The Philadelphia 76ers plan to stay in South Philadelphia in the latest twist in their long quest to build a new arena, according to Jake Blumgart and Sean Collins Walsh of The Philadelphia Inquirer. A new deal between the 76ers and Comcast Spectacor, owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center, is expected to end the 76ers arena saga. In July 2022, the team announced a proposal for an arena on Market Street in Center City Philadelphia, bordering the city’s Chinatown. The 76ers – who also flirted with the idea of moving to Camden, New Jersey – got major endorsements from city lawmakers in December in a controversial vote.
Sunday’s news was a shocking reversal. The 76ers will now work with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in the area, according to Ryan Boyer, head of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council. John Clark NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that the new arena will be a 50-50 partnership between the 76ers and Flyers. Both teams currently play at the Wells Fargo Center in the South Philly Stadium Complex, an area where the NFL’s Eagles and MLB’s Phillies also call home.
A new arena deal has been a priority for the 76ers for some time. Comcast Spectacor owned the 76ers, but sold them to Josh Harris in 2011. Comcast kept the Flyers, however, essentially making the 76ers tenants in the Flyers’ arena.
The new model gaining ground in sports involves building stadium districts around the arena that become profit centers in their own right. The Clippers and Warriors, who both have their own arenas, are notable examples of this trend. That was apparently the 76ers’ plan at Market Street. There were also discussions about development plans to the existing sports complex.
However, during the arena planning process, the 76ers faced significant opposition from community groups. Two neighborhoods – Chinatown and Washington Square West – would have bordered the proposed arena and were strongly opposed to it due to concerns about traffic and rising costs. A 2024 survey showed that only 18% of Philadelphia residents supported the project. The plan still managed to make it through a City Council vote, with the team contributing $60 million to a 30-year community benefits agreement.
But ultimately, the Harris-owned 76ers decided to stay put. Harris also owns the NFL’s Washington Commanders (and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils), and his football team is seeking a new stadium in DC.
