Philadelphia City Council hearings begin on proposed Sixers arena, with questions about SEPTA at the forefront

Tuesday marked another big step in bringing a Philadelphia 76ers arena to Center City.

The Philadelphia City Council gave its speech first of several planned public hearings about the Sixers’ proposal to build 76 Place on Market East. Council members bombarded members of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration with questions about the $1.3 billion deal.

After about five hours of witness statements, we can say that the council members have many questions. Two questions that came up repeatedly on Tuesday were the role of public transport in making the arena a success and who would pay for the additional SEPTA services.

At City Hall, members of Parker’s team addressed all seventeen city council members. During the first of six hearings, the council was able to deliberate and express concerns. If a majority of the city council approves the project, the game is on.

The Parker administration outlined the legislation being considered to make the arena a reality, including building and zoning regulations, property rights and community impact.

Some council members asked for more details on how the arena will benefit minority-owned businesses in the long term and expressed concerns about whether there was enough budget available to protect Chinatown.

At least two council members rejected the proposal entirely.

“People all over Philadelphia love the South Philadelphia Sports Arena Complex,” said Council Member Kendra Brooks. “But most importantly, this is not the priority this council needs to focus on in the coming weeks, at a time when hearings are taking place on proposed school closures. We have a housing crisis that we cannot address. and an impending Trump administration targeting Philadelphia.”

Some expressed concerns about convincing fans to take public transportation to avoid traffic problems in the city and how SEPTA will pay for additional services amid a budget shortfall. SEPTA said the rates would be adjusted Tuesday increase by almost 30% starting in 2025.

“We know SEPTA has been struggling financially for some time, so asking them to absorb all the costs, both construction and operations, of subsidizing the Sixers arena hurts the entire city” , council member Jamie Gauthier said during the hearings. “If SEPTA’s financial stability is not explicitly addressed in the legislation, we should not vote for the arena.”

In a later statement, Gauthier added, “Given SEPTA’s impending ‘death spiral,’ the 76ers would have to cover any additional costs the transit authority incurs as a result of building and operating the arena.”

City leaders said the Sixers will cover the costs of building a new subway station, but it is not yet clear who will pay for the costs of service and operations once the arena is up and running.

The City Council could vote on the proposed arena in December.

Under the terms of the legislation, the new arena would open in August 2031.

During Day 2 of the hearings on Wednesday, council members will have the opportunity to ask Sixers representatives about their concerns.

If 76 places take place, the new Sixers arena will replace part of the Philadelphia Fashion District.

Although the City Council won’t let the public testify until next week, people near City Hall have already expressed their feelings.

Emotions were strong outside City Hall as dozens expressed concerns about the proposed new Sixers arena.

“We need them to listen to the needs that we as Philadelphians have,” said Seth Anderson-Oberman, executive director of Reclaim Philadelphia.

Anderson-Oberman argues there is no need for the arena in Center City when the city already has other needs, such as affordable housing.

“I was born and raised in this city. I love this city, and I don’t want it to be sold out to a bunch of billionaire developers who don’t live here,” Anderson-Oberman said. “Who doesn’t care what happens here.”

The new arena could give the Market East section of Philadelphia a huge boost.

“For us, it’s much more about revitalizing the city of Philadelphia,” said TJ Lepera, political director of IBEW Local 98, “and revitalizing Market Street all the way to the river.”

Lepera with IBEW Local 98, which represents more than 5,000 workers, is under Parker’s approval of the arena.

“We hope the City Council can join in the construction of a $2 billion arena that will revitalize Market Street and create opportunities for the people of Philadelphia,” Lepera said.

But at what price?

Vivian Chang of the No Arena Coalition believes the arena will be an expensive landmark that will ultimately harm the Chinatown community by worsening traffic congestion and gentrification.

“It’s the destruction of the community that’s going to happen. It’s a threat to lives,” Chang said. “Jefferson ER is there. It is the only Level 1 trauma center left.”

The first public testimony session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19.

There are several opportunities for public testimony in the coming weeks:

• November 19: 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
• November 20: 10am-12.30pm
• November 21: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• November 26: 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
• December 2: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM