile Arena venue, and Spectra, the expert in hosting and entertainment through its Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Ticketing & Fan Engagement divisions. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com and WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com for more information.

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CONTACT:                                                                                                                        August 30, 2016

Chelsey Scalese

Chelsey_Scalese@comcastspectacor.com

215-275-1449