76 Place: Jason Kelce weighs in, fans recycle the pointless talking points, and why nothing matters if the Sixers don’t win now

Honestly, the narrative around Philadelphia’s sports complex and the decision from Sixers’ ownership to build “76 Place” at Market East is getting stale already.

Yesterday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker threw her support behind the 76ers’ ambitious plan to build a new arena in Center City. The announcement comes just a week after a town hall on the controversial project, which has raised concerns about its impact on Chinatown.

Rendering of potential Philadelphia 76ers arena in Camden released shortly after Mayor Cherelle Parker’s town hall addressing concerns about moving location to Market East

The proposed $1.55 billion arena, dubbed “76 Place,” would be located in the Market East area, replacing part of the Fashion District Philadelphia between Market, Filbert, 10th, and 11th Streets. In addition to the arena, the plan includes a mixed-use high-rise with approximately 395 units next to the complex.

With Parker’s endorsement, the project now moves to the next critical step—getting city council approval. The Sixers expressed their appreciation in a statement, saying, “We are grateful to Mayor Parker and her team for their time and diligence in evaluating our proposal and look forward to advancing to the next steps with City Council.”

With mounting local backlash from their proposed Chinatown neighbors and a lack of significant progress with their plans at Market East, 76 Place initially hit a roadblock. This opened the door for Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment (HBSE) to explore a new option: building an arena across the river in Camden, New Jersey.

Back in July, NJ.com reported that there were “serious conversations” about relocating the Sixers to Camden. However, the team maintained that their primary focus was still on getting 76 Place built in Philadelphia

Recently, ROI-NJ revealed that the state of New Jersey had formally sent the 76ers a proposal for an arena in Camden.

The potential site for the new project? A former state prison area along the Delaware River, just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

New Jersey offered the team an enticing alternative location along Camden’s waterfront, complete with over $1 billion in tax credits and bonds, adding pressure to keep the Sixers in Philly.

With the Sixers’ lease at Wells Fargo Center expiring in 2031, the pressure is on to find a solution, whether in Philly or Camden.

Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose district includes the proposed arena site, has indicated that a decision could come this fall. If legislation is introduced, there will be public hearings to gather feedback, and amendments will be considered before a final vote.

Needless to say, the Sixers are running up against a tight deadline.

Mayor Parker has made it clear that keeping the Sixers in the city is a priority, especially with competing offers like Camden on the table.

Now, all eyes are on city council as the proposal moves forward

The Argument Against 76 Place at Market East

While it was unique that all four major sports teams played in the same area in South Philly, it doesn’t really enhance the experience when you’re attending an event.

If you’re going to a 76ers game at the Wells Fargo Center, why would a Phillies game on the other side of Pattison Ave impact your experience? It doesn’t. Fans have clung to this talking point, but it’s not very practical.

And let’s talk about accessibility.

Is the South Philly Sports Complex really that easy to get to?

The last time I drove down 95 from Delco, navigating the bridge and finding parking was a nightmare. It’s just as bad coming from the other direction. Try getting to an Eagles game on a Sunday morning or leaving any event at the stadiums—it’s a mess.

“Oh, just take the Broad Street Line,” some say. If you’ve actually used the Broad Street Line to get to a sporting event, you know it’s not the ideal solution. It’s a push for public transportation that doesn’t always work out as planned.

Jason Kelce enters the chat

To be clear, I would absolutely support the Sixers building their own arena in South Philadelphia. The renting thing isn’t fair to them, I just hate the strong arming of the city to force an inevitable move into an area that the local residents, and vast majority of… https://t.co/jJifC1XWip

— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) September 19, 2024

To be clear, I would absolutely support the Sixers building their own arena in South Philadelphia. The renting thing isn’t fair to them, I just hate the strong arming of the city to force an inevitable move into an area that the local residents, and vast majority of Philadelphians don’t prefer be in center city.

Again though, at the end of the day, we will all love it in 5-10 years when we have a beautiful new stadium in the heart of the city. It just pisses me off now, with the way it’s happening, and I’m gonna be pissed for the foreseeable future at how this is being forced currently. The threat of moving the team is bullshit, I hate it. Admittedly I was scarred growing up in Cleveland by Art Modell and the Browns, which the city of Cleveland messed up on, but it doesn’t change that I have a strong disdain for owners making these threats with zero care for what the fans or residents who support the team want.

Jason Kelce is Right: In 5-10 years, with new homes, shops, and revenue, the area around 76 Place could see some real development. But do I want the Philadelphia 76ers playing in Market East? Not really.

Market East is a dead zone. It’s still recovering from COVID, with empty shops and underdeveloped areas like the Fashion District. The neighborhood’s proximity to Chinatown hasn’t improved the situation, and revitalization efforts haven’t worked out. No one wants to invest there without tax incentives, and the local issues with slumlords don’t help.

Joshua Harris’s plan for a new arena, along with shops and housing, could provide a much-needed boost to Market East. It’s a step toward improving the city.

That said, I’m not in favor of the arena being in Center City either.

Ideally, the Sixers should build a new arena in South Philadelphia or the Navy Yard. The Philadelphia Union should also have been located at the Navy Yard instead of Chester.

Ultimately, the ownership group for the 76ers seems more concerned with business aspects than with the city or its fans. They even threatened to move the team to Camden if they didn’t get approval for 76 Place at Market East.

They don’t seem to care about the traffic, construction, or the concerns of Philadelphia residents. They didn’t even consider the planned upgrades in South Philly.

Is this stance justified? It’s worth debating.

The 76ers didn’t want to be Comcast’s tenants anymore, and with the Flyers owned by Comcast, they felt like guests rather than home team. While wanting their own arena is understandable, Center City isn’t the best location but it’s definitely not the worst option that has been discussed.

Win Now or the next 6-7 years will be annoying

Absolutely, winning championships is the ultimate goal. If the 76ers can bring home a ring or two, all the other issues—whether it’s the arena location or team ownership—will take a backseat. With Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George, the championship window is wide open.

Rename Philadelphia to “76 Place” if we have a few parades down Broad Street over the next five years. Replace William Penn with Joel Embiid. Literally do whatever you want. It’s all about the wins and bringing that championship glory back to Philadelphia. If they deliver, Joshua Harris could do whatever he wants; the city’s support would be unwavering.

Join The Chase

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