Original Plan

For two and a half years, the Sixers have been pushing to build a downtown basketball arena next to Center City’s Chinatown since July of 2022. The facility, named 76 Place, would “sit atop SEPTA’s Jefferson Station at 10th and Market streets, taking over about a third of the Fashion District mall” at Market East. Originally, the $1.3 billion plan, championed by Mayor Cherelle Parker, had been approved by the Philadelphia City Council in December of 2024 despite vehement opposition. 

The No Arena Coalition, a group in protest of the proposed arena, was largely overlooked even though decades of research showed that half the small businesses in Chinatown would lose economically if the arena was built, while only one out of five was positioned to benefit. 12 of 17 [Philadelphia City Council Members still] turned their backs on decades of research on the false promise of stadium developments, common sense, their voters, and the 70% of Philadelphians who opposed this arena. Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a news conference right after the Philadelphia city council’s vote for the arena, that, “We will ensure that Chinatown will not only survive, but that it will thrive. We will ensure that you are not harmed by this arena”. 

In addition, their plan for transportation included 40% of Sixers fans being able to take the train home from games, however SEPTA cannot afford to expand service at Jefferson Station to better accommodate Sixers fans who choose to take the train home from games. In response to vociferous opposition, the NBA team pledged to provide $60 million for a community benefits agreement, distributing the funds among the city, the school district, Chinatown, minority-owned businesses, and other recipients. While this amount exceeded their initial $50 million offer, it fell far short of the $300 million that community groups estimated was necessary.

So what now?

Ultimately, the Sixers checked off most of their plans but unexpectedly scrapped the Center City idea they had worked on for two years. The significant shift in this trajectory left the future of the franchise’s home court up in the air. The pivot in the NBA team’s plans for Center City’s arena gave rise to many celebrations throughout the city, just in time for the Lunar New Year. 

Currently, the 76ers reside in the Wells Fargo Center with the N.H.L.’s Flyers. Both teams are owned by Comcast, a key stakeholder in Philly’s sports and entertainment landscape. Although there won’t be an arena in Center City, the conversation surrounding its impact isn’t over. Advocates for Chinatown are still pushing for all of the benefits Chinatown was set to get under the agreement, including “millions of dollars for businesses and affordable housing” (WHYY). However, the team and its new partner, Comcast, say they’ll work together to reinvest in Market East. Now, the Sixers plan to remain in South Philly, their current location, and build a new arena there in lieu of the one in Market East. The decision comes after years of Comcast Spectacor, the owner of the Wells Fargo Center and the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, “offering the Sixers a 50-50 ownership split of a future South Philadelphia arena in an effort to keep the Sixers from leaving the Sports Complex”. While the arena proposal for Central City gained Philadelphia City Council’s approval, it faced significant public opposition and logistical challenges, which may have been a factor in the arena’s relocation. Additionally, the recent announcement of Macy’s closing its Wanamaker building location—situated near the proposed arena—raised concerns about the area’s economic stability. As part of the new deal, Comcast will take a minority stake in the 76ers and assist in bringing a WNBA franchise to Philadelphia, further solidifying the partnership.