$700M Live! Casino Resort Opens Near Philly Stadiums

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave final approval for the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located at 900 Packer Ave. in the shadow of the Wells Fargo Center and Lincoln Financial Field. Developed by Baltimore-based The Cordish Cos., the 510,000-square-foot complex includes a 12-story, 208-room boutique hotel with rooms starting at $299 weekdays and $399 weekends, more than 2,100 slots and electronic table games, 150 live-action table games, a 29-table poker room and a FanDuel sportsbook. Gilbane Building Co. served as general contractor, overseeing demolition of the former Holiday Inn and construction of the 1.5-million-square-foot resort, which generated 3,000 to 5,000 construction jobs.

Opening to the public at 8 p.m. on Feb. 11 following preview days for Live! Rewards Club members starting Jan. 19, the resort anchors Philadelphia's sports and entertainment district near FDR Park and the Navy Yard. Dining options feature Morty’s New York-style deli and the 24-hour Luckie’s Liquor bar, complementing live entertainment venues. The project includes a 2,700-space parking garage and a community benefits plan prioritizing hiring for local residents, minorities, women and veterans.

Economists project the casino will generate $2 billion in stimulus for Philadelphia and $100 million in tax revenue over its first five years, including $25 million for the Philadelphia School District. As Pennsylvania's latest gaming hub in Montgomery County's orbit but firmly in South Philly, it bolsters tourism amid competition from Parx Casino and others, drawing crowds via major highways and proximity to booming South Philadelphia neighborhoods.