After years of delay and controversy, the Philadelphia City Council has voted to build a 1.3 billion-dollar 76ers arena in the city center’s historic market district. The consequential policy decision will permanently reshape the landscape of one of America’s oldest cities.
The vote, which happened Thursday, took place as anti-arena protests surrounded lawmakers. Starting at 10 a.m., city residents against the arena performed a sit-in in the main voting chamber, wearing shirts with text stating “Shut It Down.” Video from the Philadelphia Inquirer showed protesters being arrested by police, though an official statement regarding whether or not anyone was officially detained has yet to be released.
As the voting began, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson attempted to calm the crowds, saying, “All we are asking is just respect our process and let us continue our business.”
Some residents of Philadelphia believe that the arena will offer an economic boom to the city, and bring jobs, tourists, and income to aid its dwindling economy. Supporters within the chamber cheered on the arena as lawmakers decided for or against the 11 legislative bills needed to build it.
Mark Lynch Jr., the business manager of Philadelphia’s local electrician labor union (IBEW Local 98), said the arena “represents a bold investment in the future of our city.”
The arena, now set to built at the intersection of 11th and 10th street, will directly border Philadelphia’s historic, but endangered, Chinatown district. Many residents have spoken out against it being built, with non-profit coalitions like Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) continuing to broadcast their dissent through social media.
In a recent press release, PCDC said they were “deeply dismayed” at the legislation being passed.
They went onto state that the organization will “do all in its power to push for maximum mitigation of the negative effects of the arena.”
The final vote passed by a significant majority, with only five council members out of 17 voting against the arena.
Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd dist.) wrote in a press release that “after weeks of hearings and deliberation,” she chose to vote against “legislation authorizing the proposed 76ers arena.”
“I voted against the project because the 76ers refused to offset the harm the City’s own study says the arena will inflict on Chinatown, Washington Square West, the Gayborhood, and the entire city,” Gauthier stated.
Other council members who voted against almost all of the 11 bills included Rue Landau (D-At-Large), Jeffery Young (D-5th dist.), Kendra Brooks (Working Families Party, At-Large) and Nicolas V. O’Rourke (Working Families Party – At Large).
What’s next?
The 76ers arena still has a ways to go before being built, though its future is far more certain now.
David Adelman, the chairman of the organization sponsoring the bill, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) after the legislation was passed. He stated that “although a lot of work has been done to get here,” he “know[s] that there is much more to do.”
According to a plan first laid out by Mayor Parker in September, the 76ers will now move to demolish a portion of the Fashion District, as well as the entirety of the old Greyhound bus terminal. The start date for the demolition is in 2026, whereas actual construction for the arena will not begin until 2028.
Mayor Parker has established Fall 2031 as the approximate opening date, directly following the end of the 76ers lease at the Wells Fargo arena.
While the plan promises to protect, and even enhance, Chinatown, it is uncertain if the city will be able to deliver on such vows.
