Rendering of Fusion Arena, new online esports arena planned for Philadelphia, PA

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Professional online multiplayer computer gaming is gaining additional validation as a legitimate spectator sport with the announcement Monday that Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies will build a $50 million, next-generation esports and entertainment venue in the heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex.

Adjacent to Xfinity Live!, the first-of-its-kind venue will seat up to 3,500 guests and stand as the largest new-construction, purpose-built esports arena in the Western Hemisphere. Its primary tenant, the Philadelphia Fusion esports franchise, is one of 20 international teams competing in the Overwatch League. According to the Overwatch League website, “Overwatch is an intense 6v6 action game that emphasizes teamwork and individual skill. Players choose heroes with diverse and powerful abilities, then clash on a variety of maps set in famous locations across the globe.”

In addition to serving as a premiere destination for competitive gaming events, Fusion Arena will also host a variety of live entertainment programming and experiences.

“We're thrilled to introduce a venue like no other as we move forward with the next phase of development within the Philadelphia Sports Complex,” says Dave Scott, chairman and CEO, Comcast Spectacor.  “Fusion Arena gives esports fans a best-in-class venue to call home and be proud of. Beyond competitive gaming, it's a stunning facility that will host a wide array of events.”

“It is a tremendous honor for The Cordish Companies to grow its partnership with Comcast Spectacor and bring a state-of-the-art, world-class esports and entertainment venue to the heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex,” says Blake Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies. “Fusion Arena will set the gold standard for competitive gaming and debut on one of the country's most exciting platforms of sports and entertainment amid Philadelphia's professional sports teams.”

Designed by Populous, an architecture firm with deep experience in the fast-growing esports space, Fusion Arena will include 60,000 square feet of new construction, featuring a stunning and futuristic design throughout. Construction is set to begin this summer.

Rendering of interior of Fusion Arena, esports complex planned for Philadelphia, PA

“Fusion Arena represents a watershed moment for the competitive gaming market,” says Populous senior principal Brian Mirakian. “We're taking our 35 years of designing iconic experiences for traditional sports—settings like Yankee Stadium—and applying those same principles of design to the virtual world of gaming.”

The arena's exterior is planned to draw inspiration from the hardware powering esports' meteoric rise around the globe. The incorporation of industrial materials throughout Fusion Arena's design pays tribute to Philadelphia's heritage as the “workshop of the world.” A captivating 6,000-square-foot public entry will greet guests as they enter the space and includes 2,000 square feet of interactive media surface hovering 30 feet above them.

The technologically advanced arena will offer unique seating experiences including two balcony bars, club seats with USB ports, flexible loge boxes and exclusive suites. Additionally, nearly 10,000 square feet will be dedicated to a training facility, broadcast studio and team offices. The training facility is expected to offer unrivaled experiences and development opportunities for players.

“We are thrilled to bring this ambitious idea to life and celebrate the arrival of Fusion Arena with gaming enthusiasts throughout the region and beyond,” says Joe Marsh, chief business officer of Spectacor Gaming and the Philadelphia Fusion. “This project places esports alongside all the major traditional sports that call South Philadelphia home.”

Fusion Arena arrives just as the Wells Fargo Center is in the midst of “Transformation 2020,” an extensive, multi-year $250 million renovation initiative. Fusion Arena adds $50 million of new development within Philadelphia's Sports Complex, complementing a transformed Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park.

Fusion Arena is the second of several announcements surrounding Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies' real estate development within the Philadelphia Sports Complex. In February, the partnership announced plans for Pattison Place, an $80 million, new construction class-A office tower. Since opening in 2012, Xfinity Live! has been a prominent dining, entertainment and hospitality anchor for the region, dramatically changing the fan experience for Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and 76ers fans, as well as out of town guests. Welcoming millions of visitors a year, Xfinity Live! has energized the Philadelphia Sports Complex via year-round events and experiences including concerts, festivals, family fun days, community functions, charity events, and watch parties.