Philadelphia 76ers Abandon Controversial Stadium Plans

Even the team’s future in the City of Brotherly Love was far from settled for a long time. The franchise was far from impressed with the Wells Fargo Center and was threatening to leave if the city didn’t cede to their demands of a brand-new stadium.

For quite some time, it seemed certain that the Sixers would move to one of the city’s most populated areas, despite rough opposition to the move. However, it seemed like the league managed to convince the owners to keep their team in its familiar home for a little longer.

Philadelphia 76ers cancel moving to Central City for a potential South Philly stadium move

The franchise initially planned to build a $1.3 billion stadium in Central City, Philly’s second-most populated area. It was a controversial decision that was going to cause problems for the area’s Chinatown and related areas as it would wipe them off the map.

Arise News’ Erizia Rubyjeana reported that the city council decided to rescind their decision to build their new stadium in the area, but the repercussions caused by the move already made their mark in the city:

“We’re glad that the Sixers will remain in the stadium district where they best belong. But the way they reached this decision reflects a profound lack of respect for City leaders, stakeholders, and residents,” Gauthier and Rue said in a statement.

The 76ers’ downtown development plan had pitted working-class Philadelphians against each other and the team had pressured City Council to consider a “half-baked” proposal that left open questions about gridlock and the displacement of the city’s Chinatown section, they said.

In what some may consider as a surprising move, the association got help from a competitor:

It remains to be seen what is up next for the Sixers after such a move, but one thing’s clear: they do not want to stay at Wells Fargo Center and will exhaust every possible option to find their new home.