After much deliberation and getting approval for a Center City arena, the Sixers will reportedly be staying in South Philly and working with Comcast on a new building.
Well, it appears the Sixers are staying in South Philly after all.
Just weeks after the team got approval on plans for 76 Place and a new arena at Market East in Center City, there’s reportedly been a change of plans. The Sixers will now work together with Comcast to build a new joint arena to replace the Wells Fargo Center.
Sources are telling me that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Comcast President Brian Roberts have talked the Sixers into staying in South Philly.
Mayor Parker is expected to give a press conference tomorrow at 11 am.
The 76ers Arena backpedal.
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) January 12, 2025
Part of the agreement with the city will include both the Sixers and Comcast working together on a “revitalization project at Market East.”
Per source familiar, hearing the broader agreement between Sixers and Comcast includes a partnership for a, “revitalization project at Market East”
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 12, 2025
The obvious good news for fans is that the Sixers will be staying in the sports complex. The Wells Fargo Center has been open since 1996, meaning it will be 35 years old by 2031. The Flyers will be in need of a new arena themselves so the joint venture makes sense. Instead of the current agreement where the Flyers serve as the Sixers’ landlord, it appears the teams would have a 50-50 split with the new arena.
Sixers & Comcast Spectacor/Flyers be 50/50 partners on a new arena in South Philly, according to source familiar with the situation
The Sixers & Comcast Spectacor will also work together on a revitalization project for Market East in Center City, according to a source pic.twitter.com/YgCjsRx2RF
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 12, 2025
One cool note: this could be a big step towards Philadelphia finally landing a WNBA team.
some details on the arena stuff momentarily, but as part of the shift, Comcast and the Sixers are going to join together to bid for a Philadelphia WNBA team.
— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) January 12, 2025
(this was described to me as the Sixers leading the effort and Comcast having a stake in it)
— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) January 12, 2025
This could be a situation where everyone wins. The Sixers will stay in the sports complex and no longer be the Flyers’ tenant. The Flyers will still benefit from their partnership while getting a new building and also a stake in a WNBA franchise. Chinatown will also not have to worry about arena plans, though we’ll have to see what the “revitalization projection” looks like.
There will likely be hurdles and other issues along the way, but it looks the Sixers are taking a big step towards stay in South Philly and the sports complex.