With his hands on his hips, radio personality Howard Eskin stood just inside the doors of Xfinity Live!, and took it all in.
“Man, it’s big,” Eskin said.
Tim Tebow’s press conference commanded attention on the 32-foot high-definition television in the NBC Sports Arena section as workers below scurried to put finishing touches on South Philadelphia’s new playpen.
“This is the first time I’ve been here when it’s 98 percent done,” Eskin said. “It looks a little different from when I saw it under construction. It looks bigger.
“If there is a night where people want to come in and watch out-of-town games, you’re going to come here before you go to McFadden’s or the other Chickie’s and Pete’s. It’s going to take business away from them.”
The game has changed for entertainment around the sports complex. Xfinity Live!, set to open its doors tonight to fans with tickets to the Bruce Springsteen concerts at Wells Fargo Center and on Friday to the public, clearly is a place to be. With a high-end steak joint, a party bar, German-style beer hall and tributes to the Spectrum, the sparkling new complex promises to be overflowing its capacity of 5,000 night after night.
“Lots of cheers, lots of singing,” VP of Marketing Rob Johnson said. “You might hear Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin” two or three times a night. Lots of Neil Diamond. We want this to be a fun sing-along atmosphere.”
Even in the winter months, there will be outdoor bars with heaters and even a fire pit. From national musical acts to a bucking mechanical bull, Xfinity Live! has everything imaginable in an entertainment complex while bringing the fans closer to the action.
“They’ll feel they’re still at the game,” Eskin said. “That’s the thing that’s going to happen because it’s right in the middle of everything.”
What to know
With a high-end steak joint, a party bar, German-style beer hall and tributes to the Spectrum, the sparkling new complex promises to be overflowing its capacity of 5,000 night after night. Here’s some quick things you’ll need to know before you go:
A dress code prohibits profanity on clothing; sleeveless shirts on men; excessively torn clothing; excessively baggy or sagging clothing; full sweat suits and sweatpants; exposed undergarments on men and excessively long clothing.
Parking is only complimentary on non-event nights and free one hour after the start of the final event of the day.
