Mayor Parker calls deal to build new 76ers arena in South Philadelphia a "win" for city
Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed Monday her administration is supporting plans to keep the Philadelphia 76ers in South Philly instead of building a new arena in Center City.
Speaking at a press conference with members of the city council, representatives from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), Comcast, the NBA and more, Parker said she was excited to announce that a deal was reached to build a new arena for the Sixers and Flyers at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
"This is about a win, win, win, win for Philadelphia," she said.
Over the weekend, it was announced that plans to build the new stadium, known as 76 Place, in the city's Market East neighborhood fell through less than one month after the city council passed a series of bills related to the arena's construction. The December vote followed several weeks of contentious hearings and public comment sessions with the city, Sixers and community stakeholders.
Less than an hour before Parker's press conference Monday, HBSE and Comcast said the partnership to build a new sports arena also includes a "50-50 venture to invest in the revitalization of Market East in Center City."
Speaking via video conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver thanked Mayor Parker and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for supporting the deal, which aims to open the new arena by 2031.
"I have no doubt that the team from HBSE and Comcast are going to build a truly special facility," Silver said.
The Sixers and Flyers currently play at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, owned by Comcast Spectacor.
"This is a curveball none of us saw coming, but nevertheless, we are here," Parker said.
The mayor previously endorsed the plan to build an arena in Market East, at one point calling it the "best financial deal" ever struck for an arena or stadium.
"Nothing about that statement is untrue," said Parker, who said her priority moving forward is fiscal responsibility for the city of Philadelphia.
CBS News Philadelphia asked Parker if she felt blindsided or used by the powerful businessmen and how she could trust that they wouldn't change their minds about this new venture.
Before addressing the question, Parker reflected on the obstacles of other leaders and the commitments she laid out in her campaign before saying, "Now, did I know? Was I at the meeting before the meeting to say that this negotiation was going to take place? Absolutely not, but guess what? I'm still the CEO of this city."
Josh Harris, founder of HBSE and owner of the Sixers, also acknowledged the unexpected partnership between his company and Parker's administration.
"When we began meeting with Comcast in earnest, and obviously, we were going in a different direction than Comcast, but when we began meeting with Comcast in earnest over the past two weeks, we both saw an opportunity at something bigger than we planned," Harris said. "HSBE's new partnership with Comcast ensures that Philadelphia will benefit from two developments instead of one."
Councilmembers, stakeholders respond to new plan for Sixers arena
Councilmember Mark Squilla was out of the country when news broke about the monumental shift in the arena's future. Squilla told CBS News Philadelphia he wasn't shocked because he always knew the Sixers would do what was in their best interest, and it was always the council's job to put protections in place.
"This is a win-win for the city of Philadelphia. Yes, people can feel like they were used and it's a sting for some folks, but as elected officials, we have to look at what's best for the city as a whole," Squilla said.
When asked how he knows the Sixers will follow through with this new project, he said, "I mean, you don't. I mean, they say their commitment is there, there's a little trust building that needs to be done."
Council Minority Leader Kendra Brooks and Minority Whip Nicolas O'Rourke, members of the Working Families Party and opponents of the arena proposal, said Sunday that keeping the Sixers in South Philadelphia "has always made the most sense" and called the decision not to build in Market East "a historic win."
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who voted against the Center City arena legislation, said the team staying in South Philly is best for the city, but isn't thrilled with how the Sixers handled the deal. "What a waste of city resources, what a waste of time. How disrespectful to everyone who came and made their voices heard about this," Gauthier said. "I think the Sixers have a lot of apologizing to do, actually, for the position that they put the city of Philadelphia in."
Mark Lynch Jr., business manager of IBEW Local 98, said "Comcast has also pledged to commit the financial resources needed to revive the dormant Market East corridor, which is critically important to the entire city,... For IBEW Local 98 and the Trades, a $1.3 billion project just turned into a multi-billion development that will create a stunning new stadium district that will keep our members working for decades."
No Arena Coalition responds to arena decision
The No Arena Coalition held a press conference Monday afternoon at the Chinatown Arch near 10th and Arch streets.
Mohan Seshadri, executive director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, kicked off the press conference, saying while the coalition is proud and relieved that there won't be an arena built in Center City, it didn't have to be this way.
"We're here today after a two-and-a-half-year-long exercise in Philly city planning 101. A city in which apparently, billionaire developers get to write the rules, call the shots and elected officials and communities are just expected to go along with it," Seshadri said.
Seshadri emphasized that for over two years, the coalition has said in their united fight that this arena would destroy Chinatown, threaten access to Jefferson's emergency room, and impact SEPTA numbers.
"We were told throughout the entire last two years [to] give up, shut up, and go away. And we're still here and our community is still here and our movement is still here," Seshadri said. "And now it is time to build a Philadelphia that works for everybody where community is at the driver's seat, where neighborhoods are calling the shots about what happens in their homes."
In this new phase of building a Philadelphia that works its people, Seshadri said he hopes elected officials now get the point that the community needs to be not only at the table but at the center of city planning decisions.
Katie Garth, the co-founder of No Arena Washington Square West, called the decision to keep the Sixers in South Philly a "massive victory and a reason for us to celebrate."
But Garth said how the arena was almost built in Center City is a wake-up call.
"How it [the decision to build the arena in Center City] came to die is a reminder that billionaires call the shots as long as our elected representatives call the shots as long as our elected officials allow them to," she said. "No matter how Mayor Parker tries to spin it. This was never a WNBA bid. This was a colossal waste of time and city resources."
She said their united front will not forget the public officials who supported the arena during this next election cycle.
Members of the Asian Americans United, Save Chinatown Coalition, Chinese Christian Church & Center, Black Philly 4 Chinatown, Students for the Preservation of Chinatown and the Ginger Arts Center also spoke and rallied for the future. The unity groups reiterated that their efforts are about the people of Philadelphia and a fight for the future in a city that fights for its people.
"This is a time to celebrate for us, but yet we also have to have a cautious eye to look ahead too as well," said Harry Leong with the Chinese Christian Church & Center.