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76 Place at Market East is One Step Closer to Reality

Mike Lipinski Sports Editor

Published6 hours ago on December 13, 2024

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The Philadelphia 76ers dream of moving to Center City Philadelphia is one step closer to reality.

HAPPENING NOW: Philadelphia City Council members are expected to meet shortly to decide whether to vote out of committee a package of bills to support construction of the controversial Sixers Arena. Meanwhile, both sides are chanting back and forth. More @CBSPhiladelphia. pic.twitter.com/KycTDncoji

— Brandon Goldner (@GoldnerTV) December 12, 2024

On Thursday morning, Philadelphia City Council voted to approve a vote (got that?) for the Sixers’ planned Center City arena, 76 Place at Market East. The final hurdle for the organization and supporters will happen on December 19 with a second reading and final vote in a special session of Philadelphia City Council.

The approval vote came after changes were made to terms of the various bills needed for approval, notably an increase to the Community Benefit Agreement. Under the new terms, the Sixers will contribute $60 million to the CBA over a 30-year period. The number is an increase from the Sixers’ initial $50 million commitment. The Sixers will also provide the city with $20 million towards affordable housing initiatives and $5 million towards a “business disruption fund” to aid impacted businesses by the building of the arena in the Chinatown area.

However, not everyone is happy with Thursday’s City Council decision.

Residents and business owners in the Chinatown neighborhood have been vehemently against the proposed Center City arena since the initial proposal just over two-years ago. They cite changes to the cultural identity of the neighborhood – Philadelphia’s traditional Asian enclave– and traffic congestion as just a pair of problems with the planned building.

To prove the latter point, dozens of protestors took to the roads on Thursday night snarling traffic and agitating Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.