Philly Council Advances Deal For $1.3B NBA Arena In Center City
Arena negotiations between the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia City Council came down to the wire, but lawmakers have finally advanced the $1.3B project after weeks of intense negotiations and two delayed votes Wednesday.
The Committee of the Whole approved legislation with a new, beefed-up $60M community benefits agreement introduced by Council Member Mark Squilla during a loud, sometimes unruly meeting on Thursday morning. It was an 12-4 decision.
The new stadium, dubbed 76 Place, is set to replace part of the Fashion District mall on 10th and Filbert streets. The Sixers have said demolition would need to begin in 2026.
Thursday's vote drew intense jeers from opponents of the arena.
“You’re all sellouts,” they shouted as Council President Kenyatta Johnson repeatedly slammed his gavel. “Fifty million, $60M, the whole thing is a sellout deal.”
The new CBA figure is less than the $100M floated by Johnson in recent days, but more than the $50M originally proposed.
The 11 members who voted in favor of the legislation included Johnson, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Squilla, who represents the district where the arena will be built. The four lawmakers who voted against the bills included Council Members Nicholas O'Rourke, Jamie Gauthier, Jeffery Young Jr. and Rue Landau.
Council Member Kendra Brooks, who has publicly come out against the arena, was absent.
After numerous delays, today was the council's last chance approve the arena before the end of the year, as the Sixers have requested. The team said Thursday's vote was necessary for the project to be completed before their lease at the Wells Fargo Center expires in 2031.
This is not the final vote, but because the Committee of the Whole includes every council member, it’s seen as a clear indicator of what will happen in the coming days. City law says the body needs to wait at least a week before conducting a final vote, which could happen next week.
Gauthier and Landau released a statement indicating they will also vote no next week. The pair lamented that the 76ers had not agreed to the $100M CBA and said the final deal does not go enough to offset harm to Chinatown, Washington Square West and the city’s Gayborhood.
“It is deplorable to learn the 76ers and their billionaire owners think our communities are worth only $60 million over 30 years,” they said in the statement. “They recently gave a single athlete $193 million over 3 years.”
The CBA additions weren’t a big sweetener for many opponents of the arena, who are concerned about gentrification in nearby Chinatown, increased auto traffic in Center City and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's ability to pay for additional service at the venue amid the agency’s ongoing budget crisis.
Protesters came out in force at City Hall ahead of the two cancelled voted on Wednesday and were present again Thursday for the vote, which was delayed for an hour. Wednesday afternoon, they chanted for more than 30 minutes straight while holding signs featuring the Monopoly man and anti-capitalist slogans.
Anti-arena activists don’t plan to go quietly. A car caravan protest meant to simulate the additional traffic the arena could bring to Center City is set for 5:30 p.m.Thursday, Crossing Broad reported.
“Gridlock is guaranteed if more than 40% of spectators drive – a likely reality given that 85% of spectators currently drive to Wells Fargo Center,” activists said in a statement obtained by the outlet. “The arena developers have yet to provide a plan to address and manage what is near-certain gridlock around the arena, which would impede access to Jefferson Hospital and jam up commuters.”
Proponents of the project, many of whom are union members, have argued that the arena will bring additional jobs to Philadelphia and help revitalize the struggling Market East corridor.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment bought the Sixers from Comcast Spectacor in 2011. The media conglomerate still owns the Wells Fargo Center.
HBSE previously proposed building a new arena at Penn’s Landing in Center City, but the plan didn't move forward.
If the East Market Street arena plan goes awry, the Sixers have a backup option across the Delaware River in Camden, where the team’s practice facilities and corporate headquarters are already located.
Politicians in New Jersey tried to entice the team with $400M in tax breaks, $500M in public bonds and a piece of waterfront real estate in North Camden that formerly housed a prison.
