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The Newly Expanded Stateside Live! Will Open in May with a Rooftop Bar and Free Taking Back Sunday Concert

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Apr 15th, 2026 · 6:00 AM EDT

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God damn! We’re gonna have a great spring and summer in Philadelphia.

Not only are we getting the World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, PGA Championship, and UFC 330, but Spectacor sent out details for the grand opening of the new Stateside Live! –

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 15, 2026) – Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies will open the highly-anticipated $20+ million transformation of Stateside Live! on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 5 p.m. The expansion marks a significant investment that is redefining the South Philadelphia Sports Complex as a premier, year-round multi-experience entertainment destination unlike anything else in the region.

“As we look ahead to the future of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, the newly transformed Stateside Live! represents an important anchor for what’s next,” said Dan Hilferty, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor. “Coming on the heels of a transformational renovation project at Xfinity Mobile Arena, this incredible sports and entertainment destination offers an exciting glimpse into the growth, innovation, and experiences we’re building for fans and the community.”

The newly expanded property, set in the center of the Sports Complex among Philadelphia’s four beloved professional teams, will debut with a weekend-long grand opening celebration for the public. Designed to bring people together, the reimagined plaza introduces a wide range of new experiences – from elevated cocktail and beverage venues to social gathering spaces and enhanced sports viewing and live entertainment – creating an unmatched atmosphere year-round.

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A GAME-CHANGING DESTINATION: WHAT’S NEW

The expansion comes on the heels of Philadelphia-based Stateside Brands coming on as the venue’s new title partner this past fall. The upgrades will transform Stateside Live! into a dynamic indoor–outdoor entertainment destination, designed to host everything from casual gatherings and dynamic game-day activations to large-scale concerts, festivals, and private events for up to 5,000 guests. Stateside Live! is now the only destination in the city where fans can choose to watch the game indoors with a high-energy, stadium-inspired atmosphere or outside under the open sky with the same immersive viewing experience.

New elements of the plaza expansion include:

AVA Rooftop Bar
A two-story, open-air rooftop lounge positioned at the heart of the plaza, offering unobstructed views over the stadium district. AVA transitions seamlessly from daytime social gatherings and sunset cocktails to DJ-driven nightlife on weekends and Sunday day parties. With an elevated menu, craft cocktail program, and curated bottle service experience, AVA introduces a rooftop lounge concept to South Philadelphia that rivals the city’s top downtown destinations. AVA will offer a crowd-pleasing food menu featuring elevated bites and fan favorites including Parmesan Herb Fries, Spicy Tuna Tacos, Lobster Rolls and Braised Short Rib Sliders. This will be the third location for AVA, joining their indoor-outdoor venue near the entrance to the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium and their rooftop in Cary, NC.

Coors Light Stage
A state-of-the-art outdoor performance stage with capacity for up to 5,000 attendees, including 1,000 premium seats, positioned at the center of the plaza with cutting-edge audio and lighting production. The stage will host a full lineup of local, regional and national acts throughout summer and fall 2026, alongside festivals, community events, and broadcast watch parties on the accompanying LED screen system. It is the largest purpose-built outdoor entertainment stages within the Sports Complex.

PBR Backyard
The expansion nearly doubles the footprint of PBR Philly, adding a dedicated outdoor stage, dance floor, and new VIP sections to create a fully immersive country entertainment experience. Known nationally for its high-energy, crowd-driven atmosphere, live music, line dancing, and themed programming, PBR Philly turns every night into a shared experience, bringing its signature energy to the heart of the Sports Complex.

Blue Moon Beer Garden and Stateside Crush Bar
A sun-soaked open-air beer garden built for socializing, sports watching, and celebration serving a full seasonal lineup of brews alongside the Stateside Crush Bar, featuring freshly hand-squeezed cocktails made with a variety of spirits.

The new experiences are complemented by Philadelphia’s most iconic game-day food lineup, including Chickie’s & Pete’s, Lorenzo’s Pizza, and Geno’s Steaks, all under one roof, alongside expanded offerings and a new ordering technology platform designed for speed and convenience.

The new Stateside Live! will open at 5 p.m. on May 29th and features a free concert with Taking Back Sunday, Mayday Parade, and Bayside. That’s pretty sick. Taking Back Sunday had some bangers back in the day and the support of Millennials from here to California. I’m gonna end up having to take my wife to this show, which I think might be her 17th or 18th Taking Back Sunday gig. The free tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 17^th and you can go to StatesideLive.com to get them.

In addition to that show, there’s a DJ performance on Saturday, May 30th, from LA-based “Two Friends.” Never heard of ’em, but apparently they’ve headlined some big festivals before, which is dope.

Here are some photos of what you can expect from the new venue. Not sure if you recall what this thing was supposed to look like when they opened it more than 15 years ago, but the original design featured a much larger building, and now this expansion is much closer to what they originally envisioned back in 2008. It’s part of the sports complex redesign that includes a new hockey and basketball arena, which opens in 2030: