Inquirer: Flyers, Sixers to build new South Philly Arena

[qc14]

Having everything in the sports complex means you abut 95, have a two-block drive to the onramp to 76, it's already serviced by the Broad Street Line, and while the parking lot sea isn't aesthetically pleasing, there's generally close to enough of it, at least. If I was designing the entire city today, I'd have made more space for things like arenas in Center City, or even Old City along the waterfront, but nowadays, I'd hate to have to fit an arena anywhere else, because at least you're confining the attendant issues to the one area.

As ponder points out above, though, it's not like Philly offers a lot of great options. It is a very old and very dense city. If you were to start all over again, you probably do it differently. But if they're going to fix something now, it should be breaking up the asphalt monotony with at least some form of commercial development and green space. Build a few parking garages and a Chipotle and plant some trees or something. Make it tolerable, I guess, even if inauthentic--because it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Thanks for the replies. I know I'm spoiled by having Cap One be a 15 minute metro ride to directly under the stadium from where I live, although Northwest (formerly FedEx) Field being maybe the worst stadium in the country does balance it out a bit.

I think it's definitely nice for DC too that the suburban fans coming in from games are literally coming from every direction which makes downtown the only place for somewhere fairly accessible to both Maryland and Virginia residents. Fascinated to see what Harris will end up doing with the Commanders. Really hope they can return to the RFK site but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[ponder719]

Thanks for the replies. I know I'm spoiled by having Cap One be a 15 minute metro ride to directly under the stadium from where I live, although Northwest (formerly FedEx) Field being maybe the worst stadium in the country does balance it out a bit.

I think it's definitely nice for DC too that the suburban fans coming in from games are literally coming from every direction which makes downtown the only place for somewhere fairly accessible to both Maryland and Virginia residents. Fascinated to see what Harris will end up doing with the Commanders. Really hope they can return to the RFK site but I'm not holding my breath.

Yeah, DC residents have a huge advantage in that regard, at least; you have a top 3 public transit system in the US, IMO. I've taken the Metro into Cap One or the Shakespeare Theatre many a time. Philly public transit, not so much. Granted, also, Philly is over twice the square mileage of DC, we are not a particularly compact city, so public transit is a bit harder to make your primary mode of transportation unless you happen to live and work along one of the arterial lines.

I do think both cities are in line for significant improvements over the next few years, now that the RFK situation might (hopefully) be resolving itself in the Commies' favor, and with the new development in South Philly including a redevelopment district that will hopefully overhaul the Asphalt High Dam. I just wish it could be coupled with more improvements on SEPTA's end, but they're having a hard enough time making ends meet as it is, even with the fare hikes, because the general assembly would sooner give themselves a carbonated enema than provide equitable funding to public transit.