76ers and Flyers Unveil First Look at Privately Funded South Philadelphia Arena

The ownership groups behind the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers have published the first artist renderings of their planned shared arena, a South Philadelphia facility slated to open in 2030 adjacent to Lincoln Financial Field.

The venue, designed by architecture firm Populous, will also serve as the home floor for Philadelphia’s expansion WNBA franchise when it begins play that same year. Early projections pegged the price tag at $1.3 billion, and the development is described as the largest fully privately funded construction project in the city’s history.

Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers and the current Xfinity Mobile Arena, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, parent of the 76ers, are equal 50-50 partners in the venture. Comcast will hold the building’s naming rights.

76ers co-owner Josh Harris framed the project as a generational investment for the city, crediting partners David Blitzer, David Adelman, Brian Roberts and Dan Hilferty, and citing planned collaboration with Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson on job creation and economic development.

Design cues nod to Philadelphia’s sports heritage: the arena draws inspiration from the Spectrum, the former longtime home of both franchises, while a grand staircase at the main entrance echoes the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Roughly half an acre of outdoor public space will surround the structure.

The ownership partners project the development will create about 15,000 jobs and generate close to $6 billion in economic activity over the coming decade, alongside hundreds of millions of dollars in anticipated tax revenue for the city.

Comcast chairman Brian Roberts called the project “a new era for Philadelphia sports,” noting the significance of building on the site where Ed Snider and the Spectrum established the franchise’s history.

The arena announcement lands amid broader activity for Comcast, whose shares traded at $26.20 on Monday, down 1.45% from the prior close of $26.59, valuing the media and telecommunications conglomerate at roughly $94.4 billion. Beyond its Spectacor sports holdings, Comcast operates across connectivity, media, studios and theme parks.

What to watch

• Construction milestones and updated cost figures as the 2030 opening approaches
• Announcement of the arena’s naming-rights partner and terms
• Details on the WNBA franchise’s launch, branding and roster build-out
• Comcast’s upcoming quarterly earnings, which may address its Spectacor and venue investments
• City approvals and workforce commitments tied to the projected 15,000 jobs

Source: original release