Baltimore-based developer The Cordish Company unveiled plans Tuesday to create a 240,000-square-foot entertainment, retail and restaurant venue near the Wachovia Center in south Philadelphia ? a destination similar to Power Plant Live! in Baltimore.
Cordish will partner with sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, based in Philadelphia, to build Philly Live! between the Wachovia Center and the Comcast Spectrum.
The fate of the Spectrum has not been decided, according to Comcast-Spectacor spokesman Ike Richman, who said there has been no definitive decision on the future of the arena. A 300-room hotel might be added to the project, he said, though it would not necessarily have to be built where the Spectrum stands.
A start date for construction and possible opening date have not been determined, company Vice President Jon Cordish said in an e-mail to The Examiner, adding that those would be among details to be determined.
Cordish said plans came together rapidly after the companies? introduction last year.
“Comcast-Spectacor quickly realized that Cordish was extremely well-suited for this project, and that their vision and ours for it were totally in sync,” Cordish said in the e-mail. “At the same time, the potential of the site was clear to us from the outset.”
The site sees heavy traffic not just on game days for the two stadiums and indoor arena, but also for concerts and other events, said Mary Flannery, spokeswoman for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
“The reasons the two stadiums were put there shows that it?s a convenient site for fans to come to,” Flannery said. “Everything that has drawn visitors to the stadiums and the Wachovia Center certainly would be good for [Philly Live!].”
