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Sixers arena: Mayor Parker gives final remarks before city council votes
Mayor Cherelle Parker makes her final pitch on why she says the $1.3 billion new 76ers arena should be built in Center City as city council is expected to approve the legislation Thursday morning.
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia City Council is set to vote on controversial plans to build a new Sixers arena in Center City, with lawmakers potentially greenlighting the divisive project.
On Wednesday night during the tenth and last town hall meeting, Cherelle Parker, Mayor of Philadelphia, made her final pitch for the $1.3 billion arena, with the city council expected to approve the legislation Thursday morning, one week after passing it through committee in a 12-4 vote.
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"This is a $1.3 billion private sector investment to me that's gonna help bring back life to Market Street," the mayor said.
The mayor has spent the last few months visiting all Philadelphia neighborhoods to explain why she supports the city's basketball team's plan to build a Center City arena. "So the Market Street I know was bustling with commerce. There weren't vacancies there," she said.
While she hopes the arena spurs growth and improvements to the Market Street side, she is equally committed to protecting what faces the arena's other side.
"I'm sensitive to protecting Chinatown and commit to you as your mayor that I will do everything and anything within my power, working with our city council, to ensure that we protect Chinatown," she stated.
After hearing the mayor and many in her administration talk about Chinatown toward the end of the presentation, one attendee expressed frustration and wanted to hear more about how it would help North Philly's people.
"You won't be here in 2026, Cherelle. Yes, she will," said Shelia Mehta of Philadelphia, followed by applause.
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"What is this gonna do except economics? That's how people are reading it. This is about a few people, and who are they? They're one letter of this billionaire class that are gonna benefit from this," Mehta added.
"I did the best that I could with what was presented before us to ensure that this $1.3 billion private sector investment is worth more than basketball. It will incentivize growth and developments along Market Street, create jobs for generations to come, and truly make us a destination site," the mayor concluded.
If the project stays on schedule, demolition to make space for the arena will start in 2026, construction will then start in 2028, and the first basketball game is expected to be played at 76 Place in 2031.
Philadelphia City Council will vote on 11 bills that would authorize the constriction and operation of the proposed new 76ers arena at 10 a.m. Thursday.