Cordish growing its Sports & Social clubs

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cordish Cos. group is known for its mammoth sports and entertainment complexes in major U.S. cities, but this former manufacturing town is now home to a scaled-down version of those behemoths.

Downtown Allentown recently saw the opening of the new Cordish dining and entertainment venue, Sports & Social.

Reed Cordish, principal and partner of  The Cordish Companies, said executives were drawn to an impressive renaissance in downtown Allentown.

“For people who live here it might not seem so special,” Cordish said. “But the amount of development at this City Center  in the last seven or eight years has been very impressive. More people and more companies are looking to locate downtown.”

He said he expects that growth in the City Center  area to expand even more over the next seven years and said those people living and working downtown will need entertainment.

“I think it’s also our job to be a destination that will make people want to travel to Downtown Allentown,” he said.

The Cordish Companies is a Baltimore.-based real estate development and entertainment operating company, which owns the Live! Dining & Entertainment brand nationwide. It boasts a number of casinos, restaurants and arenas around the globe, including Xfinity Live in Philadelphia

But in recent years, the Sports & Social locations quietly have become an important part of the company’s portfolio.

Cordish said he became aware of the opportunity in Allentown after being introduced to J.B. Reilly, president of Center City Investment Corp, who has developed the majority of new properties downtown, including the space where Sports & Social is now located.

“He pitched us the idea that Allentown would be a good location for a Sports & Social. I really think it’s a good marriage,” he said.

Reilly said he knew The Cordish Companies would be able to offer a venue that would help bolster the redevelopment downtown.

“We built this critical mass of people living and working in the downtown. It’s the right time to support a world class sports facility like this,” Reilly said. ”When you look at Sports & Social you know you’re looking at the industry leader in this space.”

He said he expects the sports bar, restaurant and entertainment venue to be a success, because The Cordish Companies have experience in bringing such properties to cities undergoing revitalization.

“They have been part of urban revitalization. They were really vital in the redevelopment of Baltimore with Baltimore Live!,” Reilly said. “They understand what it takes to be successful.

Cordish, said that understanding includes the knowledge to not put all of a venue’s eggs in one basket.

Sports & Social locations are often paired with or located near sports venues, such as the nearby PPL Center, but Cordish said the arena, while important in attracting the company to the city, wasn’t the only deciding factor.

Besides offering a scratch-made menu of food ranging from cheesesteaks to tacos, and a full bar of craft drinks, Sports & Social aims to be the “go-to” place for watching sports as well as a place to “pre-game” for Phantoms hockey games at the arena.

It also will have entertainment, including live music, several times a week. There is an assortment of mostly retro video games, including skee ball, which are aimed at bolstering the social environment.

The goal is to have a big enough variety of entertainment that the venue stands on its own.

Besides regular dining, Cordish said the venue also promotes itself for social events including parties and corporate gatherings.

He said the 10,000-square-foot venue is large enough that several events can go on at once.

“It’s not just a place to watch a game or for people coming to a hockey game. We want it to be a great draw to the downtown when there’s nothing going on at the arena,” Cordish said.