Philly's biggest puzzle: The road to a new Sixers arena
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The first phase of Comcast Spectacor's revamp of the South Philly sports complex remains in question. Photo: Courtesy of Comcast Spectacor
The Sixers' U-turn to stay put in South Philly earlier this year upended Comcast Spectacor's $2.5 billion blueprint to reimagine the sports complex.
Why it matters: They're not just building a new arena — they're rewriting a playbook for the area that's already set in motion.
Catch up quick: The Wells Fargo Center (soon to be Xfinity Mobile Arena) was supposed to be the backbone of Spectacor's 2024 plan for a buzzing South Philly sports complex that would bring new hotels, housing and restaurants over 10 years.
- The company recently dumped $400 million into arena upgrades, planning to keep it around for years as new amenities and housing were built around it.
- Then Spectacor would eventually replace the center with a new venue on the parking lot between it and Lincoln Financial Field, per the Inquirer.
- The Phillies partnered with Spectacor on part of the original plan. (The team declined Axios' request to comment.)
Yes, but: The plan's been flipped. Spectacor now has to build a brand-new arena first — and redraw a roadmap already underway.
- When Comcast Spectacor and Sixers owner Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment partnered on the new deal, they accelerated the arena timeline to at least 2031.
- And that could even be bumped to 2030 for the inaugural season of the city's WNBA team.
How it works: Comcast Spectacor is now finalizing the construction process and infrastructure improvements to build the new arena that will replace the Wells Fargo Center, a company spokesperson tells Axios.
- Only then will they reassess and adjust the broader "master plan," the spokesperson added, declining to elaborate.
Meanwhile, design firm Populous and architect Moody Nolan were selected in June to design the new arena.
The big picture: Parts of Spectacor's original plan are underway.
- The $15 million upgrades to Xfinity Live! are expected to kick off soon.
The intrigue: The status of other first-phase projects is up in the air, including a mid-size concert venue, hotel and retail space — all of which had a 2028 completion date.
- Some were supposed to break ground this year. Comcast declined to comment on their status.
What we don't know: The precise location of the new arena. Comcast hasn't commented on whether it'll take over the same site as the Wells Fargo Center or be moved.
- And how construction will affect residents, fans, traffic — and Philly's sacred tailgating culture.
What they're saying: Ken Anderson, vice president and civic sector leader at the global design firm Stantec, tells Axios that among his biggest concerns is how the new arena will complement the existing stadiums and new amenities.
- Still, he notes, building the arena first could buy Spectacor more time to plan the trickier pieces — like housing, restaurants and hotels.
What's next: Conceptual designs for the new arena are expected in the coming months.