The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) by Jake Blumgart
Several members of the City Council have stated that the 76ers will remain in South Philadelphia.
After more than two years of intense discussion about a possible new arena on East Market Street, the team has reached an agreement with Comcast Spectacor to stay in the South Philadelphia sports stadium district.
In a controversial vote at the conclusion of the previous year, the City Council approved enabling legislation that would have made it possible for the Center City arena to proceed.
Jimmy Harrity, a City Council at-large member who backed the team’s relocation to East Market Street, said, “I’m so angry right now I don’t even know what to do.” I felt like I was a pawn in this game.
Comcast Spectacor aggressively courted the Sixers to remain in the stadium district after they declared their intention to depart South Philadelphia. They unveiled a bold and expansive plan for a $2.5 billion total reconstruction of the region as part of their campaign, which would include thousands of new apartments, eateries, and entertainment venues.
The group insisted, however, that they had ambitious ambitions for East Market Street. Additionally, they purchased other sites on Market Street’s south side that were planned for retail and residential development.
Although specifics are unclear, one council member who has spoken with the team and administration stated that the 76ers still want to proceed with some of those improvements. Additionally, the development schedule for South Philadelphia and East Market would be accelerated. The original plan was for the Sixers’ East Market arena to debut in 2031.
The arena has been the subject of a heated discussion, with a coalition of Chinatown advocacy groups leading the opposition due to concerns about the potentially disruptive impact of a large real estate development directly on the neighborhood’s boundary. The late 2024 City Council votes were contentious, with some protestors interfering and a group of council members voting against.
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, a guy strolls through Philadelphia’s Chinatown district. The idea of moving the team there seems to have been abandoned. (Photo by Matt Slocum/AP)
In order to secure $60 million for various municipal programs and community organizations, the Sixers and the city inked a community benefits agreement.
According to Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, “We are open-minded about the future, but there are a lot of questions to be answered about what’s coming for South Philadelphia and East Market and the other opportunities that were agreed upon.”
This tale is still in progress and will be updated.
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