Xfinity Mobile Arena. Ex-finity Mow-bile Aren-ahh.
Get used to saying that for the next few seasons, because effective Sept. 1, it will be the new name of the home of the Flyers, Sixers and Wings.
The new sign is scheduled to be revealed on Sept. 2.
Comcast Spectacor — which resides under the same corporate umbrella as Xfinity — and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) revealed the new name for the sports-and-entertainment venue when the current contract with Wells Fargo expires in August.
“As we complete our historic relationship with Wells Fargo, we wanted to ensure that our new partner matched our enthusiasm for delivering world-class service to our fans and guests,” Comcast Spectacor CEO Dan Hilferty said. “We are committed to continuing investing in our venue to ensure we’re at the forefront of technology, innovation, and cutting-edge fan experiences. We couldn’t be more excited that Xfinity Mobile’s brand will become the centerpiece for sports and entertainment in Philadelphia.”
The sponsorship deal will run through to the 2030-31 season and include a free, “supercharged” WiFi experience for Xfinity Mobile customers. The arena completed more than $400 million ini renovations last year.
The new name will come with a new purple logo, replacing the familiar, red-and-yellow signage that has been up since 2010.
Comcast Spectacor and HBSE’s new South Philly arena project — the end of a saga that included a contentious proposal to move to Center City — should be ready by the 2031-2032 season, and Comcast will own the naming rights to that when its doors open.
Shortly after the news broke that Wells Fargo was not renewing its contract, we asked our readers to dream up some new names for the arena. From the roughly 200 responses, a few predicted that Xfinity would be in the name. Other suggestions included riffs on local businesses like the “Wawa Hoagie Hut,” Four Seasons Total Landscaping and Ray’s “Happy Birthday” Bar.
Others made references to Philly culture and history like the “Wit or Witout Center,” “The Jawn,” “Liberty Bell Arena,” and the “Betsy Ross Center.” Many called for it to be named after local sports figures, including former Comcast Spectacor chairman and Flyers team owner Ed Snider, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson and Rocky Balboa. Gritty got some votes, as did local graffiti artist ShamCow, and plenty used the poll to tell the Sixers not to move near Center City’s Chinatown neighborhood.
Alas, Philly sports fans will not be attending games in the “Tastykake Thunderdome” in the near future.
Feel free to try and make that stick as a nickname, though. Or the “Billy Penn Arena,” which we swear we didn’t shoehorn into the ballot box.
