Mayor Sherrell Parker supports the Sixers’ plans to build a new arena in Center City and said in a video posted to social media on Wednesday that a deal had been reached to keep the team in Philadelphia.
The news came a week after the mayor’s remarks. Hosted a town hall Because of a controversial project that would affect nearby Chinatown.
In the video, Parker claimed the proposed arena was “the best financial deal ever made by a Philadelphia mayor for a local sports arena.” He said he believes building an arena in Center City is “the right deal for the people of Philadelphia.”
The proposed $1.55 billion arena, 76 Place, would be built in the Market East neighborhood at Market and Filbert Streets and 10th and 11th Avenues, replacing part of Philadelphia’s Fashion District, and a 395-unit mixed-use high-rise would be built next to the arena.
The proposal, which has the backing of Mayor Parker, must gain the support of the City Council for final approval. The mayor said additional town hall meetings will be held as the City Council considers the arena proposal. The mayor said the agreement will “bring more than $1.3 billion in private investment to the city.”
“We thank Mayor Parker and his team for their time and diligence in evaluating our proposal and look forward to moving forward with next steps with the City Council,” the Sixers said in a statement.
The Sixers’ proposed arena would be introduced in 2022 and would be built in City Councilman Mark Squilla’s district, who previously said: 76 Location is likely to be autumn.
Schira said in August that if the arena bill is introduced, he would hold public hearings to gather public input and consider amendments before a final vote, and that he would share the bill with key stakeholders 30 days before it is introduced to get their feedback.
Squilla said Wednesday that city officials are working to protect residents of Chinatown and neighboring areas.
“We know that when these large projects are brought before us, these challenges arise, and it’s our responsibility to make sure we have those safeguards in place,” he said.
The Sixers have previously said they don’t have enough time to get approvals if they want to open their arena before the 2031-32 NBA season. The team’s lease at the Comcast Spectacor-owned Wells Fargo Center expires in 2031.
Comcast Spectacor CEO Dan Hilferty said Wednesday he is keeping open the possibility that the Sixers could remain at Wells Fargo Center as Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment continues negotiations with the city.
“Regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the city and HBSE, the door is always open for the 76ers to come to South Philadelphia if they determine that is what is best for the team,” Hilferty said in a statement. “Together with the Phillies, we A dynamic and accessible destination “Sports and entertainment create thousands of jobs, invigorate our city and generate numerous community benefits. Either way, we always want what’s best for Philadelphia.”
Parker’s announcement: New Jersey offered the Sixers the opportunity to build an arena It took place on the Camden waterfront, just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The deal included more than $1 billion in tax credits and bonds.
After the deal from New Jersey was revealed, Parker said it’s a priority. While the team is exploring all options, it has decided to keep the Sixers in the city.
In late August, the city Four highly anticipated independent studies on the impacts of the proposed arena. The long-awaited report focused on the community impacts, traffic impacts, economic impacts and the design of 76 Place.
The report said the Sixers’ proposed arena could indirectly displace businesses and residents in Chinatown, located north of 76th Place. The report also makes clear that public transport is key. For the arena to be successful, if more than 40% of people arrive at 76th Place by car, it could cause traffic congestion at some of the intersections.
Supporters of the proposed arena, including the Sixers and the Philadelphia Council of Building and Construction Trades Unions, IBEW Local 98 and the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the plan would revitalize the Market East neighborhood and create jobs.
In a statement Wednesday, Ryan Boyer, business manager for the Philadelphia Construction Labor Council, expressed his gratitude to the mayor for approving the Sixers’ new arena.
“Jobs are the lifeblood of business and the thousands of jobs that 76 Place will create are unprecedented,” Boyer said. “I plead with City Council to look past the sensationalist headlines and support the development of 76 Place in East Market. Failure to do so could result in the franchise moving to Camden. Don’t let that happen.”
of Coalition to Protect Chinatown Chinatown residents have strongly opposed the arena, saying the development would damage their neighborhood. In a statement on Wednesday, the Save Chinatown Coalition said “the fight is not over.”
“After all this time, Mayor Parker has yet to meet with Chinatown and yet he thinks he has a say in whether our community should survive or die,” Debbie Wei of the Save Chinatown coalition said in a statement. “This is never about one person and this fight is far from over. We will fight this. The fight is just beginning.”
In a video supporting the proposed arena, Parker said he has heard concerns from Chinatown advocates.
“Now, the good people of Chinatown, hear me,” Parker said in the video. “I see you. I have heard you. I want your rich, vibrant community and proud history to not just survive, but thrive. I believe our Chinatown is the best in the nation, and I am committed to working with you to support it.”
Parker said a full presentation on the proposed arena will be released “in the coming days.”
Annie Lo, an attorney with the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, said she was one of about a dozen people invited to meet with Parker but left with more questions than answers from the mayor.
“She announced her decision for a few minutes but then apparently chose not to give us any details about the Community Benefits Agreement that she has already negotiated with the developer,” Loh said. “She announced that she would hold another information session next week. I don’t know the date or time. She said it would probably be Monday or Tuesday.”
Katie Garth, co-founder of “No Arena Washington Square West,” started an online petition urging the city to reject the Sixers’ arena plan, which had 952 signatures as of Wednesday evening.
“Last week, the state of New Jersey released some renderings, some of which may have been influenced by the fact that the Sixers said they’d be happy to go there,” Gerth said. “And now this week, Mayor Parker is essentially being blackmailed into accepting this deal. The meetings she’s having are a sham and it’s clear she’s not listening to her constituents.”
“Independent researchers almost unanimously agree that these projects are not economic revitalization projects,” she added.
City resident Lexie Daniels also opposes the arena, saying it would be “devastating to the culture” of Chinatown. She also said parking would be an issue.
Richard Rodgers lives in the suburbs and said the Sixers should belong in the city, but he understands concerns about the potential impact on Chinatown.
“I’ve always thought that a sports arena should be in the city, not in the suburbs or across the river,” Rogers said, “but Chinatown is a city asset and it would be wrong to see it infringed upon or destroyed in any way.”
Philadelphia resident Anthony Martin Jr. said Center City Arena “is a really good thing for the city.”
“It’s going to bring more business, it’s going to bring more money into the city,” said Martin Jr. “So it’s all good things. More job opportunities and all that.”