Wachovia Center is now Wells Fargo Center

Comcast-Spectacor, owner and operator of the Wachovia Center, is changing the name of the 21,000-seat home of the Flyers and 76ers to the Wells Fargo Center, effective immediately, to reflect the name change in the financial institutions, company president Peter Luukko announced Tuesday.

"As the owner and operator of the arena, Comcast-Spectacor is honoring the contract as it was agreed upon with the bank that the successor shall keep the naming rights of the facility," Luukko said. "Therefore, we will change the name of the arena to reflect the name change from Wachovia to Wells Fargo and continue to operate the arena as the world class facility which it has become."

Workers began removing the Wachovia Center sign Tuesday. The Wells Fargo Center signs are expected to be in place by Sept. 14, when Lady Gaga performs the first of two sold-out shows at the center.

The Wells Fargo Center will host the NCAA wrestling championships in March 2011, as well as the 2013 NCAA men's first- and second-round basketball games and the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four men's ice hockey tournament.