PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After more than two years of hearings, long-winded debates and bitter protests — and after winning over City Council to vote on legislation to pave the way — the 76ers have abandoned their plans to build a new arena in Center City.
The team's owners have instead struck a 50-50 deal with Comcast Spectacor to demolish Wells Fargo Center, which the company owns, and build a new arena in the South Philly Sports Complex.
The Center City arena project, called 76 Place, was approved by Philadelphia City Council late last month. Some council members who voted against it say they feel blindsided.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks said she wants to know what exactly happened and why they put so much energy into a project that didn’t go anywhere.
“We spent a lot of time, effort and resources on hearings that lasted through the end of the year that could have been spent toward other issues that we have been focusing on,” she told NBC10.
City Councilmember Mark Squilla confirmed the 76ers called him directly on Saturday to tell him they would no longer be moving forward with the Market East project. Squilla said he knew the Sixers were continuing to negotiate after the bills passed late last year, even talking in New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office as recently as last weekend.
Mayor Cherelle Parker and her administration had high hopes for an East Market Sixers arena, pegging an expected economic renaissance to the construction of 76 Place, which was slated to open for the NBA’s 2031 season.
On Monday morning, she gathered a formidable crew, including NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Sixers owners, Flyers officials, the president of Comcast, and even comedian Wanda Sykes, to sell the idea that the 76ers' change of heart was good news. They all praised the new plan, but Parker admitted she did not see it coming.
“Big gulp, yes, curve ball, but let me tell you something," Parker said, "I don’t have the luxury as mayor to allow my pride, my ego or my emotions to drive my decision-making."
Parker said she was going back to the drawing board on the Community Benefits Agreement, payments in lieu of taxes, and the employment opportunity plan for the new arena. She declined to say if any city money would be used.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment called the new arena in South Philly "a massive win for fans and for the city," and said it will be one of the finest, most technologically advanced, and sustainable sports and entertainment arenas in the country. It's slated to open in 2031, though it could be sooner.
“From the start, we envisioned a project that would be transformative for our city and deliver the type of experience our fans deserve," said HBSE’s Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman. "This partnership ensures Philadelphia will have two developments instead of one, creating more jobs and real, sustainable economic opportunity."
In addition to the new deal, Comcast will be involved in reimagining Market East. Squilla said the company now has a clean slate and will work in conjunction with the surrounding community, including Chinatown.
“I assure you that in the end, we will not only feel proud, but deeply gratified that we’ve contributed to restoring Market East to its former glory and building the best arena in the world,” Adelman said.
Despite strong support from the mayor, the former arena proposal had been dogged by opposition from neighborhood groups led by community leaders in Chinatown, who refused to participate in the process, saying 76 Place would have destroyed the character of the neighborhood and harmed local businesses. They fought the proposal to the bitter end and beyond. The No Arena in Chinatown Solidary Group protested, even after the Dec. 19 City Council session that gave the 76ers the green light to start construction.
In a statement, the No Arena Coalition said it was relieved by the decision — but will not forget those who voted in favor of the project.
“Decisions about the future of neighborhoods are not being made by the people of those communities nor with their best interest in mind, but by a select few who represent their own benefits,” the statement reads, in part. “We celebrate that Chinatown is safe for now, but nobody’s home is safe as long as billionaires are planning our city and politicians are playing their game.”