Step Inside: The Met, a Premier Philly Venue

The Met Presented by Highmark is an opera house and music venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Located north of the city center on N Broad St., the historic building has stood for well over a century. Artists who’ve recently performed on The Met’s grandiose stage include Boyz II Men, Mitski, Brothers Osborne, girl in red, Monica and more.

The Met Presented by Highmark History

The Met Presented by Highmark was built as Philadelphia’s grand opera house in 1908 by Oscar Hammerstein and opened with a production of George Bizet’s Carmen. Two years after opening, Hammerstein’s son exercised his father’s power of attorney and sold the building to the New York Metropolitan Opera, with the company’s tenure lasting through 1920. In the mid-20th century, the theater was known for putting on vaudeville and theater acts, as well as hosting touring acts like James Cleveland, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Mahalia Jackson, The Caravans and more.

In its more than 100-year history, The Met Presented by Highmark has lived many lives, including as a silent movie theater, ballroom, vocational school for mechanics, a sporting venue dedicated to basketball, wrestling and boxing, a gospel concert hall and the headquarters of the Church of the Holy Ghost. Following a $45 million renovation, the venue reopened as a mixed use concert venue in 2018, beginning with a concert by Bob Dylan.

Get to Know The Met Presented by Highmark

Venue Features

The Met Presented by Highmark already has built-in world class acoustics thanks to its breathtaking original design, but the building’s renovation in the late 2010s added an elaborate sound system by Clair Brothers to enhance the venue’s natural acoustics with echo-free, state-of-the-art sound.

Seating and Viewing Options

The Met Presented by Highmark has a capacity of 3,800. Seating options include front and rear orchestra sections as well as a loge and mezzanine. Premium seating packages in the grande salle boxes, which include a private bar, dedicated concierge service, priority venue entrance and more, are also available for purchase. See the theater’s full layout (by upcoming concert) here.

Venue Accessibility

The Met Presented by Highmark offers accessible seating, entrances, parking and restrooms on site, as well as limited storage for wheelchairs and other mobility devices. For more complete information on the venue’s accessibility accommodations, click here.

Parking and Admission at The Met Presented by Highmark

Parking passes for The Met Presented by Highmark are available for purchase on the venue’s official website, with lots close to the venue located at 855 N Broad St and the intersection of Broad St and North St. The Met Presented by Highmark is also accessible via trolley, subway and bus — with stops for each just minutes away from the venue along Broad St.

 

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Nearby Attractions

Food & Drink Near The Met Presented by Highmark

Below are a number of dining options within a short distance of The Met Presented by Highmark:

• Crab Du Jour Philly, 822 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130
• Lorraine, 1502 Brown St., Philadelphia, PA 19130
• Sushiya, 1418 W Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19130
• Crown Fried Chicken, 933 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
• Santucci’s Original Square Pizza, 655 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
• Osteria, 640 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
• SOUTH Restaurant & Jazz Club, 600 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130
• Nepali MoMO Kitchen, 532 N 15th St., Philadelphia, PA 19130

Hotels Near The Met Presented by Highmark

Below are a number of hotel options near The Met Presented by Highmark:

• Mint House at The Divine Lorraine Hotel, 699 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
• Sosuite at Independence Lofts, 525 N 11th St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
• Conwell Inn, 1331 Polett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122
• The Maj Hotel, 2225 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19130
• Sonder Onyx, 305 N 15th St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
• Le Méridien Philadelphia, 1421 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
• Kestrel Hotel, 1231 Wood St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
• The Logan Philadelphia, One Logan Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103