Matchbox Twenty
with: The Wallflowers
NEW DATE: Sunday, July 16, 2023
at Waterfront Music Pavilion (formerly BB&T Pavilion)
Ticket info and more: TicketMaster.com.
(All tickets honored, original show date: 7/21/2020, then ppd to 7/22/21, then ppd to 7/17/22… now the date listed above)
10 Largest Concert Venues in the Philadelphia Area
The greater Philly region has one of the richest cultural histories of any city in the United States and one of the best music scenes in the world.
The City of Brotherly Love boasts a long list of enjoyable concert venues with a wide range of size and popularity. The variety spans from intimate local settings to monstrous amphitheaters to sports arenas turned into concert facilities for major shows.
The 10 largest venues host some of the biggest name performers that tour Philadelphia.
10. The Keswick Theatre
The Keswick Theatre originally opened in 1928. It has closed temporarily twice throughout its history, but it’s remained open in its current format since 1988. The venue is located just outside the city limits in Glenside (Montgomery County). It regularly hosts prominent rock artists, popular tribute bands, and other performers in the Philadelphia area.
It holds approximately 1300 people.
9. Parx Casino- Xcite Center
The Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem, PA features cutting edge technology like advanced lighting and state-of-the-art digital screens on each side of the stage.
It holds over 1500 guests at maximum capacity. You can catch Preston & Steve’s Christmas Miracle every year in December at the Xcite Center.
7. Franklin Music Hall (tie)
The Electric Factory changed its name to Franklin Music Hall in 2018 as part of a contest that awarded free tickets for two years worth of shows at the venue to two winners.
Franklin Music Hall has an intimate vibe with a main floor in front of the stage and a second level along the perimeter of the building. It’s located on 7th St. just off Callowhill St. in close range of Northern Liberties and Center City. It holds about 2500 people.
7. The Fillmore (tie)
The Fillmore stands in the heart of Fishtown, one of the most heavily gentrified neighborhoods in Philadelphia. It’s located within walking distance of plenty of popular bars and restaurants as well as Rivers Casino. It holds about 2500 people.
6. The Tower Theatre
The Tower Theatre in Upper Darby has hosted some of the greatest rock musicians of all time since it opened in 1972. David Bowie recorded his album David Live at the Tower in 1974, helping the building establish a reputation as a respectable concert location for popular musicians.
Delaware County’s favorite venue lists a capacity over 3100.
5. The Kimmel Center
The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus is located on Broad St. in between the corners of Spruce St. and Pine St. in the heart of Center City. It hosts concerts and other events that celebrate the culture of the city of Philadelphia. It holds approximately 3150 people.
4. The Met Philly
The Met underwent lucrative renovations to become “the crown jewel of North Broad Street’s renaissance” when it reopened in 2018. The building originally opened in 1908, but weathering over many years meant it was due for a major upgrade.
It’s located just south of Temple University at the corner of Broad St. and Poplar St., and it holds about 3500 at maximum capacity.
3. Mann Music Center
The TD Pavilion at the Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park consists of an amphitheater with two levels of seating and a grassy area outside with digital screens that show the main stage. The highest levels of the outdoor area feature one of the most beautiful views of the Center City skyline from the western limits of the city.
The Mann is a non-profit facility dedicated to growing the arts in Philadelphia. It holds about 14,000 people at maximum capacity.
2. Wells Fargo Center
The Wells Fargo Center (as we now know it) has hosted over 600 concerts at the sports complex in South Philadelphia since it opened in 1996 as a multipurpose facility. The home of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Philadelphia 76ers plays host to some of the biggest name, mainstream artists that tour in Philadelphia.
One of the most famous shows in the history of the venue took place in 2016 when Pearl Jam visited Philadelphia as part of their tour for 25th anniversary of Ten. The arena lowered a banner for 10 Pearl Jam sellouts at the South Philadelphia sports complex.
It holds about 19,500 people.
1. Freedom Mortgage Pavillion
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion is located along the Delaware River waterfront across the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden, NJ. Although the venue has changed names several times since it opened in 1995, it still features the same exciting complement of an amphitheater close to the main stage and a spacious lawn area. It’s hosted 16 years of MMRBQ lineups.
The amphitheater holds about 7000 people, while the total capacity is approximately 25,000.
Sleeper Venues
The list wouldn’t be complete without some honorable mentions. Brooklyn Bowl, located just a short walk away from the Fillmore, features a newer facility with a bowling alley downstairs and a concert venue upstairs.
The Theater of the Living Arts (TLA) on South Street has a capacity that lands just outside the top 10, but it plays host to some of the best concerts in the Philadelphia area.
Exceptions
Lincoln Financial Field (67,000+) and Citizens Bank Park (43,000+) host massive stadium shows every summer. Since they were built for sporting events, we’ll leave those sellouts to the boys in blue (re: green and red for those who don’t speak Pierre).