Arena Information Center - Philadelphia City Council

A candid photo of **Kenyatta Johnson** and **Mark Squilla** standing at a podium and speaking into a cluster of microphones held by reporters. Both men are wearing dark suits and ties; Councilmember Johnson is smiling while Councilmember Squilla is speaking. The background features an ornate wood-paneled room with an American flag and a city flag. Several members of the press, some with cameras and lanyards, are visible in the foreground and to the sides.

A candid photo of a grand, ornate room with high ceilings, gold molding, and decorative chandeliers. Large banners are draped from an upper balcony, with one reading "BLACK PHILLY FOR Schools, housing, work, Chinatown!" and another reading "$400M + BILLIONAIRE HANDOUTS = ROBBERY." A camera on a tripod is positioned in the lower-right foreground, facing the center of the room.

A man stands at a wooden lectern in the Council chambers, wearing a blue t-shirt over a grey long-sleeved shirt. The t-shirt features a graphic of stars and the words "WE BUILD PHILLY." He is gesturing with both hands while speaking. Several people are seated at desks in the foreground and background, and a police officer stands near a green-paneled wall in the distance.

A candid photo of a crowd at a public event. In the background, attendees hold signs with the text "NO ARENA" and "TALKIN' BOUT MILLIONAIRES." Several individuals are visible in the foreground, though they are out of focus. The setting is a crowded indoor assembly.

UPDATE
December 26, 2024

During the final City Council session of 2024 (December 19) , City Council approved 11 bills that allow Philadelphia Sixers to build their new $1.3 Billion arena (76 Place) in Center City with a projected opening in late 2031.

The final vote on 10 of the 11 bills was 12 to 5. The yays were Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), Mark Squilla (1st District), Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District), Mike Driscoll (6th District), Quetcy M. Lozada (7th District), Cindy Bass (8th District), Anthony Phillips (9th District), Brian O’Neill (10th District) and Councilmembers At-Large Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Isaiah Thomas, Nina Ahmad and Jim Harrity while the nays were Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District), and Councilmembers At-Large Rue Landau, Kendra Brooks (Minority Leader) and Nicolas O’Rourke (Minority Whip).

On the eleventh bill, Bill #241062-A, the final vote was 14-3. No votes were Young, Brooks and O’Rourke.

The approved Sixers Arena bills were:

Bill #240963: Would remove the site of the proposed Sixers arena from the existing Gallery At Market East Tax Increment Financing District because the arena site will be City owned land and therefore not subject to taxation. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240964-A: Creates a special services district to mitigate the impact of the arena on the surrounding community. The Arena Services District Authority will manage the district and provide services within it. The Authority would be funded by the Sixers through the Community Benefit Agreement (CBA). Vote 12-5.
Bill #240966: Transaction ordinance, which includes approving the $60 Million CBA between the Sixers and the City of Philadelphia. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240967: Authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between The City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to promote the growth and expansion of business, commerce and tourism within The City of Philadelphia in connection with the development of a multipurpose sports and entertainment facility, including an arena to accommodate National Basketball Association games, and family entertainment, community, retail and other uses. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240968: Removes Filbert Street between 10th and 11th Streets to provide space for the arena. It would allow changes to curbs, sidewalks, inlets, and fire hydrants as agreed by the Philadelphia Department of Streets and the Philadelphia Water Department. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240969: Authorizes replacement of the existing pedestrian bridge over 10th Street with a higher pedestrian bridge. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240970: Authorizes installation of protective bollards, planters, freestanding signs and bicycle racks on the sidewalks around the arena. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240971: Amends Philadelphia zoning laws in the arena area to allow large signs, freestanding signs, a roof logo, and full motion digital displays. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240972: Amends the Philadelphia Zoning code to set special rules for signs located in the arena area. Vote 12-5.
Bill #240973: Removing the site of the proposed Sixers arena from the existing Gallery Neighborhood Improvement District because the arena site will be City owned land and therefore not subject to taxation. Vote 12-5.
Bill #241062-A: Creation of a new Philadelphia Chinatown Overlay District. Vote 14-3.

The new arena will be in Councilmember Mark Squilla’s 1st District. Squilla first introduced the Sixers Arena legislation on October 24 to begin the arena discussion process. Resolutions #240999 and #241000 were approved back in October.

Mayor Cherelle Parker held a press conference with President Johnson and other members after the vote. At the press conference, Parker and Johnson said the construction of the new arena will be the start of an economic renaissance for East Market Street.

The final vote on the Sixers Arena came after Council’s Committee of the Whole held eight days of hearings in November and early December. Councilmembers had intense negotiations with Sixers officials from Dec 3-12 to address concerns expressed during the hearings by Councilmembers and the public. The Sixers bills had a first reading at the December 12 Council session and the final passage at the December 19 Council session.

In the final days of negotiations, Council President Johnson pushed for the Sixers to increase how much they paid into the project’s CBA. The team initially offered $50 Million in the original CBA negotiated by Mayor Parker’s administration. The final agreement is now $60 Million, much of which will be used to aid the Chinatown community that will be impacted by the construction and operation of the arena.

Apart from the CBA, Council got Mayor Parker to pledge an investment of $20 million in city resources to support affordable housing in Chinatown as part of the deal. The pledge came in a letter sent to Councilmembers from Jessie Lawrence, Director of the City’s Department of Planning and Development.

Now that the Sixers Arena legislation has passed, demolition of parts of what is now known as the Fashion District would start in June 2026, construction would start at the end of August 2028 and 76 Place arena would open in August 2031. The area would have approximately 18,500 seats and 10,000 square feet of retail space.

Mayor Parker has signed all the Sixers Arena legislation into law.

On August 26,  the City of Philadelphia released four separate reports from third-party consultants hired to conduct analyses of a proposal for a new Sixers arena in Center City. The four reports include: 1) a community impact assessment; 2) an economic impact analysis 3) a design consulting; and 4) a traffic, transportation and parking analysis.

Each of the four reports from these consultant teams are here for review.