Mayor Cherelle Parker gave her enthusiastic endorsement of the 76ers arena proposal in Center City on Wednesday afternoon, announcing that “an agreement has been reached to ensure that our Sixers are staying home.” This exciting $1.5 billion project aims to construct a new arena on East Market Street, just south of Chinatown. Interestingly, the proposed site is currently part of the Fashion District Philadelphia mall, making it a prime location for sports and entertainment events.
Mayor Parker recently hosted a town hall on the proposal, which drew hundreds of people to the Convention Center. Many Chinatown residents expressed their concerns and opposition to the plan during the event. The overwhelming turnout led to the setup of two overflow rooms with monitors to accommodate more attendees. In response to their feedback, Mayor Parker assured the Chinatown community that their voices had been heard and pledged to collaborate with them in supporting the vibrant neighborhood.
As your Mayor, I’m speaking from my City Hall office with a very important announcement. I am proud to share that I have made my decision, and an agreement has been reached to ensure that our Sixers are staying home.
I wholeheartedly believe this is the right deal for the People… pic.twitter.com/Fnj19mrBOV
— Mayor Cherelle L. Parker (@PhillyMayor) September 18, 2024
This story is still unfolding, so stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in Philadelphia.