Philadelphia Scraps Center City Arena Plan, Opts for South Philadelphia Site

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — In a dramatic reversal, the Philadelphia 76ers have abandoned plans to build a new arena in Center City, opting instead to demolish the Wells Fargo Center and construct a state-of-the-art facility in South Philadelphia. The decision, confirmed Sunday by city officials and union representatives, marks the end of a contentious two-year battle over the proposed $1.3 billion project.

Ryan Boyer, president of the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council, told NBC10 that the new plan will create more jobs for union workers. “We actually get more jobs. For the building trades, this is good news,” Boyer said. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 also praised the decision, calling it a “significant win” for the city and its workers.

However, the abrupt shift has left some city leaders feeling betrayed. Philadelphia City Councilmember at-large Jim Harrity expressed frustration, saying he felt “bamboozled” by the decision. “I feel they not only bamboozled me but bamboozled the citizens of Philadelphia,” Harrity said, lamenting the loss of promised tax revenue for the city’s schools.

The original plan, approved by City Council in December 2024, included a $60 million community benefits agreement. It faced fierce opposition from residents and advocacy groups, particularly those in Chinatown, who argued the project would devastate their community. The No Arena Coalition, a group of thousands of organizations, celebrated the reversal as a victory for grassroots activism. “This win belongs to you, and the lesson for politicians is to trust the people,” a coalition spokesperson said.

Under the new agreement, the 76ers and Flyers will partner with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in South Philadelphia. Additionally, the Sixers and Comcast will collaborate on a revitalization project for the Market East neighborhood. Details of the deal remain undisclosed, but a source familiar with the situation confirmed the partnership.

Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks, who opposed the Center City plan, welcomed the news but called for transparency. “I’m interested to know the details behind what happened,” Brooks said. “We spent a lot of time and effort on hearings that could have been spent towards other issues.”

Advocates for Chinatown, while relieved, are now pushing to ensure the neighborhood still receives the benefits promised under the original agreement. “Just because it’s not an arena doesn’t mean the community should be taken out of the equation again,” said Vivian Chang of the No Arena Coalition.

A press conference on the decision is expected to be held Monday morning, Jan. 13, 2025. Officials with the Sixers, Comcast, and the City of Philadelphia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.