The focus now shifts back to South Philadelphia after a potential deal to move the Philadelphia 76ers to Market East has officially been put to rest.
City officials, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Comcast Spectator made the announcement on Jan. 13 that a new world-class, state-of-the-art arena will be constructed in South Philly at the existing Stadium Complex. The 50-50 joint venture between HBSE and Comcast Spectator will serve as the new home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers, starting in 2031.
In addition, the partnership will include a 50-50 venture to invest in the revitalization of Market East in Center City.
“This is a great day for Philadelphia and the fans of our storied sports franchises,” said Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation. “We are grateful to Mayor Parker and Gov. Shapiro for their leadership and are thrilled to work together to develop the premier sports and entertainment destination in the nation that will benefit the region for decades to come.”
In the NBA, only eight teams play in buildings older than the Wells Fargo Center, which opened in 1996 for both the 76ers and Flyers.Â
“Today’s announcement is great news for the city of Philadelphia,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “I greatly appreciate the leadership of Mayor Parker and Gov. Shapiro and the willingness of HBSE and Comcast to join forces, the result of which will be a world-class arena for 76ers and Flyers fans, with opportunities for more teams to come.”
In addition, Comcast is planning to take a minority stake in the 76ers and will join with HBSE to bid to bring a WNBA team to the city. Currently, the Wells Fargo is home to Philadelphia Wings lacrosse and Villanova University men’s basketball. It also hosts numerous concerts, sports entertainment and combat sports events.
In the hockey world, 11 teams play in older arenas than the Flyers, however the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators will unveil new stadiums before Philadelphia. Only Madison Square Garden in New York, TD Center in Boston, the Delta Center in Utah and the United Center in Chicago have older buildings that serve the combination of both professional basketball and hockey teams.
“We’re thrilled to see Comcast Spectacor and HBSE unite to deliver a new state-of-the-art arena in South Philadelphia,” said Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner. “For the past 58 years, in both the Spectrum and Wells Fargo Center, those arenas and Flyers fans have consistently produced an atmosphere that is among the best in sports. This visionary and forward-looking facility will take the fan experience to a whole new level where the great pride and passion of Philadelphia sports fans will continue to be on full display.”
The arena is said to accompany the enormous $2.5 billion revitalization project at the stadium district which was announced in February. It includes upgrades to Xfinity Live!, the construction of a 250-room hotel, a 5,000-6,000-seat concert venue, restaurant and retail spaces and a new outdoor plaza.Â
“We firmly believe we are better working together for Philadelphia,” said Dan Hilferty, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor. “This new arena will complement other exciting developments in the area, including Comcast Spectacor’s and the Philadelphia Phillies’ plans to create the country’s top sports and entertainment district. We will all work closely together to create an unmatched experience for the fans while developing a vibrant mixed-use district that serves our community.”
The shift to a new arena in South Philadelphia was sudden, especially after City Council approved the privately funded arena in Market East by a 12-5 margin less than a month ago after heavy opposition from the community in Chinatown.
Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier and Rue Landau voted against the proposal and questioned the integrity of developers.
“Today’s news is a win for both vulnerable communities and our city. It also confirms that 76DevCo was not engaging the City in good faith,” Gauthier and Landau said in a statement.
“We’re glad that the Sixers will remain in the stadium district where they best belong. But the way they reached this decision reflects a profound lack of respect for City leaders, stakeholders, and residents. It was shameful for 76DevCo to pit working-class Philadelphians against one another and pressure City Council to consider a half-baked proposal on an artificially rushed timeline.”
