Here’s what to expect at the Wells Fargo Center when the Flyers welcome fans back
Sunday night's Flyers game will be the first event at the Wells Fargo Center to allow fans in 359 days.
One of the benefits to the Wells Fargo Center opening back up to fans here in early March is that Philadelphia will be able to learn from the growing pains of others.
“We’re the 26th or 27th NBA or NHL arena to reopen,” arena general manager Phil Laws said. “We’re not blazing a new path here. We’re really building on a lot of the experiences that have been out there the last few months. That gives us confidence we can do this in a safe way.”
Some very quick points.
The parking lots and gates will open at 6 p.m., an hour ahead of the Flyers-Capitals opening faceoff. Tailgating is prohibited.
There are two entrances: one on Broad Street, the other on 11th Street.
Concessions will be available through QR codes and payment is cashless. If you don’t know what a QR code is, you probably should sit this one out.
No bags allowed.
The typical restrictions that we all ought to be used to -- facemasks over the nose and mouth, and 6-foot distancing -- will be enforced. Security isn’t looking to apply a heavy hand, but it’s not going to play around, either.
“There are very clear rules that we will communicate to our fans,” said Mike Shane, chief business officer for the Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center. “If you are not actively eating or drinking at that moment, you have to have your mask on.”
About 3,000 fans will be allowed in on Sunday: season-ticket holders already have been notified where to park and which gate to enter. Each team also has a waiting list for games down the line. The Flyers’ can be found here. The Sixers’ version is here.
“I’m looking forward to crowd noise not being pumped through the speakers,” Laws said. “I’m looking forward to seeing people excited when something happens.”
The return of fans to local venues also will aid the neighboring businesses that feed off sporting events, even if it’s incremental.
“Anything can help,” said Pete Ciarrocchi, owner of Chickie’s & Pete’s at 15th & Packer. “If they allow 15% [of capacity], maybe we’ll be up 15%. It’s a ratio of fans to customers. The more fans, the more customers. We’re all grateful for anything. Right now, it’s sad in my place.”
Laws said the expansion allows him to bring back about 400 more workers to the Wells Fargo Center, to about 650 total.
The 15% maximum equates to about 3,000 fans being allowed for Flyers and Sixers games. Any expansion will have to take into consideration the social-distancing restriction. Laws said his building could accommodate maybe 30% or so capacity.
“You can’t fill the building and keep everybody 6 feet apart,” he said. “The next move would be to [change] the definition of distancing to an arm’s length or whatever it might be. It would take a change in the overall guidance.”
Among the lessons learned from arenas that have previously reopened, Shane said, was the concept of pod seating. Mistakes were made of offering fans six- or eight-seat options. That became unwieldy. The Wells Fargo Center is offering only two- and four-seat options.
“If we make [the rules] clear to the fans, then it’s a lot easier for our staff to enforce,” Shane said. “Ultimately, we’re going to have to enforce the rules at some point. If someone’s not following the rules, they’ll be given one chance to understand. Then after that, they’re going to be asked to leave.
“We can’t risk the entire season and being perceived as not a safe venue because one person” doesn’t want to follow the rules.
The Flyers had their best win of the season on Thursday and have one more game in Pittsburgh on Saturday. It would help the mood at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday if the boys came home on a roll.
“That’s what we do in this business is bring live events, live sports to people. Not being able to share it leaves you empty,” Laws said. “I’m looking forward to going home at the end of the night knowing that 3,000 people had a good time.”