76 Place at Market East
Proposed downtown arena for the Philadelphia 76ers, abandoned in 2025.
Sixers PR · via Wikipedia: 76 Place at Market East · Fair use
76 Place at Market East was a never-built indoor arena that was slated to go up in Center City, Philadelphia, and become the new home court for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. The plan called for an 18,500-seat venue costing $1.3 billion, with a target opening of 2031—the same year the team’s lease at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia was set to expire. The site would have sat on the north side of Market Street between 10th and 11th Streets, stretching back to Cuthbert Street, and would have taken over the western third of the Fashion District Philadelphia mall plus the Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal. The project was spearheaded by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the 76ers’ management group co-founded by owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, alongside real estate developer David Adelman, who is also an HBSE limited partner.
The proposal drew heavy pushback from community groups, especially over its potential impact on the nearby Chinatown neighborhood. Multiple polls showed that a clear majority of the public opposed the arena. Although the Philadelphia City Council gave it the green light, HBSE scrapped the plan in January 2025. Instead, the company struck a deal with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena for both the 76ers and the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Quick Facts
- City
- Center City, Philadelphia, U.S.
- Cost
- $1.3 billion (estimated)
- Architect
- Gensler
- Project Manager
- David Adelman
- General Contractor
- AECOM
- Capacity
- 18,500
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The 76ers currently play at the Wells Fargo Center, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which is owned by Comcast Spectacor. Talk of a new arena increased by the mid-2010s when HBSE began referring to the Wells Fargo Center as simply 'The Center' due to a dispute with naming rights holder Wells Fargo. In 2020, the team proposed a partially publicly funded plan at Penn's Landing before being outbid. 76 Place at Market East faced significant opposition from community groups, particularly regarding its potential effects on neighboring Chinatown. Asian Americans United opposed the arena, and Steven Zhu, President of the Chinese Restaurant Association, cited Capital One Arena as a cautionary tale for declining Chinese population and restaurants in Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown. In January 2023, more than 40 Chinatown community groups announced the 'Chinatown Coalition to Oppose the Arena.'
Reader's Guide
76 Place at Market East represents a significant case study in urban sports arena development and community opposition. Despite being granted approval by the Philadelphia City Council, HBSE abandoned plans in January 2025 and announced a deal with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena for the 76ers and the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The project highlighted tensions between downtown revitalization efforts and the preservation of established neighborhoods like Chinatown. A study by Dr. Arthur Acolin found that construction could have cost Pennsylvania and Philadelphia $1 billion in lost tax revenue. The arena's failure also underscored the challenges of building large Center City projects in Philadelphia, following unsuccessful attempts by the Philadelphia Phillies and Foxwoods Casino. The proposal ultimately served as leverage for the 76ers to gain concessions from Comcast Spectacor, as speculated by then-City Councilman David Oh.
Did You Know?
- 76 Place would have occupied the western third of Fashion District Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal.
- The project was opposed by a coalition of more than 40 Chinatown community groups, nonprofits, and business organizations.
- The 76ers abandoned the plan in January 2025 and instead agreed to build a new arena with Comcast Spectacor at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
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