Comcast Spectacor announce plans for $50M esports arena in Philadelphia
Comcast Spectacor, owner of the Overwatch League franchise the Philadelphia Fusion, are building a $50 million esports arena in partnership with The Cordish Companies to play host to the team's home games as of next year.
The Fusion Arena will house 3,500 spectators, and will also be rigged to host small concerts, comedy shows, and corporate events, according to Joe March, the Chief Business Officer for Comcast Spectacor and the Philadelphia Fusion. Populous, the same architecture firm behind the 100,000 square-foot Esports Stadium Arlington that played host to the ECS Season 6 Finals, was responsible for the design of the venue.
Construction for the arena is slated to begin this summer, using space that is currently occupied by a parking lot. The project aims to be completed and ready to open in 2021, with a separate 10,000 square-foot space designated as an esports training facility alongside two balcony bars, a broadcast studio, and premium boxes and suites.
The construction of yet another dedicated esports arena is the latest in a number of recently-announced efforts to make more spaces available for esports, with Walmart partnering with Esports Arena last year to integrate locations into their retail stores being another example.
