Chinatown’s Fight Against the 76ers Arena: Voices of Opposition and Support

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Philadelphia, known for being the “Birthplace of America”, is notable for its rich colonial
history, diverse and distinct neighborhoods, sports culture, museums and art, and prestigious
universities. Ranked as the 6th largest city in America, it is currently the home of over 1.5 million people.

When it comes to the sports scene, Philadelphian fans have intense loyalty to their sports
teams at home, including the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia
Phillies (MLB), and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL). The city’s culture is deeply embedded with
memorable moments from their celebrated teams. However, the passion that fuels Philly’s sports
culture is now being heavily tested with a new and controversial proposal; one that could reshape
the city’s landscape.

The Philadelphia 76ers have put forward a plan for a $1.55 billion arena right in the heart of the
center city, close to the historic Chinatown area. According to Fox 29, Mayor Cherelle Parker
has endorsed the project, calling it “the best financial deal ever entered into by a
Philadelphia mayor for a local sports arena.” In a video released to the public, she
acknowledged the concerns of Chinatown advocates but maintained that the economic benefits
would outweigh the drawbacks. For some—especially those in the nearby Chinatown
community—the proposal feels like a real threat to the cultural fabric that they’ve worked hard
to keep alive.

The team’s reasoning for such a proposal stems from the lease that they have with Wells Fargo
Arena, meaning that they’re tenants rather than owners. They currently share the venue with the
Philadelphia Flyers, host concerts featuring touring artists, WWE and MMA events, and even
university graduation ceremonies. The creation of a dedicated 76ers arena in Center City would
mean that the team could fully control the scheduling, branding, and overall experience for fans.
Although many benefits would come with creating their arena, the biggest one of all would be
the financial boost that would happen. Owning their arena would allow the Sixers and their
owners to gain a larger share of revenue through their own sales of tickets, concessions, and
events hosted by the facility. This outcome would be significantly better rather than paying rent
to play in an arena that is constantly shared.

The proposed arena, currently referred to as “76 Place,” would serve as the official home for the
Philadelphia 76ers and is expected to open by 2031 if the city council gives it the green light.
Supporters of the project believe it could revitalize a struggling retail section along Market East,
bringing jobs and new investment to the area. However, the proposed location, right at the edge
of Philadelphia’s historic Chinatown, has sparked an immediate backlash from community groups worried about rising rents and potential displacement, bringing back memories of a similar fight that defeated plans for a Phillies stadium two decades ago. In a statement reported by CBS News, the Save Chinatown Coalition expressed their determination to fight the proposal, stating, “This fight is far from over.” Debbie Wei, a coalition member, criticized Mayor Parker’s lack of engagement with the community, saying, “Mayor Parker still hasn’t met with Chinatown after all this time, yet feels she can have a stance on whether our community should live or die.”

Newly retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce used his platform to weigh in on the arena
controversy. Known for his candid opinions, Kelce did not hold back when discussing the
proposed 76ers arena during an appearance on the popular Philly sports radio show, 94 WIP. ‘I
would prefer it stays in South Philly,’ Kelce remarked, expressing frustration with the city’s
decision-making. “In 10 years, we’re probably really happy there’s this beautiful complex, but
right now I really hate it.”

After fans heard his perspective, some addressed his comments on the X app for the 76ers
defense. He then later added depth to his statements to make clarifications on his remarks on
September 19th, “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 b-llshit, I hate it.”

As the proposal moves to the Philadelphia City Council for a final decision, the fate of “76
Place” remains uncertain, highlighting the tension between promises of economic growth and the
need to preserve the city’s rich cultural fabric. While the potential for revitalization and the 76ers’
desire for a home of their own is significant, concerns about gentrification and displacement hold
equal weight, with many advocating for careful consideration of the community’s future. The
City Council is expected to decide by the end of 2024, following a series of town hall meetings
and community input sessions. If approved, construction could begin as early as 2026, aiming for
completion around 2031, when the 76ers’ current lease with Wells Fargo Center expires.

Sources:
https://www.fox29.com/news/jason-kelce-sounds-off-sixers-proposed-chinatown-arena-i-really-h
ate-it
https://x.com/JasonKelce/status/1836757380039610651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5E
tweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1836757380039610651%7Ctwgr%5Ec19e3f31c878b44ab15435a05
c654b92b797fe18%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fox29.com%2Fnews%2
Fjason-kelce-sounds-off-sixers-proposed-chinatown-arena-i-really-hate-it
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-sixers-arena-chinatown/