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Philadelphia's Top Entertainment Venues

Entertainment venues in Philadelphia are not only diverse but historic and noteworthy.

The city's Walnut Theatre is over 200 years old; the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is home to one of the top orchestras in the world; Philadelphia is one of just four U.S. cities to have all four of their major sport teams (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) play within the city limits; and The Palestra is one of college basketball's most hallowed venues.

The City of Brotherly Love has a world class venue for every type of performance imaginable--theatrical productions, music concerts, and sporting events. These buildings not only attract millions of spectators but most have a rich and fascinating history. Below are 12 of the city's top entertainment venues.

Citizens Bank Park

1 Citizens Bank Way

215-463-1000

Citizens Bank Park is part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and home of Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies. The ballpark opened in 2004 and seats 43,647 rabid Phillies fans. One of the features of the park is Ashburn Alley which contains restaurants, games, and shops selling team memorabilia. The park also hosts a wide variety of marquee music concerts.

Electric Factory

421 North 7th Street

215-336-2000

The Electric Factory has been bringing the top names in rock, grunge, rap, and heavy metal to Philadelphia since its resurrection in 1994 (the venue first opened in 1968). This cozy concert spot has an excellent reputation outside the city of Philadelphia as it's known as one of the nation's premiere indoor concert venues. The Electric Factory can accommodate between 2,500 and 3,000 music fans.

Forrest Theatre

1114 Walnut Street

215-923-1515

The Forrest Theatre is one of the best places in Philadelphia to catch a big-time Broadway play or musical. Whether it's Mamma Mia!, Phantom of the Opera ,or The Lion King the Forrest Theatre welcomes the nation's best touring productions. This gorgeous theater was built in 1927 and is operated by the Shubert Organization.

Liacouras Center

1776 North Broad Street

215-204-2400

Located on the campus of Temple University, the Liacouras Center is a 10,000-plus seat venue that hosts Temple men's and women's basketball games, other collegiate athletic events, concerts, and the best in family entertainment. The Liacouras Center features 14 concession stands and is less than two miles from City Hall.

Lincoln Financial Field

NovaCare Complex

One NovaCare Way

215-339-6700

Lincoln Financial Field is home of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. Part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, Lincoln Financial Field seats more than 68,000 people (69,000 if you include standing room only). The Linc, as it's nicknamed, hosts the annual Army-Navy football game and big-time concerts like Bruce Springsteen and U2.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

260 South Broad Street

215-893-1999

Located on a part of Broad Street known as the Avenue of the Arts, the Kimmel Center is comprised of two venues, Verizon Hall (seats 2,500) and the Perelman Theater (seats 650). The center is home to the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Philadanco, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Philadelphia Orchestra--one of the big five American orchestras.

Mann Music Center

The Venue

Fairmount Park, 5201 Parkside Avenue

215-546-7900

Opened in 1976 and located in West Fairmount Park, the Mann Music Center is both an indoor performance hall and an outdoor music venue. The center has a seating capacity of 7,200 and hosts a wide variety of music concerts including jazz, pop, rock, and classical. The Mann Center also offers attendees a spectacular view of the city's skyline.

The Palestra

215 South 33rd Street

215-898-6151

The Palestra has a great nickname. It's known as the Cathedral of College Basketball. Located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, the Palestra is home to the Philadelphia Big 5: Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova. In addition to basketball games, the Palestra also hosts volleyball and wrestling matches. The arena is famous for its close-to-the-court seating.

Penn's Landing

601 North Columbus Boulevard

215-592-1914

Located on the Delaware River in an area known as Center City, Penn's Landing hosts numerous events during the summer months. Penn's Landing's main concert venue is the Festival Pier at Spring Garden. The Festival Pier can accommodate about 3,000 music fans. Feel free to drive, there's plenty of parking.

Trocadero Theatre

1003 Arch Street

215-922-6888

The Trocadero opened in 1870 and since then it's hosted just about every type of entertainment imaginable. This independent theatre, which oozes character and charisma, delivers unique and offbeat music and comedy acts to the City of Brotherly Love. The theatre also hosts a weekly movie night. The Trocadero made the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Wachovia Center

3601 South Broad Street

215-336-3600

The Wachovia Center is another facility located within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. It's the home of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and the NBA's Philadelphia 76'ers. It seats 21,600 for basketball and over 19,000 for hockey games. The Wachovia Center, which opened in 1996, also doubles as a concert venue; top acts from AC/DC to Van Halen have graced Wachovia's stage.

Walnut Street Theatre

825 Walnut Street

215-574-3550

The Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest theater in America having first opened its doors in 1809. Since 1982, the Walnut has been a self-producing, non-profit regional theatre. With more than 56,000 subscribers, the Walnut is the most subscribed theatre company in the world. The venue features three stages spread out on three different floors.

About the Author

Ryan Hogan is a writer for the CitySmarts series of websites, including PhiladelphiaSmarts, a site dedicated to providing entertainment & sports information in Philadelphia, PA, such as listing the top entertainment venues in Philadelphia.

Can the Nats catch the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics?

They need to finish 12-58 to secure the 2nd worst season ever in MLB history. Also who do you think would win a game between the 1899 Cleveland Spiders and the Nats? Thanks.

No, they will not go 12-58, they will go 20-50 - they suck but not that bad

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