The Met Philadelphia is one of the most dramatic concert rooms in the country: a gilded, century-old opera house on North Broad Street that spent decades as a movie palace, boxing arena, and working church before Live Nation reopened it as a modern concert venue in 2018. Whether you’re buying your first ticket or just trying to figure out where to park, here’s what to know before a show.
Officially billed today as The Met Presented by Highmark, the roughly 3,500-capacity hall pairs restored 1908 architectural details, including ornate plasterwork, a soaring proscenium arch, and multiple balcony levels, with modern sound, bar service, and floor space that can go general-admission or seated depending on the show.
Quick Answer
The Met Philadelphia sits at 858 N. Broad Street in North Philadelphia and holds about 3,500 people. Built in 1908 as the Metropolitan Opera House, it operated as an opera house, movie theater, and church before Live Nation and developer Eric Blumenfeld restored it into a modern concert hall that reopened on December 3, 2018, with a Bob Dylan concert.
From Grand Opera House to Modern Venue
When it opened on November 17, 1908, the Philadelphia Opera House was impresario Oscar Hammerstein I’s answer to the city’s established Academy of Music, and architect William H. McElfatrick designed it to seat more than 4,000 people, making it the largest theater of its kind in the world at the time. The rivalry didn’t last: the New York Metropolitan Opera bought the building in 1910 and staged its final performance there in 1920, but other companies, including the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company and touring troupes like the Chicago Grand Opera Company, kept opera alive on the stage until the last opera production closed in 1934.
Over the following decades the hall cycled through second acts as a movie palace, ballroom, and boxing venue before a Christian congregation purchased it in 1995 and used it as a church while the structure slowly deteriorated. By 1988 the building had already fallen into serious disrepair, and it took a joint restoration between Blumenfeld, the church ownership, and Live Nation as promoter and tenant, at a cost of roughly $45 to $56 million, to bring the space back as a functioning concert hall.
Seating Chart, Sections & Capacity
The Met’s modern-day capacity runs about 3,500, down from its original 1908 seating of more than 4,000. The room is generally organized into an Orchestra/Pit level closest to the stage, a Grand Salle main floor, Loge and Mezzanine tiers, and box seating along the sides, though the exact configuration shifts from show to show.
Many touring concerts convert the Orchestra and Pit sections into a standing general-admission floor while keeping the upper Loge, Mezzanine, and box levels reserved-seated, while theatrical and comedy bookings are more likely to run fully seated throughout. Because layouts vary by event, check the seating chart attached to your specific show listing on Ticketmaster or Live Nation before choosing seats.
Tickets & Box Office
Tickets are sold primarily through Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and resale marketplaces like SeatGeek and Vivid Seats also list seats for most shows. The Met’s own box office, at the corner of Poplar and Carlisle Streets, is open on show days only, starting two hours before doors, and charges an $8 per-ticket fee; it accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express, but does not accept cash.
For the current event calendar, official ticket links, and any show-specific policies, use the official Met Philadelphia website as your primary source.
Parking Near The Met Philadelphia
The venue operates several nearby lots rather than an on-site garage. Lot A, at 855 N. Broad Street, is the closest lot to the entrance and opens one hour before doors; it’s also where accessible parking is located, on a first-come, first-served basis. Lot C, at 1413 Parrish Street, opens at 6:00 p.m., and Lot D, at 1406 Melon Street, opens at 6:00 p.m. on weeknights and 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Valet parking is available directly at 858 N. Broad Street and also opens one hour before doors.
Overnight parking isn’t permitted in any of the venue’s lots, and unauthorized vehicles are subject to towing. For current lot pricing or to resolve a parking purchase issue, contact the box office through the official Met Philadelphia visitor-info page.
Bag Policy & What to Bring
The Met enforces a clear-cut size limit: bags larger than 12″ x 12″ x 6″ are not allowed inside, and any bag that is permitted is subject to a search at entry. Guests can decline a bag search, but the venue can refuse entry in that case, so it’s simplest to arrive without an oversized bag altogether.
Other prohibited items include weapons, outside alcohol, illegal drugs, glass and cans, professional cameras, selfie sticks, pointed umbrellas, ski masks, wallet chains, and laptops; animals aren’t allowed except for service animals. Re-entry is not permitted once you leave, so plan to stay put once you’re inside.
Getting There & Accessibility
The Met sits along Philadelphia’s Broad Street corridor at 858 N. Broad Street, roughly midway between SEPTA’s Girard and Fairmount stations on the Broad Street Line subway, both within a few blocks’ walk, along with several nearby bus routes.
For accessibility accommodations, guests can check in at the box office or guest services on arrival; the venue’s official visitor-info page also lists contact details (800.653.8000 or themetphiladelphia@gmail.com) for arranging assistance ahead of a show.
The Met Philadelphia FAQs
When did The Met Philadelphia open?
The building first opened as the Philadelphia Opera House on November 17, 1908. After decades of disuse and a multimillion-dollar renovation, it reopened as The Met Philadelphia concert venue on December 3, 2018, with a Bob Dylan concert.
What is the capacity of The Met Philadelphia?
The Met Philadelphia holds about 3,500 people, down from its original 1908 seating of more than 4,000.
Who operates The Met Philadelphia?
Live Nation operates the venue, now billed as The Met Presented by Highmark, following a renovation partnership with developer Eric Blumenfeld and the building’s former church owners.
Where do you park at The Met Philadelphia?
The venue uses nearby lots rather than an on-site garage: Lot A (855 N. Broad St.) is closest and includes accessible parking, Lot C (1413 Parrish St.) and Lot D (1406 Melon St.) open in the early evening, and valet is available at 858 N. Broad Street.
What is The Met Philadelphia’s bag policy?
Bags larger than 12″ x 12″ x 6″ are prohibited, and all bags are subject to search at entry. Weapons, outside alcohol, glass, cans, professional cameras, and similar items are also not allowed.
Where is The Met Philadelphia’s box office?
The box office is located at the corner of Poplar and Carlisle Streets and is open on show days only, starting two hours before doors, with an $8 per-ticket fee and card-only payment.
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