eSports continue to prove they are not just a fad like boy bands or furbies. They are here to stay. If their explosive growth over the past few years wasn’t enough to prove this, we now have more evidence in the Populous-designed Fusion Arena, the first new-construction, purpose-built eSports arena in the Western Hemisphere.
The $50 million-facility will be built in the heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex. It will have the ability to seat 3,500 people and will be the home of the Philadelphia Fusion eSports franchise, one of 20 international teams competing in the Overwatch league.
Courtesy Populous.
See Also: The largest eSports stadium in North America opens in Arlington, Texas
The arena will feature 60,000 sf of new construction that will begin this summer. The technologically-advanced arena will include a variety of seating options such as two balcony bars, club seats with USB ports, flexible large boxes, and exclusive suites. Nearly 10,000 sf will be dedicated to a training facility, broadcast studio, and team offices.
Courtesy Populous.
The arena’s exterior will feature a dynamic skin that draws its inspiration from gaming hardware. A 6,000-sf public entry will greet guests and will include 2,000 sf of interactive media surface hovering 30 feet in the air. Industrial materials are incorporated throughout to pay homage to Philadelphia’s heritage as “the workshop of the world.”
The project is slated to open in early 2021.
Related Stories
Building Team | Jun 14, 2022
Thinking beyond the stadium: the future of district development
Traditional sports and entertainment venues are fading as teams and entertainment entities strive to move toward more diversified entertainment districts.
Acoustic Panels | Jun 9, 2022
A fitness center renovation in Calgary focuses on tamping the building’s sound and vibration
Bold Interior Design chose as its solution a lighting/acoustical panel combination.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 26, 2022
WNBA practice facility will offer training opportunities for female athletes and youth
The Seattle Storm’s Center for Basketball Performance will feature amenities for community youth, including basketball courts, a nutrition center, and strength and conditioning training spaces.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2022
Northern Arizona University opens a new training center for its student athletes
In Flagstaff, Ariz. Northern Arizona University (NAU) has opened its new Student-Athlete High Performance Center.
University Buildings | May 9, 2022
An athletic center accentuates a college’s transformation
Modern design and a student health center distinguish the new addition at The University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 3, 2022
For glass openings, how big is too big?
Advances in glazing materials and glass building systems offer a seemingly unlimited horizon for not only glass performance, but also for the size and extent of these light, transparent forms. Both for enclosures and for indoor environments, novel products and assemblies allow for more glass and less opaque structure—often in places that previously limited their use.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 27, 2022
New Univ. of Texas Moody Center houses men’s and women’s basketball, other events
The recently completed 530,000 sf University of Texas Moody Center is the new home for men’s and women’s basketball at the Austin campus.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 26, 2022
Fitness centers for multifamily housing: Advice from 'Dr. Fitness,' Karl Smith
In this episode for HorizonTV, Cortland's Karl Smith shares best practices for designing, siting, and operating fitness centers in apartment communities.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 25, 2022
Iowa's Field of Dreams to get boutique hotel, new baseball fields
A decade ago, Go the Distance Baseball formed to preserve the Iowa farm site where the 1989 movie Field of Dreams was filmed.
Projects | Apr 5, 2022
San Francisco Giants open new training facility in Phoenix
The new San Francisco Giants Player Development Center at Papago Park in Phoenix, Ariz., includes a first-of-its-kind space for Major League Baseball training facilities: an indoor half field.