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Sixers and Flyers fans — and fans of Philly’s future WNBA expansion franchise — got a first look at the new arena that the three teams will call home beginning, hopefully, in 2030.
A rendered image of the proposed arena in South Philadelphia, where the 76ers and Flyers, and the city’s future WNBA team will play from 2030. (Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers) 
A rendered image of the proposed arena in South Philadelphia, where the 76ers and Flyers, and the city’s future WNBA team will play from 2030. (Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers) 
A rendered image of the proposed arena in South Philadelphia, where the 76ers and Flyers, and the city’s future WNBA team will play from 2030. (Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers) 
A rendered image of the proposed arena in South Philadelphia, where the 76ers and Flyers, and the city’s future WNBA team will play from 2030. (Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers) 
A rendered image of the proposed arena in South Philadelphia, where the 76ers and Flyers, and the city’s future WNBA team will play from 2030. (Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers)
Team owners released rendered images Tuesday morning of what the arena will look like, as well as some new details. Here are 10 takeaways.
Back to the Spectrum site
The new arena’s future location is in South Philly’s historic Spectrum grounds, not in Center City’s Market East neighborhood, next to Chinatown, given the long and contentious initial proposal to place it there. That $1.3 billion arena plan had gotten final approval from Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council, until Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) announced a partnership deal with Comcast Spectacor to build the arena in South Philly instead — standing next to the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field and the Phillies’ Citizen’s Bank Park and replacing the Xfinity Mobile Arena. The cost of the new arena project is still unclear.
Fully privately-funded
It will be the largest fully-funded project in Philadelphia’s history, projected to create an estimated 15,000 jobs and generate nearly $6 billion in economic activity over the next 10 years. Tax revenue generated will also directly benefit the School District of Philadelphia.
Designer’s global credentials
The arena is being designed by global firm Populous and architects Moody Nolan. Some of the two firms’ notable other projects include the transformation of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, future FIFA World Cup venue Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, the Obama Presidential Center’s Home Court in Chicago and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York.
Homage to the past
The design pays homage to the old Spectrum Arena that was used by the Sixers and the Flyers from 1967 until 2009. The new arena reimagines that old look through a contemporary lens, updating to create an exterior “defined by stacked cantilevered bands that break down the scale of a typical arena and create a bold, instantly recognizable profile.”
Another set of steps
The front will have a broad stairway, offering an entrance and gathering point that the team said will echo the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The great outdoors
There will be over half an acre of outdoor space around the new arena, offering space for fan gatherings, activations, and food and beverage pavilions. The renderings also show a giant screen in front of the stadium.
A team effort
The partnership between HBSE, which owns the 76ers, and Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers, also promised a push for a WNBA expansion team, which was awarded to Philly last June. Comcast announced that it was folding the Philadelphia Wings, its box lacrosse team that also played in the current Xfinity Mobile Arena in March, so as of now there will be three sports teams as permanent tenants in the new arena, along with a calendar packed with concerts, live entertainment and community programming.
The countdown is on
The target opening day for the new arena is ahead of the 2030 inaugural season of the new WNBA team, along with that year’s NBA and NHL seasons.
LeBron’s legacy?
Basketball fans hoping to see LeBron James as a Sixer will most likely only get to do it in the team’s current home, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary last month. James just signed on for a two-year, $8 million contract with the team after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. All indications are the 41-year-old will retire as a Sixer, and probably well before 2030. If King James brings a long-awaited championship to Philly we can probably expect a statue or a mural on or near the arena.
What’s in a name?
Comcast will own the naming rights of the new arena, which still has to be formally titled. Given the 30-year history of the currently-named Xfinity Mobile Arena, it will probably be named after a multibillion-dollar financial institution or corporation. During the name switch from the Wells Fargo Arena to the Xfinity Mobile Arena, we asked our readers for name suggestions that paid homage to iconic Philly businesses, people and culture. If Comcast decides to go with “Jawn Palace” or the “Tastykake Thunderdome,” we’ll claim some credit.
