This place is best described as a huge complex of multiple sports bars. Â There is the main big room in the middle with multiple bars, tables, and booths with huge TVs everywhere, and surrounding this central area are separate bars serving different styles such as beer garden style room with craft beers and a western bar with a mechanical bull. There are also large outdoor bar areas. This place was awesome to go to in between a Phillies double header!
Review Source:Yeah basically a sports bar on steroids (not that this review is in anyway condoning the use of performance enhancing drugs in athletic competition. Â Let's just put that thought behind us...not a needle in our behinds, because that would be suggestive of steroid use. Â I mean, steroid users cheat, and that makes me really mad...not roid-rage mad, far from it, but angry enough to write pejorative emails to the guys in charge, hoping to strong arm them into giving stiff penalties and fines. Â Not strong arm as in juiced bulging biceps strong, more like moderately strong arms, like Lance Armstrong, not that cyclists would ever use steroids....)
Review Source:After a short visit, my impression was this place is a totally overpriced tourist trap!
We got off to a good start with Free Parking. Â Unfortunately, it's a bit confusing. Â The first thing you see is Xfinity Live Valet Parking for $15. Â There had to be self parking and there website made a point of stating that parking was free. Â So, I keep going to the next driveway. Â The sign reads, "Event Parking -- Cash". Â A little confused, but I pull in anyway. Â If they had tried to charge, I can always turn around and leave. Â It was actually Free.
Unfortunately, the parking lot is so massively huge, you will most likely end up a good 1/4 to 1/2 mile (if not more) away from the venue, like I did.
So, now I'm parked and did the 1/2 mile trek back to the venue.
The first thing you see is an outdoor stage and beer garden-like area. Â A big stage with nothing but a small table with DJ setup...and not a great DJ at that. Â So, I look toward the building and decide to go see what's inside. Â At the first door I encounter a door-nazi (e.g. Security) that seems to be mute -- all he can is grunt and point to the next door. Â Umm, ok -- I get it. Â ID check at the next door. Â Hey security dude: Â A little courtesy never hurts!
So, I go to the next door -- they want a $20 cover charge! Â $20! Â Are you freakin serious? Â As far as I know, there are only 3 bars and couple of restaurants in there -- $20 just to walk in the door...? Â
At this point I bailed! Â Philly has plethora of nightlife available, I totally don't need this place at all.
One would have to assume that if the door charge is $20, the places inside are most likely completely overpriced, as well.
My fault though.....It's near the stadiums, so I should have automatically assumed it was overpriced and touristy....never again!
Before last weekend I had only been to Xfinity Live twice and had an okay time but after spending Saturday in PBR Bar I can honestly say that I love this place! I had a great time celebrating my birthday there. We stayed in PBR Bar the whole time but felt no need to explore the rest of Xfinity. The atmosphere and music was so much fun that we all danced the night away. The bull added extra excitement to it as well. I cannot wait to get back there again.
Review Source:My first time at Xfinity Live and I was really impressed. I imagined it to be an extension of the stadiums, overpriced sports bar, like McFadden's.
However, the setup is cool, with four different themed bars. One is the Victory Beer hall which is great for any craft beer lover and they have a deck with a fire pit. Another bar is the PBR bar which has a mechanical bull. Who doesn't love that for at least a few minutes. They also have an outside patio with a huge big screen and its own separate bar.
Who needs tickets to the game when you've got everything you need right here? Â I'm glad I finally made it to Xfinity Live because it is a great addition to the sports complex.
This place is good for one thing; and one thing only... Raging like a fist pumper and partying your ass off after a game or concert! Â I'm slightly embarrassed to say, that it has replaced my typical post-game McFaddens routine. Â Hopefully you are like me and do most of your consuming at the tailgate/event so that you don't have to be raped by the extreme prices at Xfinity. Â Beers are over-priced (and I would never dare inquire how pricey liquor is); but with only one other competitor in the area (whom is also over-priced) they get away with murder!
Being a country music fan, I am always drawn to hanging out in PBR. Â There aren't many places in Philly that blare country tunes like this joint; and the hoes dancing around the wasted mechanical bull riders really top off the atmosphere!
This place is always packed; they should have made it twice as big especially since they had the land (and money) to do it. Â The music is super loud (and there is quite a variety of music playing as you venture from room to room.)
I have never eaten any of the food here and I don't plan on it.
I'm reviewing this from the point of view as a girl who isn't a huge sports fanatic but went for the bars , dancing and to see the mechanical bull.
Definitely worth going just be aware that its sort of over crowded and its difficult to get to the dance floor. The mechanical bull area is so jam packed and we had to wait in a line for 30 minutes to get into that area of xfinity. The wait was hilarious though because there were angry sports guys yelling profanity because they felt like they didn't deserve to wait (some people would get offended or irritated but I thought it was hysterical watching them).
At the end of the night in the dancing area they offered free shots to any girls who danced on the bar.
I wouldn't go if you are against big crowds in awkward confined spaces but its a good time if you like the sports/dancing combination. The only reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because the cover is annoying and I don't like sports enough to make this a regular spot for me.
Rarely would I write a review for a venue which I actually didn't make a purchase but their Web site's failure to post key information nearly ruined my night.
After travelling more than six hours from Los Angeles for my sister's graduation from Penn, all I wanted to do was sit at good bar and watch my Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings eliminate the St. Louis Blues in game six of the conference quarter finals. A Google search determined that XFINITY was the closest sports to the hotel and it offered giant screens with several beers on tap (although I need is Yuengling when I'm in PA). Here's where XFINITY fails.
Nowhere on the site is it mentioned that the XFINITY 'compound' has a $20 cover charge and a dress code after 9pm. You read that right. Twenty. To get into three sports bars and a rodeo bar. I will admit the doorman was as polite as could be when apologizing that jerseys and caps were not permissible attire. Fortunately, he pointed out McFadden's across the street as an option and I'm glad he did. For a good review, check out my take on McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon.
Considering how terrible as the NBC Sports network is at covering the Olympics and Stanley Cup Playoffs, it should come as no surprise that the NBC Sports Arena at XFINITY Live fails to meet expectations.
A sports guy/gals dream. Get there during a Philly sporting event and you're bound to have a good time (indoors or outdoors). I've also played on the Philly Sports Network's bags/corn hole league here -- good way to spend time in nice weather and meet people. Also keep an eye out for special events - concerts, contests, etc.
Review Source:When I first learned about the Xfinity Live opening, I was excited but after going a few times, I don't find myself rushing to go back anytime soon. Â The idea is great but the place is overly crowded, no matter what restaurant you go to it's hard to find a seat. If one decides to stay out in the main area, which is a killer on the feet and back, you deal with a lot of rude people just pushing their way around, I guess some of the very young partiers haven't learned how to act yet. Â Honestly, it seemed more like Kiddie City than anything else.
Review Source:This place is really cool and theres an exciting atmosphere, I d like to rate it higher but its so expensive and therefore harder to enjoy. Â Gauge is $6 for miller lite aluminum bottle, really? Â I put Friday & Saturday, but really best whenever there are big game events or concerts.
Review Source:Thursday Night Review only..
DRINKS - standard, cheap, good. You get what you pay for.. dollar dranks what you gonna say.
OVERALL SERVICE: come the fuck on people. (please).
- Parking: we drive and there's a game letting out, so the guy says " go down to that corner, make a right and you can go in from that entrance. We get to that entrance, guy says " you can't come in from there, you have to go in from THERE -- ( the place we just came from). So we drive back, ignore the guy yelling at us because we're sure as fuck not going to go back and forth when they lack COMMUNICATION SKILLS with each other to run an operation..
- Wristband specials : my boyfriend and I walk around, the place is huge, essentially 4 different bars into one place. We walk into one place, I order a drink (which took 6 minutes for bartender to notice me) and ask her about the college wristbands. " Oh I don't know.. but I'll get my manager." 10 minutes pass -- I'm not sure where my manager is
I walk to a different area, the more " college-y" bar . Takes 14 minutes for a fucking bartender to come over. OK, I KNOW that they hate Thursdays. They probably have a million college students wanting the cheap ass drinks, and they don't tip. That's fucked up in my opinion, and regardless of how shitty they are, I still try to tip their assholes. Anyway. Takes 14 minutes, he comes over and says " you have to get the wrist band in the front? So.. we go get the wristband in the "front".. which takes another fucking 15 minutes. We get to the bar. This takes another 9 minutes for him to notice us. And he says " we ran out of mugs, you have to get them outside". At this point I've done lost my patience and I told him " I dont care what the fuck kind of glass you use, do I look like I give a fuck? Use those small ass cups, I don't care." Â AND I still tipped him. I overheard a lot of people saying that they always serve people paying full price drinks -- but I think that's stupid. Just because they're paying full price do esn't mean they'll tip well. As long as you have a smile on your face (which NONE of the bartenders had.. fucking NONE!) and try your best with as busy as you are, PEOPLE WILL TIP YOU. maybe not all the poor ass college student. but your standard average joe and jane ( ME) will fucking tip you. But now, I'll probably never go back..
Improve your services Please and thank you. On another note, security and ID check / bouncers were very friendly and the only helpful people of the night.
As a manager, I found this whole night extremely shameful in the way it was run.
I'm not a big sports bar or (sports) fanatic, but this place is pretty cool. I actually came here with some friends to see a couple DJs that were playing. We were curious how they would put on the show here, but they pulled it off well! They played in the center of the venue, which gave us a up close and personal view of them and since it was not a large crowd, we had a lot of room to dance and go crazy. There were plenty of bars for us to grab a drink from whenever we wanted and it made for a great night.
I didn't actually get to explore the other separate bars within the venue, but would definitely like to come back next time to do that. I heard there was a mechanical bull in one of them, so I'm sure that makes for a hilarious show with some drunken friends.
I am quite sure that when Columbus stepped onto dry land in the New World that the first words out of his mouth went something like this, "Find me a huge sports bar with the world's biggest indoor TV screen, great chicken wings and cold beer!" Had this actually happened, I'm positive that the famed explorer would have found himself in Philadelphia at XFINITY Live!
Let's be honest, Philly sports fans love their home teams, and this becomes obvious when you realize that one whole section of downtown has been carved out to house three world-class sports stadiums, an immense parking facility, and the world's largest sports bar. You've got Citizen's Bank Park which is the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, then there's the Wells Fargo Center which is the home of the 76'ers and the Flyers, and then the Lincoln Financial Center which is the home of the Eagles. In between these three stadiums sits XFINITY Live! which was built at the site of the old Philadelphia Spectrum, and is now home to the world's largest sports bar.
XFINITY is massive in scale with both indoor and outdoor eating, drinking, and partying facilities and can easily hold thousands of people. The facility houses The Philly MarketPlace, Spectrum Grill, Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar and Grill, Victory Beer Hall and the NBC Sports Arena -- all under one roof. Each of these bars and restaurants would make for an impressive sports bar, but when you put them all together, it is mind-boggling. Inside the PBR Bar sits a mechanical bull which is apprently quite popular after a few Jager shots.
The whole place is decorated with hardwood flooring from the Spectrum, as well as the "boards and glass" from the hockey arena, and bricks from the old Veteran's Stadium. They have indoor and outdoor events, viewing parties, concerts, tailgating parties, and so on.
Through a partnership with Sony, XFINITY Live! Philadelphia was built with state-of-the-art audio and video systems, including Sony flat panel televisions, to ensure everyone in the venue has a high definition view of the game. The NBC Sports Arena offers fans a one-of-a-kind sports viewing experience, featuring a 32-foot diagonal, 6mm, LED HD television, high impact LED Rings displaying the NBC Sports Ticker, and in-game promotions. This place has a serious WOW factor, and it needs to be on the bucket list of any true sports fan.
Travis, my man, I'm thinking road trip.......
Xfinity Live is one of my happy places. As an avid Philly sports fan I welcomed the opening of this huge venue that is home to 4 different bar/ restaurants and offers a large communal space that hosts ridiculously huge TVs to watch any game your heart desires on. Â My favorite place in Xfinity is PBR by a longshot. They play country music, have a mechanical bull and Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat is constantly on tap. What more can a girl ask for?
Oh yeah... a seat. This place is absolutely awful during Eagles games. I've gone a few times while the Birds were playing in, and away, from home and have struggled to find a space inside of the huge arena. The one time I made sure to get there super early before any games began I was told that all the tables were reserved and if I wanted to reserve two seats (one in front of a pole to the side), I could do so for $40 per seat. Come on, Xfinity! Cut a fan a break here.
I've also gotten pretty sick every time I've eaten at Xfinity. I've only ordered from the main bar in the center of the facility and from PBR but each time I left with a bad case of food poisoning. I don't know if both times were flukes or not but I refuse to possibly put myself in an uncomfortable situation by ordering from the other bar/restaurants inside of Xfinity.
The back of the venue has a large stage and I've heard some good, and some bad, performances before and after sports games. It also seems to be a pretty happening place for Philly nightlife. I remember seeing girls in club dresses arrive right after the Phillies game ended during the Summer.
All in all, this isn't a bad spot at all. I've even been offered free happy hours at Broad Street Bullies and PBR... still not quite sure how that happened, but it did! I'd definitely recommend for watching sports games, outside of the Philadelphia Eagles.
3.5 Stars. I wasn't sure what to expect from all the things I've read about this place. So, I made sure to stop by before the Army/Navy game to find out for myself. Well, first off, there's a lot going on in there and I know I didn't experience everything in one, short visit. I made my way to the Victory bar and ordered an $8 draft in a plastic cup. Eek! Well, at least it was Golden Monkey, so it was a bit of a twofer.
Conceptually, this place is cool and I'd like to explore around more when there's a local game being broadcast throughout the multiple, interior bars. For now, I'm going to play it safe and just stay somewhere in the middle.
Ultimately your opinion will be dependent upon your expectations going in & what exactly you're looking for. I already knew what to expect in advance , actually had a good time on the one occasion I was there longer than 20mins, but still find it disappointing in several ways.
Pros:
-I personally expected the beer prices to be worse for some reason? So I didn't think the $4 or $4.50 I paid outside was a big deal.
-Outside area for an early Phils start was great, I'd consider doing that again.
-That's it really....
Cons:
-While I'm really not a person to complain about a layout or setup, etc and the place really isn't that horrible, but it's just kind of common sense planning & missed opportunity. Which is just a little disappointing or in other words, there's no DRAW for me to want to go back.
-As a result of the layout, you end up with bottlenecks trying to cross straight through the middle of the common area. This wouldn't be as big of a deal if there was multiple bathroom areas but there isn't, so not only is the bathroom quite a distance from the outside areas, but it's warzone to get there.
-Food that I tried was edible, no better or worse than the stadium food.
Overall, the place isn't terrible and is having success from a business standpoint, currently. But I kinda wish I could drink in the Spectrum instead, since they did little in it's place. I would have loved for it to be similar to the other LIVE spots, like in Baltimore where there's a main outdoor courtyard that numerous individual bars spill into. Anyway, I imagine the new car smell will only last a year or two and then if the sports teams are struggling at that point, they really will need to make some additions to keep it busy.
The lone star is for the giant TV. Everything else about the place is horrific. The place is a Great White concert waiting to happen. God forbid there is ever a fire in here because if there is, everyone is going to die. They don't seem to have a limit on how many people they let in. People are packed in so tight that it's hard to move. If you're able to make it to a bar to get a drink, it will be over-priced. If you insist on going, make sure you eat before you get there because the chances of getting a seat are almost zero. I was fortunate enough to have paid with cash, but a few of my friends that paid with cards all said a HUGE tip that they didn't agree to was added to their bill.
I hope they add more options to hang out and watch games at the stadium area, because you couldn't pay me to go back to Xfinity Live.
This rating is more for the nightlife/drinking atmosphere then the actual dining at the restaurants (food I have had here is bar food, so hard to give higher than 2-3 stars if rating was based on dining). Â
This place is awesome to go drinking for games or just a good time on a Friday/Saturday night. Â It is absolutely huge, indoor and outdoor. Â I really mean huge, nothing else like it in Philadelphia. Â I am not a big fan of the PBR bar, but I love the Victory Brew hall and broad street bullys bar. Â This is what makes this place great, it has many different bars with different atmospheres that caters to everyones interests, so if you only try out one bar while you there and do not like it, it is worth another shot to try out a different bar. Â Sometimes it is fun enough just to hang out in the market place if you want to watch a game on the huge big screen. Â Only downfall is there is nothing else around it, except the stadiums, hence the reason I giving it 4 rather than 5 stars. Â However place is so big that this is only a minor issue.
Take XFinity for what it is... a sports bar.  When it's put that way, it's the best sports bar in the city.  I know the beers and food are expensive and I know the crowd isn't always the best, but it's exactly the same if not worse inside of the stadiums.  At least at XFinity you're surrounded  by screens with sports on non-stop, including the 40ft.+ one in the middle of the place.  If you're willing to pay over $200 for an Eagles/Flyers ticket, and then parking, concessions, and dealing with a stadium full of people... you really can't complain with what XFinity has to offer. Â
There is a huge variety of food and beverages for every type of customer and sports fan. Â They may be somewhat pricey (w/ specials rarely being offered) but you're going for the whole experience, not just to grab a beer or two and watch the game. Â I've never had a problem with any bouncers here, neither has any of my friends, and we've been pretty wrecked from time to time... I guess we just know how to handle ourselves in public. Â
Block out all the douches, sit back and enjoy a few cold ones, enjoy the half-naked girls dancing on platforms for every Eagles game, enjoy the barely-clothed gorgeous beertub girls, and most of all enjoy the enormous screen that no other place in Philly can compete with (unless you want to sit outside in the cold at The Piazza).
Does your preferred environment for watching sports resemble an overpriced mall food court with a giant TV? If so, Xfinity Live is the place for you. More pre/post game options near the stadiums were sorely needed, but the execution of this was abysmal. The original plan was supposed to be a long commercial strip between the subway station and this corner, which presumably would have spread the bars out a bit.
Every time I've been there has been during a Phillies or Flyers game, and it's been exceedingly crowded. The layout doesn't seem to have anticipated the crowds. A bar in the middle of the floor was virtually inaccessible, the bathrooms are down a long, narrow hallway that creates a massive traffic jam. I can't even imagine how horrible this will be during Eagles games.
Basically it's mediocre food, overpriced beer, and excessive crowds. The only reason to go there is if you want to watch a game with 500 bros.
This place is awesomeness. The XFinity Live Center is smack in the middle of all the stadiums. Great for before, after, or instead of a game.
There are several beer spots in here. Victory Beer Hall is the best for beer. PBR is great for watching drunk people try to ride the mechanical bull. There is an outside area with a band. They have several other drinking options, as well as several food options, from bar food to deserts.
One of the great things is that it's all packed into one area. You can bar hop without going far. You can take beers from one place to another. You can switch the scenery up.
There are numerous large screens throughout. The big one which is monstrous is on the wall on the side where the band is playing.
Very cool spot. Def check it out, especially if you are there for a game.
Yes a 1 or if I could give 0 stars I would....This review is not really for the generic bar food or the douchy sausage fest that this bar is, its more for the customer service that it is lacking. Went there with a friend had a couple beers and wings...the next day I noticed a ridiculous charge from Xfinity on my credit card...I called the bank who put a dispute in with their bank and apparently they refuse to cooperate and give a copy of the receipt...So now i have to close my card and open another one because the waitress wanted an even bigger tip! Completely ridiculous....Do not waste your money or time, Â you might get robbed by the waitress!
To note I always leave minimum 20% even if they suck so its not because we were cheap!
I'm still not sure how I feel about Xfinity. I feel like I want to hate it but also want to like it, but probably really hate it deep down. I feel torn because I've actually had fun both times I've been here (once with coworkers after a Phillies/Dodgers game in June and a Wednesday in July before a Phillies/Brewers game).
The beer is obviously overpriced, but not as expensive as in the ballpark. The atmosphere is about what you'd expect for a bunch of bars in the middle of a parking lot near some stadiums. It's loud, it's crowded, it's full of idiots, and I think I saw some children at one point which is weird. I'm a fan of pretty much anywhere I can drink outside so I'll give you a star for that. The other star is because you are so close to CBP. Being able to walk across the street from one to the other is pretty nice.
Xfinity, you are exactly what I expected you to be.
I planned a work party here for 20 people with a reserved room overlooking the main area, two hour buffet and open bar with a $500 minimum. It was very difficult for XFINITY Live!'s event coordinator to respond to my emails within an appropriate amount of time. Our bartender by the Skybox was constantly playing with his phone, showing my co-workers pictures of his girlfriend, and generally being a dick.
The wings were dry. As in, no sauce at all. Burgers were like pucks. Our group had a great time, and the concept of the place is cool, but I wouldn't order food let alone hold an overpriced event here again.
When I heard there were plans to turn the area where the Spectrum used to be into a giant bar, I thought it was a good idea. The sports complex needed more places for people to hang out before and after games besides McFadden's, Chickie and Pete's, and of course, the tailgating lots.
My first trip to Xfinity Live was on an off-night. The Phillies were away and there were no other sporting events or huge concerts going on. I came to see Eddie Money (for free) and spent most of the night in the area outside of Victory Beer Hall. In addition to Victory, there are other bar and restaurant options like the Spectrum Grill, Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar & Grill (Anyone want to ride a mechanical bull? I don't.), and the NBC Sports area with the biggest screen ever. Even though it was an off-night, there was a decent crowd here. I never felt crammed in, but I kept imagining what this place must be like on a night when there's a huge game going on and I started feeling claustrophobic.
There was also a DJ... in the middle of a sports bar? It felt odd.
I really do love watching games at bars and seeing everyone rooting for the same team and I'll probably give Xfinity Live another try after a Phillies game one of these days. Maybe I'll change my mind, but to me, Xfinity Live felt like a tiny mall, but instead of stores, there are bars.
Ehh.
I'm giving 4 stars mostly because of LOCATION! not necessarily due to my experience (albeit a good...to decent one) Â I love that there is a sports bar located right in the middle of the sports complex. Â A great place for fans to go after the game, especially for the ones that don't want to sit in their car waiting to exit the lots.
We went after a Phillies Win (yeah!) as part of a bachelorette party. Â I can't comment on how much beers cost because we actually never paid for any. (Damn right! That's how it's supposed to be!) Â The other people around us were all fun, but I don't think I would recommend any Mets fans to enter. Â That would just be suicide.
Since my first reviews of this place in the grand opening phase, I've now been back here around 5 more times, most recently yesterday.
My reviews are scattered here in the individual restaurant sections regarding the food, and you can see my previous overall reviews here too. Â If you do some research, you will notice that I've had no shortage of opinions on this place in general. Â And I will say that I really want it to succeed because I love the stadium area in general and it can only help the overall economy. Â
There's a lot here I still like. Â I've had good experiences here. Â But, I've also been let down a few times. Â What I've eaten here is hit or miss in general. Â The food at Broad Street Bullies... what I had was really good. Â The food at NBC Sports Arena... what I had was awful. Â The atmosphere during a big sports event... I love it (if you can get into a comfortable spot). Â The atmosphere in general though is an idiot magnet. Â The outdoor area is probably the coolest part of the complex. Â The inside remains cramped and that won't change anytime soon. Â They just didn't build it big enough, and I realize there were reasons for that. Â
And I'm saying it now, and I'm saying it loud... if this place is the exact same layout with no additions or anything new to hold our interest a few years from now, I will consider this place a failure. Â Big TV screen notwithstanding, once the "Oh wow" newness wears off here, it can get stale. Â
Now, whether I consider it a failure probably means absolutely nothing to the establishment as long as they are making money hand over fist, which they are bound to do. Â I just really hope that this isn't all we are going to get out of this place long term. Â
I'm docking them a star. Sometimes I'm a fan of this place, but not every time.
I've had a range of experiences at this place. Â One of the best times I've had watching a sporting event in a long, long time was the Flyers 8-4 win over Pittsburgh during the playoffs this year. Â Drink prices are reasonable, but mostly because I'm comparing them to stadium prices. Â Even when packed the middle area isn't terrible for grabbing drinks from the bar.
What detracts from this place above all is the food. Â I've tried Victory Beer Hall, Broad Street Bullies, and PBR Grill and they all suck. Â Like, worse than stadium food. Â Sausages at Victory weren't even hot, burger at Bullies was plain and overprices, everything at PBR was poor quality and again overpriced. Â I wouldn't recommend eating here.
To sum it up, come here, watch a big game with a great crowd for that sort of thing, maybe grab a drink pre-game but otherwise this place falls short.
Okay, I gave Xfinity Live another chance and had an awesome time.
Day drinking was the name of the game, and I totally won. (Or lost, depending on your perspective.) First up, Victory. There were probably a million or so hostesses/waitresses standing around when my group of four arrived close to 4pm. None of them looked happy. They looked positively suicidal to be working on such a gorgeous day and even more displeased to not see customers. I don't know if race was a factor but my group definitely received some good ol' stank face. When the rest of our party arrived, they got the same treatment. No big deal, we made the most of it and ended up having an awesome server named Sara. After throwing a few beers back and hanging out for a hot second at, who knows why, the fire pit, it was on to the next bar, PBR, which has nothing to do with the cheap hipster beer but with bull riding.
We rode the bull. Oh, yes we did. Solo bull riding is free, but if you and a pal want to ride together, you'll have to shell out five bucks, but you'll get two chances, and to your friends who will undoubtedly be recording and snapping pictures on their smartphones, it will be totally worth it. The food is meh; you're not there for the food, dammit, you're there for the bull and you know it.
Finally, Broad Street Bullies. I don't remember the name of my bartender but he was pretty awesome, save for the fact that he didn't let me pay for drinks I ordered. Instead he let my friend pick up the tab (I still owe you, Victor C.) because of the unwritten "bro rule" or something.
Definitely go on a nice day, definitely go with a large group, and definitely ride the bull.
This place is amazing! Â What a great idea for this part of the city, where unless you went to McFadden's (which I abhor) there was nothing! Â
Shiny, new, BIG, bars everywhere, ample bathrooms, REAL bathrooms, and just overall impressive. Â
Before the game, easy to get in and grab a quick drink, or even find a table, but after the game, watch out! Â You will be standing in a long line, waiting for two to exit so two more can go in...but they will still let you stand on the patio and drink Miller Lite...
I heard there's an over/under on how many fights will break out here over the summer. Â It's the perfect recipe for dumb idiot guys (or girls) to pick a big fight...though I doubt it will last long with security at every doorway.
The options by the stadiums are limited - either being crammed in at McFadden's or in the crowds at Chickie's & Pete's (and then walking a half mile). I was pretty skeptical about the opening of Xfinity Live! and I have to say, this is really impressive. Is it crowded? Definitely. Be prepared to wait in a few lines. Is it expensive? A little - but no more than typical stadium pricing.
The outdoor patio by Victory Beer Hall is wonderful - picnic tables, a fire pit, and an outside bar. The inside (the Marketplace) is a little tough to navigate with VIP seating and bars in the center, but everything is well marked and the crowds were moving.
- Happy hour M-F from 4-6. Half price drafts, which means Victory Golden Monkey for an easy to swallow $3.50. [NOTE: Since changed to Thur & Fri only at Victory; M-F at Broad Street Bullies]
- You can go straight to the patio if you go through the back entrance. The outdoor bar at Victory didn't ever seem to be TOO crowded as well.
- You can walk around with your beer, but it has to be in a plastic cup (convenient stacks located by the doors).
Lord knows we needed an alternative to McFadden's at the Ballpark down by the stadiums. Thank goodness for the multi-bar megaplex, albeit poorly-named, Xfinity Live! (Hey Comcast: we get it, this is your brainchild. No need to be a whore about it, though.)
From the outside, X-Live just looks like a big gray building with some nice patio space. But inside is a mini-mall of bar-restaurants, with an absolutely gigantic screen taking center stage in the main crossroads.
As others have said, the passageways between different areas are tight. There's a very large, unavoidable VIP area that taunts the commoners with its comfy chairs, ample space and barely-covered cocktail waitresses. What one must do to gain access to this cushy space, I'm not sure. It probably isn't cheap. There's also an upstairs area that hosts some of the sports shows, along with the upper echelon of the Philly sports world. Upon first walking into Xfinity, I immediately spotted Bernie Parent hanging out by the balcony above. Awesome.
I'm not sure if the crazy crowds are due to the dire need of a hang like this, or if it's just opening curiosity getting the best of everyone. I suspect the former, though. On my two visits, I breezed through the Victory pub and the Broad Street Bullies bar. It seemed like every individual bar had their own entertainment, and it was less crowded in the bars than in the central space (though not by much). The best part of all are the outdoor areas which lend themselves to day-drinking in the sun.
I envision hanging at this complex even when I don't have tickets to the games, because I like being surrounded by people who are into sports as much as I am. Let's go Flyers!
Remember in Gladiator when Maximus would teater the line between life and death and would be walking through the fields of Elysium? I too have had these moments but instead of life and death the line I walked was between sober and drunk and instead of Elysium I would be walking through a giant sports bar completely dedicated to Philadelphia teams.
So when I arrived at Xfinity Live Saturday for the Flyers Phillies back to back there was something eerily familiar about this place that I had only seen in my subconcious.
I called on Thursday to reserve a booth which was a huge move as the place was pretty packed. To reserve a booth you have to spend $240 which I did not see being a problem considering the amount of time we would be staying there. The booth was in the dead center of the NBC Sports Arena and to be completely honest, it is a very close second to actually being at the game.
It's extremely loud, complete with a regulation sounding goal horn, and the Flyers after goal song. I actually lost my voice from yelling the entire game. The only thing that I found weird was that they don't have beer menus and they don't offer pitchers or beer towers. Besides that it was all good, the food was decent and they had Hop Devil on tap.
It's not cheap and we definitely surpassed the $240 minimum but everyone had such a good time it was more than worth it. Â I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of Sunday afternoons in this place too.
Thank God for Ed Snider.
First... Â You have to get a sense of the layout of this place. Â The complex has a main central "Philly Marketplace area." Â In the front is the "NBC Sports Arena" with a bar and tons of TVs above it including the biggest HD TV I have ever seen (32 foot diagonal!). Â The TV admittedly looked phenomenal. Â Behind this is a VIP seating area, another bar you can hit, and then a another VIP bar area that annoyingly blocks foot traffic. Â By the way, it was $20 to sit in these VIP areas on the main floor during the game. Â Uh, what?
Around the outside of this is attached 4 separate pub/restaurants: The Victory Beer Hall, Broad St. Bullies Pub, PBR Bar & Grill and the Spectrum Grill. Â There's also a Chickie's and Pete's, an anonymous cheesesteak place ("The Original Philadelphia Cheeseteak Company" what?), a sports shop, etc. Â In the back (towards the Wells Fargo Center/Linc) there is a big outdoor area also with a huge TV.
The Victory Beer Hall looked nice inside. Â They had tons of their good stuff on tap as well as Dogfish 60, Weyerbacher Merry Monks, oh, and Blue Moon? Â Anyway, I think these were all $7. Â When we left there to wander we had to trade our pint glasses for plastic cups. Â Seems each establishment is run differently and they don't want you stealing their glassware. Â On the main floor they had more standard tap selections though we did drink some Yards Pale Ale at $6.
We were there on a Saturday afternoon for the last Flyers game of the '11-'12 season vs. the Pens. Â It was an away game but it was PACKED. Â A bit of a challenge to get around and grab a beer. Â I don't know how often this will be the case, or if it was for this particular game, or if it's because the complex is new, or a combination of the former, or whatever. Â But, overall, it was a good atmosphere for watching the game because that's what everyone was there for.
It's hard to say how to feel about this one. Â The design is kind of neat though it could have been larger to accommodate more people, since if you're not at the game or tailgating and aren't at McFadden's, this is the only other option. Â Victory looks likes a nice space and a place to get some good beer. Â I was hoping for slightly cheaper beers, but I knew that was a pipe dream... Â The outdoor space looks like it could be fun, then again, you might as well tailgate right outside and watch their big TV. Â It still has an overall douchey feel, and a douchey name, but what else would I have expected from something named after Comcast?
Overall, I would have given it 2 stars, but because Victory is involved and for lack of other options by the stadium, I'll give it three. Â (Let's just get a real cheesesteak place in there for chrissakes.)
I realize this place has only been open for over a week but here's how I feel this goes down.
The facility in general is treated like a downtown club, yet presented like casual sports bar (or 6-7 of them). This may be biased as I realize that a glass of beer at the Victory Beer Hall may be a slight bit expensive, the way they treated their customers was substandard.
When the patio that was built at the beer hall amongst all the bars was open, one could not reenter the bar of origin when trying to use the bathroom as the indoor bar was "at capacity" even though the consumer had purchased drinks in the bar and was intending on completing a journey from the restroom back to the outdoors (as the indoors area was crazily busy). The proprietors of the facility have not taken into account that they would need to limit the flow of customers into the indoor service area if they want to make traffic and comfort a viable option.
When walking back into the main bar, the majority of clientele could only be described as tryouts for "Jersey Shore". This is not a slight against the character of the bar, yet only a sign of the times. When I asked the gentleman guarding the entrance of the cocktail bar what he was standing next too, his appearance and demeanor established that people who weren't in suits/were "commoners" were going to have to have some financial collateral to enjoy a drink or the atmosphere of said bar and its upstairs area.
Overall I'd say that while the place is in the infant stages of being the "Xfinity" experience, they should work on not treating the area like a Jersey Shore night club and make it more friendly to those of us who enjoy craft brews at places such as the Victory Beer Hall rather than creating a sensory assault that transcends between bars.
Sports! I like em...
This place is so shiny and new...I can't wait to see it in a year....
I think your opinion of Xfinity will depend on the night you go. Â On an weekend night after the Phils win, this place has the potential to attract the Bro's and Ho's of Philly as a stage to display their mating rituals. Â However, those of us less inclined to put massive amounts of gel into our hair can still have an awesome time here. Â I had such an evening last night as it was a Wednesday, the sixers were the only team in town, and they were playing the Raptors. Â My friend and I only had time for one beer after we walked around a bit. Â We both got Leinenkugel's (though the bartender said it was the summer shandy, it wasn't) and sat outside to enjoy the beautifull night. Â What can I say, I like fruity beer, 60 degree weather and andirondack chairs.
The staff was ridiculously helpful, opening doors and being overly friendly (are we in South Philly anymore toto?). Â
Needless to say, despite the probability of encountering dude douchery and other antics, I will be back!
This place is for a specific audience, and I'm sure you will either love it or hate it. Â If not too crowded, it could be a cool place to watch some sports.
You will love Xfinity live if: You want to feel like you're on spring break, you want to get wasted, you and your bros want to watch the game on a 35 foot TV screen, riding a mechanical bull is your idea of a good time, or Miller Lite is the best beer ever.
Steer clear if: You hate huge crowds of sports fans, you want to enjoy a nice evening with good food and drinks, or are on a first date.
Bottom Line: Sportz Rule, let's get wasted!
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