© Bill Streicher/Imagn
What’s in a name? Well, apparently, for Philadelphians who just learned the new name of the arena formerly known as the Wells Fargo Center, the answer is “everything.” The arena, which replaced the legendary Spectrum in 1996, first opened as the CoreStates Center, then the First Union Center, before it became the Wachovia Center in 2003 and, finally, the Wells Fargo Center from 2010 on.
But that name is no longer. Wells Fargo is in the last year of its sponsorship deal with the arena, which is owned by Flyers’ owners Comcast Spectacor. On Tuesday, the arena’s social media page announced that it is set to become the Xfinity Mobile Arena from Sept. 1 onward. The new sponsorship deal runs through 2031, when both the Flyers and Sixers are expected to get a new, yet still shared, arena.
Coming this fall: Home of the Flyers and 76ers to have new name: Xfinity Mobile Arena.
📰: https://t.co/Yfb4Ma1mdt pic.twitter.com/YZvCrTm0Lp
— Wells Fargo Center (@WellsFargoCtr) May 6, 2025
Philadelphia Fans Make It Clear They Won’t Call Wells Fargo Center By Its New Name
Now, nobody should actually care about something like this. Especially since it was already sponsored by a massive corporation. It’s not like we’re trying to change the name of Lambeau Field here. But it’s Philadelphia. And if there’s one thing I can assure you about Philadelphia, it’s that we’re gonna find a reason to get mad at stuff.
So, as you can imagine, the announcement did not go over well with Sixers and Flyers fans.
no thanks 🫶🏻 https://t.co/Oqwculzaap pic.twitter.com/t82xNk6VqQ
— The Ginger Swindler (superbowl champ) (@lilydsmith) May 6, 2025
“Actually it will continue to be the Wells Fargo Center but you almost had me there for a second,” one fan posted on X.
“Probably still gonna be calling it the farg for the foreseeable future,” said another.
The Farg is a fairly fun and easy shortened name. I’m not sure there’s a comp for Xfinity Mobile Arena. The X? XFA? The Fin?
Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue the same way as The Farg. Anyway, in time eveyrone will adjust to the name change. But for the time begin, Philadelphians are BIG mad.