Wells Fargo Center Survey Grade Not Based On The Facility

OK, the Flyers are in a down cycle. But did someone have to pick on the arena, too?

Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center finished 29th in a survey of NHL arenas by CanadaSportsBetting. One notable point about the arena survey is that it had literally next to nothing to do with the actual arena.

The limited survey was based on fan experience on four metrics — and doesn’t have much to do with the actual experience of watching a hockey game:

1. The average price per ounce of beer.

2. The walking distance from each arena to the closest public transportation.

3. The walking distance to the nearest external restaurant.

4. The availability of dedicated parking.

Each metric was given a score out of 10, for a maximum score of 40.

The Wells Fargo Center scored 18.4 points. The top-ranked building, the Avalanche’s Ball Arena, scored 35.57 points.

Beer per ounce at the Wells Fargo Center was 88 cents, 13th highest in the league and four cents higher than the league average. The most expensive beer was $1.33 an ounce in Bridgestone Arena, Nashville. It’s a little costly to get Smashville in Nashville.

The Wells Fargo Center’s closest public transportation was listed as a seven-minute walk. The NRG stop on the Broad Street Line stop is a full block outside the Center.

The closest restaurant outside the arena is listed as a five-minute walk. Guess that’s Xfinity Live!, which is about the same distance as the NRG subway stop.

Comment From Wells Fargo Center Spokesperson:

A spokesperson for the Wells Fargo Center made several points about the facility itself:

“Everything in the arena has been completely re-imagined, from wider concourses and world-class food and beverage options to custom experiences like the Assembly Room on the balcony level, the exclusive, courtside/ice-side Shift4 Club, and a world-class Club Level that opened just last summer.

“The transformation project is one of the largest arena renovations ever undertaken, and adds decades to the arena’s lifespan.

“The project will conclude this summer as Comcast Spectacor completely transforms the event level (including locker rooms and other player facilities) and the exterior of the building.

“The Sports Complex also has 22,000 parking spots for fans, and Spectacor is dramatically widening the entry/exit lanes right now to make it even easier and faster to get in and out.”

No. 1 Colorado’s price of beer was 78 cents an ounce. The closest public transportation was a one-minute walk, the same distance as the closest restaurant.

The Rest Of The Top Five:

2. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, 34.86 points

3. Nationwide Arena, Columbus, 34.02 points

4. Capital One Arena, Washington, 33.12 points

5. TD Garden, Boston, 29.11 points

The Bottom Three:

32. UBS Arena, N.Y. Islanders, 6.18 points

31. Honda Center, Anaheim, 16.59 points

30. Mullett Arena, Tempe, Ariz., 17.5 points

Every arena has dedicated parking except the Rangers and Islanders. Seeing a game at Madison Square Garden is best suited for public transportation with Penn Station right underneath MSG.

Overall, MSG was tied for 26th with Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Flyers, In Case You Missed It:

Team USA, Canada have semifinal opponents.

Get to know Flyers defenseman Ronnie Attard, off the ice.

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Next Playoff Game:

Game 5: Stars at Golden Knights, 8 p.m. Saturday, ABC, ESPN+. Golden Knights lead series, 3-1.