Confirmed with Link: Comcast Spectacor and 76ers To Build New Stadium In South Philly (Opening 2031)

[Hollywood Cannon]

Being discussed in the 76ers thread but now that the Flyers are more or less "officially" involved I figure it's own thread is needed.

The Sixers Arena is No More - Here's What's Happening Instead

We’ve got breaking news a few hours before the Eagles playoff game: BREAKING: 76ers Arena is not happening. I’ll let the Parker administration confirm the details. — Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) January 12, 2025 Sources are telling me that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NFL Commissioner Roger...

www.crossingbroad.com

1) There will be a new combination basketball + hockey arena built in South Philly ahead of the 2031 season that is going to be a 50/50 partnership between HBSE and Comcast. The deal was essentially revisited at the last minute with Brian Roberts leading the charge, not Dan Hilferty, and it included more of what the Sixers were looking for when initially proposed. It sounds to me like Comcast conceded more at the final moment in terms of building management and scheduling. 2) Comcast will join a Sixers bid for a WNBA expansion team. Sources explained it to me as the Sixers leading that effort and Comcast having a stake in it. 3) With 76 Place out of the picture, both the Sixers and Comcast will partner on a more generic redevelopment project for Market Street, obviously not including a sports venue. 4) RE: Union labor, they’re actually going to get two jobs now, one, building this new arena in South Philly and two, working on these Market Street projects. 5) Renewed conversations between Comcast and the Sixers did not start until after Christmas, and this agreement wasn’t finished until the last 72 hours. Despite getting City Council approval, they still had a couple of hoops to jump through before starting with demolition.

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[DancingPanther]

With Comcast involved we all can be very confident that it definitely won't suck

 

[FLYguy3911]

Will Laughton's number be in the rafters when this thing opens?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Will Laughton's number be in the rafters when this thing opens?

Similar to how the First Union Center was the house that Lindros built. This new stadium will be the one that Scott Laughton built.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Didn’t they just dump a bunch of money in renovating the WFC?

I hope no tax payer money goes towards that new stadium.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Didn’t they just dump a bunch of money in renovating the WFC?

I hope no tax payer money goes towards that new stadium.

~$400M. They renovated every level of the stadium.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Holy shit.

So:

King Comcast Brian Roberts himself negotiated this deal. The Sixers had Comcast scared as hell I guess. Wasn't Hilferty supposed to solve this problem?

Wonder if the 50% the Sixers don't own will be owned by Comcast or Comcast Spectacor. Either way, this will be the first time in Flyers history that they don't own their own barn.

 

[DancingPanther]

Holy shit.

So:

King Comcast Brian Roberts himself negotiated this deal. The Sixers had Comcast scared as hell I guess. Wasn't Hilferty supposed to solve this problem?

Wonder if the 50% the Sixers don't own will be owned by Comcast or Comcast Spectacor. Either way, this will be the first time in Flyers history that they don't own their own barn.

Deservedly so, Clarke has run this thing into the ground. I imagine they have very little leverage

~$400M. They renovated every level of the stadium.

In their defense, the place does have to last another 5+ years. Nothing gets constructed on time ever, so I imagine it'll be even longer than that

 

[Danko]

Brian Roberts popping up like an End Game Boss at the last minute.

If the 76ers are basically running the development, then my concern goes back to the brooklyn arena and the bad viewing angles.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Deservedly so, Clarke has run this thing into the ground. I imagine they have very little leverage


In their defense, the place does have to last another 5+ years. Nothing gets constructed on time ever, so I imagine it'll be even longer than that

I believe that number doesn’t include the suite level renovations that the DNC paid for after the convention in 2016 also.

I actually really love where the arena is at now. They’ve done a great job and think it had some staying power.

I just know they’re going to run people through the wringer in this new stadium.

 

[Danko]

I believe that number doesn’t include the suite level renovations that the DNC paid for after the convention in 2016 also.

I actually really love where the arena is at now. They’ve done a great job and think it had some staying power.

I just know they’re going to run people through the wringer in this new stadium.

Agreed, I like the stadium as it is. I think the concessions are trash and they need to bring back regular size beers, especially now that kids don't drink...however overall, it is in a good spot.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Brian Roberts popping up like an End Game Boss at the last minute.

If the 76ers are basically running the development, then my concern goes back to the brooklyn arena and the bad viewing angles.

Those arenas only have bad viewing angles because they were build as basketball only stadiums.

There’s no chance that this new one will be built in that manner. Comcast won’t be taken for a ride like that.

 

[trostol]

where are they even gonna plop this down at?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

where are they even gonna plop this down at?

I could see it going somewhere at the Navy Yard and their Xfinity Live build up just taking over that entire lot once WFC is knocked down.

I say this without really paying attention to what the landscape looks over there.

I imagine we’ll find out tomorrow if the Mayor is really having a PC.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Random thought, but I wonder if they go big, capacity-wise. Like, 22k+. Not sure why it crossed my mind, but with ~18-20k being the "standard" I could see them pushing the envelope a little in a big market.

Should just build an exact replica of the Spectrum.

 

[trostol]

Random thought, but I wonder if they go big, capacity-wise. Like, 22k+. Not sure why it crossed my mind, but with ~18-20k being the "standard" I could see them pushing the envelope a little in a big market.

Should just build an exact replica of the Spectrum.

that would be a lot of empty seats since neither team is any good lol

 

[ponder719]

The things that interest me most here: 1) the Phillies were in on the South Philly redevelopment plan with the Flyers before, I want to know where they are with all this. 2) Roger Goodell was involved. Where do the Eagles fit in? I'm wondering if part of the redevelopment cycle involves following up a new arena for the Flyers and Sixers with a new stadium for the Eagles. 3) I keep hearing the Union floating around here. Wonder if the Union move to South Philly, and Subaru Park is turned over entirely to Union II and the Academy.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Random thought, but I wonder if they go big, capacity-wise. Like, 22k+. Not sure why it crossed my mind, but with ~18-20k being the "standard" I could see them pushing the envelope a little in a big market.

Should just build an exact replica of the Spectrum.

With Goodell reportedly getting involved, I imagine the Eagles new stadium will be involved here in this whole deal.

Obviously a big difference between 20k and 80k concerts and events but the Eagles are going to be the ones that are gonna get the big ones all year long now with a likely dome.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

The things that interest me most here: 1) the Phillies were in on the South Philly redevelopment plan with the Flyers before, I want to know where they are with all this. 2) Roger Goodell was involved. Where do the Eagles fit in? I'm wondering if part of the redevelopment cycle involves following up a new arena for the Flyers and Sixers with a new stadium for the Eagles.

There have been rumors of an Eagles stadium for the last few weeks. I have to imagine they’re connected.

About a month or two ago a friend said to me that the Eagles are getting a new domed stadium on the Jetro lot and the Sixers aren’t leaving South Philly. The Eagles want concerts all year and big events (Super Bowl, Final Four, etc).

 

[ponder719]

There have been rumors of an Eagles stadium for the last few weeks. I have to imagine they’re connected.

About a month or two ago a friend said to me that the Eagles are getting a new domed stadium on the Jetro lot and the Sixers aren’t leaving South Philly. The Eagles want concerts all year and big events (Super Bowl, Final Four, etc).

That would make a lot of sense, particularly if the dome can be opened. Given all the rumbling about Wrestlemania probably never coming back to Philly because of how cold it got, despite how great it was for business, this is a big play for stuff like that.

Also, love to hear about the joint application for a WNBA team, but this probably doesn't do wonders for my hopes that we'd apply for a PWHL team. Trying to cram the Flyers, Sixers, Wings, WNBA, PWHL, and non-sports events all into one stadium seems like way too much of a scheduling hassle, unless WFC doesn't get torn down as part of this, and the other teams keep that for themselves (which I HIGHLY doubt.)

 

[JojoTheWhale]

I am ready for the, "We're giving you 3k per off of the new seat licenses since that's what you paid for them 20 years ago" Eagles email.

Closest comparable in the portal was ~20k per last time I checked. Which is ridiculous, don't get me wrong. But I'm not eating 35k under any circumstances.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

I am ready for the, "We're giving you 3k per off of the new seat licenses since that's what you paid for them 20 years ago" Eagles email.

Closest comparable in the portal was ~20k per last time I checked. Which is ridiculous, don't get me wrong. But I'm not eating 35k under any circumstances.

Gonna hit like crack.

I’m still bitter at the fact they lowered our package by the value of a preseason game this year for the Brazil game.