76ers Cancels Chinatown Arena Plan

By:  Ye Widjaja
February 10, 2025

76ers Cancels Chinatown Arena Plan

The arena plan was discussed, negotiated, and considered for two and a half years by Philadelphia council members and anti-arena activists. On Sunday, January 12, 2025, the 76ers announced that the plan to build an arena in Chinatown had been canceled. The news came out hours after the Eagles had won against the Green Bay Packers. A huge sigh of relief was made in the 150-year-old neighborhood. 

While the sudden cancellation was celebrated, Chinatown residents continue to feel distrust towards Philadelphia’s developers and organizers. The residents accused them of “bending to billionaires” and not to the people. Anti-arena activists also said politicians disregarded Chinatown, its culture, business, and people.

As of the present, the new arena is no longer being proposed for North Philly’s Center City, but rather for South Philadelphia. As of now, it is announced that the proposed arena will be opened in 2031 over the stadium district.

Sources:

• https://billypenn.com/2025/01/12/sixers-decision-south-philly-arena-opponents-celebrate/ 

• https://billypenn.com/2025/01/13/no-arena-coalition-chinatown-celebration-community/ 

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nba-philadelphia-76ers-arena-move-chinatown-reversal-rcna187486 

• https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-nba-new-arena-chinatown-b8fc96e0f153d745ace62f1aba4d39b0