Fusion Arena, future home to the Philadelphia Fusion esports franchise, will seat up to 3,500 guests and stand as the Western Hemisphere’s largest ground-up, purpose-built esports venue. In addition to serving as a premier destination for competitive gaming events and elite training, Fusion Arena’s flexible and adaptable design lends the opportunity for 365-day activation to host a variety of live entertainment programming and experiences, truly a first-of-its-kind venue for the next-generation consumer.
“Fusion Arena represents a watershed moment for the competitive gaming market,” says Populous Senior Principal Brian Mirakian. “We’re taking our 36 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.”
Eliciting the venue’s first wow is the arena’s exterior, a sleek and dynamic skin that draws 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 with 2,000 square feet of interactive media surface hovering 30 feet above them.
The arena itself will offer unique seating experiences such as 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 separates the Fusion from the pack, offering an unrivaled experience and development opportunities for players.
“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 chief executive of 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.”
“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 Sports Complex,” says Blake Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies. “Today’s announcement marks an exciting moment for the Comcast Spectacor-Cordish partnership as the next phase of Xfinity Live! continues to unfold.”
“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.”
Construction on Fusion Arena is set to begin this summer. Fusion Arena continues Populous’ global footprint in esports venue design. Populous debuted Esports Stadium Arlington in November, the most robust esports venue in North America. And earlier this month, Brian Mirakian spoke at SXSW and discussed how esports venues can bring cities and sports teams new revenue streams, increased commerce and development and reinvigorated neighborhoods.
Populous is a global design firm with colleagues spanning four continents. Working with communities of all sizes and using a range of disciplines, the company creates experiences that amplify the joy felt in shared human moments. For more info, visit www.populous.com.
