Let’s be clear. This is not set in stone, but an agreement between the City of Philadelphia / Mayor Parker’s Administration and the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers has been made. Now City Council will need to approve it. Let’s say that it passes (it will), there will still be lots of protests and town hall meetings to keep this thing from moving forward in Chinatown, but all signs point towards a new arena in Center City opening within the next seven or so years.

A lot can happen in a year, let alone seven, but with the big breaking news of the agreement, let’s talk Sixers in the heart of the city. The traffic, the economy, the vibe, and everything else that goes with it.

PROS

1. Private INvestment

In a time when billionaires get stadiums built and paid for them by the general public, 76 Place will be privately funded. Yippity F@#%^!& Doo Dah… as it SHOULD be.

There’s no way this would pass if it came out of the already over-taxed pockets of Philadelphians.

The added bonus here is the Sixers claim that they will be further investing in the community (see below) beyond the arena with “goals” specific to the concerns being raised.

Should that turn out to be a bunch of horseshit, this immediately becomes a con.

2. Market East Evolution

Market East kinda sucks and I’m not totally sure why. There aren’t any real high quality bars or restaurants in the area for starters, but there’s a gray cloud that hovers over the so-called Fashion District that feels insurmountable at present. For a while it was the Art Gallery, then it was Market East, recently it’s been rebranded as the Fashion District but it remains the ugly bastard of Center City, despite its standout attractions — Reading Terminal, the shopping, Chinatown, Hard Rock Cafe, Rec Philly, the movie theater, and other elements that make it attractive, it continues to flop. Part of that gray cloud hovering could be cumulus methadone clinic on 8th & Market.

Go check out Market East during a Sixers playoff series this year. Take a mental note. Then remember that thought 10 years from now.

3. The Feel of a Center City Arena

Walking to the arena has a different feel. The stadium glow on a random Wednesday, it’s palpable. Even when they suck again, which they will, I think it’s a bonus. By the time this arena is up and running Embiid will be retired and they likely won’t be a perennial title contender (which is a streeettttchhh to say even now) but even if they stink, I think the glow and allure of a center city arena will bring a different feel to the city. One can assume the outer walls of 76 Place will do more than promote Sixers games, especially in their infantile stage as they seek to win over the area for fucking up the community.

Not that the Sixers have an attendance problem at this time, but the Center City location will brighten darker times… a la, The Process.

4. The Economic Boost

This is basically 1A to the Market East Evolution. An entirely new sub-economy will be created around Sixers games in Center City. Sure we go hard in any part of the city for an important Sixers game, but having the arena within arms reach will certainly turn things up a notch. Not to mention the pregaming around the area from the moment people get off work until they show up to the game. Considering the Sixers don’t typically pull in a heavy tailgating crowd this is one of the bigger wins, considering there’s little to no trade off. Not only that, but it will be the bars, restaurants, and overall Market East area that will benefit. Not just Xfinity Live! and Delco beer distributors and Wine & Spirits.

Can we talk about how good some late night, high quality Chinese food will be after a Sixers win? And how much more of it I’ll buy, eat, and hate myself over after a bad loss? Pre/post Sixers games could become synonymous with chinese food in the near future and I, for one, am here for it.

CONS

1. TRAFFIC

I mean… it’s going to suck. No way around it. It might even deter suburbanites from going to the games if they suck enough… or even if they don’t suck.

This is a problem for anyone who doesn’t live in Philly. Public Trans gets a bad rep, as it should, but it’s still relatively convenient and accessible to city dwellers. I take it to and fro games at the sports complex without issue regularly and I’m a 10 minute walk from the nearest El station.

That being said, driving will be total fuckery. There’s truly no other way to see it at this time. The amount of parking required will consume blocks and it doesn’t look like that will be granted.

Even the 76place.com site is having technical difficulties with the concept as you can see below…

But I suppose traffic out of the complex already sucks. I also have faith that SEPTA will increase trolley and regional rail frequency to and from the area on game nights, which would slightly lessen the burden.

2. CHINATOWN / Local RESIDENTS

Writing is thinking, and after putting together this article I’m not so sure 76 Place is a bad thing for Chinatown. Sure some things may shift. Some residents may need to move. That sucks beyond measure. To uproot families that have made Market East their home for years will be terrible. But at the same time, I don’t think there are a whole lot of generational families residing in the area. You’d have to check the stats on that.

It wouldn’t surprise me if 20 years from now, the local residents and Chinatown look at the Sixers arena as a massive plus. For starters, anyone who actually owns their residence is jumping for joy; and as far as Chinatown goes, if anybody can actually improve the area by moving into it, it’s one of the city’s sports franchises. This is after all, a sports town. If the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers actually commit to the improvement of Chinatown alongside their arena, then I think it will lead to more sales for the area’s restaurants but could also increase rent.

So far, Mayor Parker has stood on her word (as you can see here). If she is claiming to work with local residents and suggests the arena will bolster the Chinatown economy, for now, I’ll believe her.

3. breaking up the sports complex

According to Google AI — “Chicago, Denver, Detroit, and Philadelphia are the only metropolitan areas in the United States with a team in each of the four major league sports that plays within the city limits. Chicago is the only one of these cities with five teams playing within city limits, including two MLB teams.”

Maybe if this was Atlanta, San Diego, Miami, or another shitty sports town, this would be a serious concern, but I think Philly will be just fine. We’d still support our teams with a fiery passion if they moved to Camden. We’d just be really annoying about it.

4. Lies

One thing that pisses me off about the announcement around the agreement is the “creation” of all these jobs. Of course a new arena would create new jobs. No fucking shit. But it will also take them away from the South Philly location for 20-40+ nights of the year. You can imagine that the Wells Fargo Center will supplement some of those days with concerts, but many of those created jobs are just being moved from one part of the city to the other. Further, it takes nights away from from stadium workers who do both Flyers and Sixers games. Xfinity is always rocking so they’ll be good.

We’ll see how it all shakes out, but for now, I have faith.

IN CONCLUSION

Writing is thinking. After putting together this article I’m surprised to say that I’m in support of the new arena. Should all go accoridng to plan, I think it will ultimately benefit the local residents, enhance Market East, and improve SEPTA.

If it doesn’t do those things than I’ll eat my words.

Time will tell.

If you want to read up on 76 Place from the organization itself — https://76place.com/

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