Chinatown Residents Hope to Fight off Arena Proposal

January 7, 2025 Samuel A Oneal Center City, Chinatown, Neighborhoods 0
Many signs have been placed around Chinatown's most populated areas in hopes to fight off the Sixers arena proposal.
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A “Save Chinatown, No Arena” sign on the corner of a shop, just a block away from the proposal site.
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A “Save Chinatown!” sign sharing information and meeting times for residents to help protect the community.
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“No Arena in Chinatown” signs are easily visible on corners of shops and apartments, sharing meeting times for residents to help protect the community.
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Multiple “Save Chinatown” signs on the corner of a shop in the heart of the neighborhood.
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The site of the arena proposal. All buildings are boarded up, displaying a gloomy appearance.
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Multiple stores, including a Reebok store, boarded up and closed down at the arena site on East Market Street.
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A Reebok store is boarded up at the proposal site on East Market Street.
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The front enterance to a shutdown Reebok store. The store is now unkept, while the rest of the property is boarded up.
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A, electronic billboard just a building over from the proposal site advertising the Sixers, a block away from the heart of Chinatown.
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The heart of Chinatown could be affected by tourists walking to the stadium. Small businesses would likely resort to raising prices on items.
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One of the main streets of Chinatown could become a walking path for fans to get to the proposed arena.
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The famous Chinatown arch, just a block away from the proposed arena site.

On July 21, 2022, The Philadelphia 76ers announced plans to leave the Wells Fargo Center, their current venue, and build a new $1.3 billion areana on Market Street, between 10th and 11th street. The arena would be located in the Fashion District and just a block away from Chinatown. 

Chinatown residents, business owners and visitors have voiced their displeasure with the proposal. The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, an organization that preserves, protects and promotes Chinatown, has been one of the main voices fighting to preserve Chinatown and fight off the 76ers’ proposal. 

The 76ers currently play in the Wells Fargo Center at the stadium complex next to Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field. The 76ers share the building with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 76ers believe the Flyers get first priority during the scheduling process and also compete with concerts for game dates.

If the proposal is granted, the 76ers hope to play their 2031-32 season opener in the new Center City stadium, the same year the team’s current lease with the Wells Fargo Center expires.

A potential Center City stadium located just a block away from Chinatown would cause business owners to raise their prices and landlords to raise rent for apartments in the area. Chinatown residents would also likely be affected by the amount of congestion caused by the tourism the arena would attract.

The 76ers are not the first team to try and move into Center City. In 1999, the Phillies and Mayor Ed Rendell wanted to build a downtown stadium near Broad and Spring Garden Streets. The idea was stronly opposed by many residents and business owners in the area. The Phillies quickly abandoned the idea.

Quickly after, the team and new Mayor John F. Street advocated to build a new ballpark at 12th and Vine Streets, in Chinatown. Eventually, the Phillies saw the proposal as unworkable and too expensive. The project was also shut down because of the overwhelming disaproval of Chinatown residents. The locals of the neighborhoods were also threatened by multiple projects such as the Vine Street Expressway and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

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