In A Major Step Toward Welcoming Fans Back To The Arena, Wells Fargo Center Receives Well Health-Safety Rating
Feb 3, 2021
PHILADELPHIA (February 3, 2021) – In an important step toward welcoming fans back to the arena later this year, Wells Fargo Center has been awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, a widely-respected, evidence-based, third-party verified rating of the venue’s health and safety protocols. Wells Fargo Center, home to the NHL’s Flyers and NBA’s 76ers and a premier destination for entertainers and artists, is the first events venue in Pennsylvania to achieve this prestigious distinction.
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) awards the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which is grounded in the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and which assesses new and existing buildings’ policies, protocols, and emergency plans to address pandemic challenges and broader health and safety issues in the future. Major buildings and venues around the world are enrolled in WELL programs, ranging from the Empire State Building and Taipei 101 Tower to Yankee Stadium and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. A WELL Health-Safety Rating gives guests confidence that a venue has implemented a comprehensive, best-in-class pandemic response plan.
“The health and safety of our guests, employees, athletes and entertainers is our top priority – that’s why we’ve been working around the clock to ensure Wells Fargo Center is ready to welcome fans back later this year,” said Valerie Camillo, President of Business Operations for the Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center. “Receiving the WELL Health-Safety Rating is an incredible achievement that shows our fans that we’re committed to rigorous standards for health and safety.”
Camillo further commented, “We know how much this building means to the entire city and the memories it creates for so many people. On top of this rating, we’re going to continue to follow the guidance of public health officials at the city, state, and national levels so that we’re ready to welcome fans back to Wells Fargo Center for hockey, basketball, concerts and more later this year. The WELL Health-Safety Rating, along with our extensive health and safety efforts, puts us on the path to bringing our fans and part-time workers back as safely and as soon as possible.”
"Wells Fargo Center received this science-based designation as a result of its significant efforts to ensure the health and safety of all who enter the building,” said Jessica Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer at IWBI. “Wells Fargo Center has taken significant steps, backed by scientific evidence, to help keep everyone safe when they visit the arena.”
The achievement follows significant health and safety advancements made to Wells Fargo Center, including a recently completed, $11 million upgrade of its HVAC system with best-in-class filtration that completely replaces all the air in the arena’s seating bowl every 30 minutes. The arena has also instituted comprehensive sanitization protocols, including new systems to reduce contact points between staff and guests, new technology to support contactless ticket scanning and concession transactions, and new crowd management protocols.
“The health and safety of our players, staff and fans is our number one priority and we're grateful to everyone who is working tirelessly to ensure the 76ers have a safe and successful season," said 76ers President Chris Heck. "The newly-implemented protocols and processes have been a great success and none of this would be possible without the diligent efforts from our partners at Comcast Spectacor. We look forward to having our fans back in The Center with us and we know the building will continue to ensure a safe experience for all.”
This WELL Health-Safety Rating comes as Wells Fargo Center has reopened, without fans, for the ’20-21 NBA and NHL seasons. The arena has already successfully hosted a number of Flyers and 76ers games, and the Flyers began hosting an honored COVID-19 frontline worker family at each game starting with their season opener.
The WELL Health-Safety Rating leverages insights drawn from the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19, in addition to guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global disease control and prevention centers and emergency management agencies and leading academic and research institutions.