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Comcast invests $50 million to create an Esports arena in Philadelphia

Bigkrev

Bigkrev

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,307
https://www.philly.com/business/comcast-overwatch-fusion-philadelphia-wells-fargo-linc-20190325.html


Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers(NHL), is to announce Monday morning that it will construct the first arena for gaming fans in the U.S. for the Comcast-owned Fusion, company officials say.
The $50 million project is a testament to the surging popularity of esports, in which players compete in video games before large crowds. The company plans to break ground this summer on part of the 47-acre stadium complex site that Comcast Spectacor leases in South Philadelphia. The 3,500-seat arena will rise on a parking lot, next to Xfinity Live! and within walking distance of the Linc, Citizens Bank Park, and the Wells Fargo Center.
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"The East Coast does not have a hub for gaming," said Joe Marsh, chief business officer for Spectacor Gaming and the Fusion, adding that "on the gaming side, we think we will keep the building lit up most of the year."
Comcast Spectacor expects to hold about 120 events a year in the new arena, with other gigs ranging from TED Talks to electronic dance music and K-pop concerts. K-pop is a music genre from South Korea that is popular with Fusion fans, Comcast Spectacor officials said. The Fusion Arena is looking to sell naming rights to the venue.

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The Fusion Arena is expected to open in early 2021.
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Some context: In Philadelphia, all 3 major Arenas- Football (NFL/CFB), Baseball and the indoor arena (Basketball/Hockey/Concerts) are located in the same massive complex/parking lot, with enough parking to accommodate simultaneous sellouts, easy access via public transportation, etc. A few years ago, they added Xfinity Live, which is an indoor venue that hosts several different bars and a few different restaurants, with a central hub featuring a gigantic monitor that can be used for watching parties for major events. This venue would also be part of the complex, which is a pretty serious deal for it's legitimacy.
 
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Rikucrafter

Rikucrafter

Chicken Chaser
Member
Oct 28, 2017
900
Australia
This seems awesome. Would love to see the LCS finals or MSI hosted here for League and give my friends on the East Coast an easy way to head into there to catch a major event in Philly.
 
demosthenes

demosthenes

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,591
That's really cool. I hope to see more cities get these smaller venues like this up that van host.
 

Deleted member 7148

Oct 25, 2017
6,827
I hope they won't have to stop the matches early because they ran over their data cap.
 
Mobu

Mobu

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
5,932
i-hate-u said:
All OWL teams are expected do this, so expect in USA venues in:

Atlanta
LA
NY
Dallas
Houston
Washington
Boston
Florida (Miami?)
San Francisco

Canada:
Toronto
Vancouver

EU:
London
Paris
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Washington will probably be a tent with folding chairs and a projector
 
Soapbox Killer

Soapbox Killer

Member
Oct 28, 2017
27,090
If memory serves me that sports complex is the busiest in the world. Also im a fan of the smaller venue and this sounds perfect.

I though dc had a esports arena already?
 
BioDigital Jazzman

BioDigital Jazzman

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
6,942
Cool. I'll actually go to something. Hopefully this means we get more video game related stuff in philly. We have this huge convention center but never have any gaming events
 
RecRoulette

RecRoulette

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
26,044
i-hate-u said:
All OWL teams are expected do this, so expect in USA venues in:

Atlanta
LA
NY
Dallas
Houston
Washington
Boston
Florida (Miami?)
San Francisco

Canada:
Toronto
Vancouver

EU:
London
Paris
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Really interested to see where the San Francisco Shock's arena actually ends up. I doubt it'll actually be in SF like with the Santa Clara 49ers lol
 
Akita One

Akita One

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,626
Soapbox Killer Returns said:
Cool. I'll actually go to something. Hopefully this means we get more video game related stuff in philly. We have this huge convention center but never have any gaming events
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The opposite of true? Especially with Too Many Games there. An argument can be made that more gaming events happens there than any other East Coast city outside of Boston.
 
Akita One

Akita One

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,626
SuperiorTrashTalk said:
They're probably talking about the Philadelphia Convention Center. Too Many Games is not actually held in Philly.
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Yes but it doesn't matter what the exact convention center or place is used, events do happen all the time. The Fusion don't play at PCC either...big venues like that tend to be very expensive. Hotels, schools and other small-medium entertainment venues like casinos and even warehouses tend to be where most gaming events happen.
 
Tom Nook

Tom Nook

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
15,787
That's pretty cool.

Philly is hardcore when it comes to sports.

Did terrible in Smash? They will let you know. LOL.
 
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