Sixers new stadium being built in south Philly now. Chinatown off the table

[the_process]

Goodell, Roberts, and Silver all pushed the Sixers to stay.

I especially hate that because Harris owns the Commanders, we have two leagues leading him around by the leash. I want him gone. Sell the team and go swimming in your money and never show your face in Philly ever again.

Silver owes the Sixers Cooper Flagg. Period.

[HotelVitale]

The happiest people on Reddit/twitter appear to be the ones who thoroughly enjoy the uniqueness of having a sports complex that has all 4 teams. I’ve never heard the rationale behind that particularly since it’s extremely rare (and likely massively taxing) to attend more than one event in the giant blight we call the sports complex. If we build a 300 foot turd emoji down there, that too would be unique but have no real utility.

All of this coupled with those people are on the side of Roger Goodell, Adam Silver, and the Lurie really show that they’re not interested in what’s good for the city or the Sixers, but rather what’s good for the Eagles ownership and Comcast.

The most ironic part in all of this is Chinatown gets absolutely nothing out of this and continues the slow death. I’m sure the leaders of that movement are silently **** their pants.

Wrote a longer post about but your last sentence may have tipped your hand there. If you really think that Chinatown is doing poorly or that there's a 'slow death' going on in center city philly now, you're misunderstanding the situation as it stands. I'm not sure if that's for political reasons or if it's just an assumption you've picked up, but I don't think it's possible to have a fair or productive conversation about the topic if you're locking in those two things as facts.

Also I'm honestly not that passionate on this topic but instead of arguing with some random points on twitter, you can work through the various reports that were made on the topic itself. The Sixers own studies were very clear that there would be severe traffic issues for the neighborhood (that don't currently exist in south Philly), and that Chinatown's smaller immigrant-owned businesses would be significantly negatively impacted. The stuff about SEPTA was also no joke. There's also of course plenty of research that stadiums don't have good and sustained economic impacts on areas around them. Again I'm not even passionate about this subject and think the city has far more important things to worry about, but as a person that deals with city politics and policy every day, this was never an idea that ever passed any objective smell test. If there weren't billionaires actively lobbying for it and making threats about not following them (and maybe if the building trades weren't taking it up as a crusade to flex their power on), this idea wouldn't have gotten past the first stage of vetting. Million other locations for the stadium would've come up before 10th and Market if the goal was the common good of the city.

[fkd215]

I'm wondering if this whole downtown arena push was just a ploy by the Sixers to increase their leverage in the negotiations with Comcast. It looks to me like both Comcast and the Sixers got what they wanted, and that Cherelle Parker and City Council are the big losers in this deal.

[Negrodamus]

The happiest people on Reddit/twitter appear to be the ones who thoroughly enjoy the uniqueness of having a sports complex that has all 4 teams. I’ve never heard the rationale behind that particularly since it’s extremely rare (and likely massively taxing) to attend more than one event in the giant blight we call the sports complex. If we build a 300 foot turd emoji down there, that too would be unique but have no real utility.

All of this coupled with those people are on the side of Roger Goodell, Adam Silver, and the Lurie really show that they’re not interested in what’s good for the city or the Sixers, but rather what’s good for the Eagles ownership and Comcast.

The most ironic part in all of this is Chinatown gets absolutely nothing out of this and continues the slow death. I’m sure the leaders of that movement are silently **** their pants.

Wrote a longer post about but your last sentence may have tipped your hand there. If you really think that Chinatown is doing poorly or that there's a 'slow death' going on in center city philly now, you're misunderstanding the situation as it stands. I'm not sure if that's for political reasons or if it's just an assumption you've picked up, but I don't think it's possible to have a fair or productive conversation about the topic if you're locking in those two things as facts.

Also I'm honestly not that passionate on this topic but instead of arguing with some random points on twitter, you can work through the various reports that were made on the topic itself. The Sixers own studies were very clear that there would be severe traffic issues for the neighborhood (that don't currently exist in south Philly), and that Chinatown's smaller immigrant-owned businesses would be significantly negatively impacted. The stuff about SEPTA was also no joke. There's also of course plenty of research that stadiums don't have good and sustained economic impacts on areas around them. Again I'm not even passionate about this subject and think the city has far more important things to worry about, but as a person that deals with city politics and policy every day, this was never an idea that ever passed any objective smell test. If there weren't billionaires actively lobbying for it and making threats about not following them (and maybe if the building trades weren't taking it up as a crusade to flex their power on), this idea wouldn't have gotten past the first stage of vetting. Million other locations for the stadium would've come up before 10th and Market if the goal was the common good of the city.

You’re misinterpreting my post but I also didn’t provide context on my feelings of Chinatown in relation to the CC plans (which wouldn’t be in Chinatown, btw). The concessions Sixers ownership would have made to the Chinatown neighborhood due to this project would have likely injected massive investment into that community. Chinatown did what they should have done to get a piece of the pie. However, they did it so hard that many Philadelphians were frothing at the mouth over the idea of Chinatown getting killed. Now they get basically nothing… I mean, there’s a vague “revitalization” plan of the area which could amount to nothing.

Additionally, there is no way to make sweeping impact to improve your city without negative impact. There would be worse traffic during the construction, of course. Those studies should be used to force ownership to mitigate those issues. If there is end goal adds investments to infrastructure and SEPTA, then the city wins.

As someone who lives in this city, it’s just a bit depressing to see more of the same: lack of an appetite to improve the actual city.

[Negrodamus]

Also regarding economic impact study: https://wissnow.com/news/2024/sep/04/experts-proposed-sixers-arena-economic-impact-report-lacks-credibility/

[Negrodamus]

One final point from me:

If this is part of some larger plan to make south Philly into a denser core with housing and interesting attractions, bolster Philly’s economy, adds to public transit and improves the city overall, then I’ll take back my gripes about how this ended up playing out. If it’s just reshuffling the parking lot, adding more gambling options, and adding more Comcast branded restaurants/stores, then I guess we get what we deserve from our corporate overlords.

[Arsenal]

One final point from me:

If this is part of some larger plan to make south Philly into a denser core with housing and interesting attractions, bolster Philly’s economy, adds to public transit and improves the city overall, then I’ll take back my gripes about how this ended up playing out. If it’s just reshuffling the parking lot, adding more gambling options, and adding more Comcast branded restaurants/stores, then I guess we get what we deserve from our corporate overlords.

Yeah these clowns have been talking about developing the area around the Sports Complex for years, with nothing to show for it except Xfinity Live. When you compare it to the area around any other major city's arenas it's a joke.

[Arsenal]

Best summary of the situation:

Read on Twitter

[wco81]

So Comcast would be co-owners of the new arena?

Then instead of the team keeping all the revenues for non-NBA and non-basketball events, they'd have to split it with Comcast?

Comcast owns NBC, which is going to be one of the main outlets for NBA games on TV starting this fall.

When they increase your cable TV bill every year, you see where it goes.

[fkd215]

I don't think the endgame for Josh Harris was ever a downtown arena. This was always about how does a $12B corporation (Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment) negotiate in a tenant dispute with a $140B global behemoth like Comcast? Harris-Blitzer fought Comcast to a 50-50 draw; from Josh Harris' point of view that's a massive win. The fact that they had to play the mayor and City Council (and regular Philadelphians on both sides) was just collateral damage to them.

[Tony Franciosa]

Best summary of the situation:

Read on Twitter

[the_process]

I don't think the endgame for Josh Harris was ever a downtown arena. This was always about how does a $12B corporation (Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment) negotiate in a tenant dispute with a $140B global behemoth like Comcast? Harris-Blitzer fought Comcast to a 50-50 draw; from Josh Harris' point of view that's a massive win. The fact that they had to play the mayor and City Council (and regular Philadelphians on both sides) was just collateral damage to them.

You might be right. And that sucks.

[Slacktard]

I don't think the endgame for Josh Harris was ever a downtown arena. This was always about how does a $12B corporation (Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment) negotiate in a tenant dispute with a $140B global behemoth like Comcast? Harris-Blitzer fought Comcast to a 50-50 draw; from Josh Harris' point of view that's a massive win. The fact that they had to play the mayor and City Council (and regular Philadelphians on both sides) was just collateral damage to them.

I don't believe this was a master plan from the start. I think he legitimately had the plans and was going with the downtown arena, but swerved when Goodell pushed for a Commanders stadium in DC itself. Which wouldn't be the first time Harris has capitulated for a commissioner. The DC stadium for Washington will require more financing/self-funding than had he moved them to a Virginia county and got hundreds of millions for doing so.

Comcast is also now acquiring a minority stake in the Sixers probably also showing Harris is trying to get a little bit more cash on hand to redirect.

[Arsenal]

I don't think the endgame for Josh Harris was ever a downtown arena. This was always about how does a $12B corporation (Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment) negotiate in a tenant dispute with a $140B global behemoth like Comcast? Harris-Blitzer fought Comcast to a 50-50 draw; from Josh Harris' point of view that's a massive win. The fact that they had to play the mayor and City Council (and regular Philadelphians on both sides) was just collateral damage to them.

I don't believe this was a master plan from the start. I think he legitimately had the plans and was going with the downtown arena, but swerved when Goodell pushed for a Commanders stadium in DC itself. Which wouldn't be the first time Harris has capitulated for a commissioner. The DC stadium for Washington will require more financing/self-funding than had he moved them to a Virginia county and got hundreds of millions for doing so.

Comcast is also now acquiring a minority stake in the Sixers probably also showing Harris is trying to get a little bit more cash on hand to redirect.

Exactly. Sixers are the red-headed stepchild for Harris. He doesn't give an F what's good for the Sixers as opposed to his first love the Commies.

[GoSixersBro]

They can play in the Middle East for all I care, can we just get a broadcast option where the commentator audio is mutable?

[Black Mage]

Did Silver promise us special ping pong ball privileges when we more silently go tank/rebuild mode again?

That was the first thing I thought about! We're currently 8th in lottery and just 2 wins ahead of the 6th slot. Joel's got a mysterious foot injury that may or may not be long-term. PG is "bored." Maxey's just angry. Maybe the reason we keep this 15th roster slot open all this time is to force Nurse to rely on old and busted. Maybe Nurse knows the plan and that's why he doesn't give two sh**s about lineups or schemes.

[Black Mage]

Goodell, Roberts, and Silver all pushed the Sixers to stay.

I especially hate that because Harris owns the Commanders, we have two leagues leading him around by the leash. I want him gone. Sell the team and go swimming in your money and never show your face in Philly ever again.

Silver owes the Sixers Cooper Flagg. Period.

Gonna be funny when Daniels "pushes" the Eagles right out of the playoffs.

[youngcrev]

I don't think the endgame for Josh Harris was ever a downtown arena. This was always about how does a $12B corporation (Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment) negotiate in a tenant dispute with a $140B global behemoth like Comcast? Harris-Blitzer fought Comcast to a 50-50 draw; from Josh Harris' point of view that's a massive win. The fact that they had to play the mayor and City Council (and regular Philadelphians on both sides) was just collateral damage to them.

I don't believe this was a master plan from the start. I think he legitimately had the plans and was going with the downtown arena, but swerved when Goodell pushed for a Commanders stadium in DC itself. Which wouldn't be the first time Harris has capitulated for a commissioner. The DC stadium for Washington will require more financing/self-funding than had he moved them to a Virginia county and got hundreds of millions for doing so.

Comcast is also now acquiring a minority stake in the Sixers probably also showing Harris is trying to get a little bit more cash on hand to redirect.

Exactly. Sixers are the red-headed stepchild for Harris. He doesn't give an F what's good for the Sixers as opposed to his first love the Commies.

Agreed, he cares about what's best for the asset. And for the most part I think it's been a mutually beneficial situation. The practice facility, the push the new stadium, throwing money at executive and coaches. Fun to have a Pat Croce hyping you up, but all you really need out of the owner is a willingness to write checks.

Comcast getting back involved feels like an L for us.

[Embiid P]

Goodell, Roberts, and Silver all pushed the Sixers to stay.

I especially hate that because Harris owns the Commanders, we have two leagues leading him around by the leash. I want him gone. Sell the team and go swimming in your money and never show your face in Philly ever again.

Silver owes the Sixers Cooper Flagg. Period.

Gonna be funny when Daniels "pushes" the Eagles right out of the playoffs.

What makes you so sure they're getting past Detroit let alone the Eagles?

[the_process]

Goodell, Roberts, and Silver all pushed the Sixers to stay.

I especially hate that because Harris owns the Commanders, we have two leagues leading him around by the leash. I want him gone. Sell the team and go swimming in your money and never show your face in Philly ever again.

Silver owes the Sixers Cooper Flagg. Period.

Gonna be funny when Daniels "pushes" the Eagles right out of the playoffs.

The Skins are going to get obliterated by Detroit.