The Philadelphia 76ers have pulled back from their plans to build a $1.3 billion arena downtown. The move is surprising as the Sixers had just received approval from city council a few weeks ago.
The council had voted Dec. 19 to approve the downtown arena after more than two years of heated debate over the proposal, and the owners of the NBA team had hoped to move into what would be called 76 Place by 2031.
The team owner, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, had pushed for city approval by year's end so it could meet the target opening date.
The Chinatown community has fought a series of proposed developments since the 1960s, including casinos, a prison, a baseball stadium and a highway, the last of which dissected the neighborhood when it opened in 1991.
Via ESPN
