“It was a great experience for me – the ups and downs – because I became a man in Philadelphia.” – Allen Iverson

Arena: Wells Fargo Center (1996)

Location: South Philadelphia Sports Complex

Game Attended: Way Too Many to Count

Result: More Wins than Losses, 2-0 in the Playoffs

Seat Locations: All Over the Upper Deck and a Few Games in the Suite Level

Overall Impression: Passionate Fans in a City Filled with Tradition, but an Average Arena

I don’t remember my first game at the Wells Fargo (which bought Wachovia which bought First Union which bought CoreStates) Center, but I do remember plenty of fond memories. The Fights. Dancing Shawny Hill. Lauren Hart & Kate Smith singing God Bless America.  Waiting for an hour to leave the parking lot after the Toronto playoff game. Celebrating with people you don’t know on the escalator down. Danny Briere’s go-ahead playoff goal against Montreal. Getting blown out by Boston and celebrating at Maggiano’s anyway. And of course, three seasons of season ticket adventures.

But in a way, that’s what makes the City of Philadelphia so special to me: people make incredible memories here than span generations. Philadelphia will always be a football town (especially now after the Eagles won this past February), but I’d say hockey is a clear #2. Even in the years where the Flyers aren’t up to par, you’d be hard pressed to find many empty seats at the Well. Fans show up in numbers rocking the same Clarke and Parent and Lindros and Giroux jerseys because they’re a passionate fan base.

Now that I’ve tasted the experience of eight other NHL cities, I can say that while the fans are incredibly devoted and passionate, the in-arena experience at the Well is just….okay. Other arenas have special venues or features that everybody wants to stop by, or at least a common theme throughout (the yellow in Nashville, the lightning bolts in Tampa, etc.). Maybe it’s because the Flyers share the building with the 76ers, but it just seems like a big corporate building with 20,000 seats.

Still, it does have it’s few unique features. In the lower level concourse, there are glass displays of every Flyers hat trick in arena history (and yes, there’s even a leopard-print bra in there, we like to keep it classy in Philly). There are videos displaying moments from Flyers history. And the experience of going up the escalators among a sea of orange and black jerseys is pretty cool to experience (especially in the playoffs).

The food isn’t bad, either. PJ Whelihan’s pub has great wings and beer specials, but of course, it’ll cost you. Lorenzo & Sons pizza slices are big enough to feed a family of three (and are much better in your stomach than on top of the lady in Row 14’s head, sad but true). And the additions of Shake Shack and Chick Fil-A sandwiches were well received by fans. But the king has been and will always be Crabfries from Chickie’s & Pete’s: crinkle-cut fries with an Old Bay-like seasoning and white cheese sauce!

Being in the South Philly Sports Complex, the arena has a ridiculous amount of parking lots available to tailgate. You could even go to the Chickie’s and Pete’s on Oregon Ave. before or after the game for more Crabfries, crabs, burgers, beers, and more, or perhaps to Tony Luke’s on the other end of Oregon Ave. for the best cheesesteak in the city (let the debate commence!). But the complex is nice if you’re coming from anywhere besides the city, as I-95 and I-76 can easily take you any direction on the compass within minutes. If you’re in the city itself, the Broad Street Line subway takes just ten minutes from Center City to the sports complex, but it’s your typical dirty, loud subway.

After I moved from Philly this past April, the arena underwent some renovations, which was probably ten years overdue. New bars were added in the mezzanine level, concourses were expanded behind the goals, and new seats were added in the upper level (finally!!). And of course, who can forget Gritty? I can’t wait to see the new arena as it takes shape over the next few years.

The Wells Fargo Center (and its banking predecesors) was a great place to grow up going to hockey games. I’m lucky to say the Flyers enjoyed a good deal of success in my childhood, so the arena was always packed and loud. And yes, Philly fans aren’t the kindest people in the world to opposing fans. But honestly, if you go in with an open mind and don’t behave like a jerk, you’ll have a very positive experience. It’s good, passionate hockey without a ton of bells and whistles. But a lot of Crabfries and great memories!

Building: 3 / 5

Atmosphere: 5 / 5

Neighborhood: 2 / 5

Overall: 3.5 / 5