City Council hearings about the proposed 76ers arena in Center City are expected to conclude this week, and a final vote on legislation authorizing the project could come next week.
The Committee of the Whole, which includes all Council members, is considering a legislative package incorporating the approvals the team needs to build the $1.3 billion arena, known as 76 Place at Market East.
Lawmakers could vote the bills out of committee as early as Tuesday. Then, following a first reading Thursday, a final tally – one of the most anticipated in recent memory – could be held as early as Dec. 12, the final scheduled session before Council recesses for the holidays.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the 76ers, has said the legislation needs to pass before the end of the year to begin demolition in 2026 and open in time for the 2031-32 NBA season, when the team’s lease expires at the Wells Fargo Center.
Negotiations continue on aspects of the proposal, and Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose district includes the site of the planned arena, said last week that details have yet to be finalized.
Council members have stated their desire that the 76ers increase the amount of the Community Benefits Agreement, which is aimed at offsetting 76 Place’s projected negative impacts. Mayor Cherelle Parker and the team agreed to a $50 million CBA, and HBSE representatives testified last month that the franchise is unwilling to pay more.
During the most recent hearing, on Nov. 26, Squilla said he was pushing for the team to provide free SEPTA fares if fewer than 40% of fans utilize public transit, a benchmark experts believe is key to reducing traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, Chinatown community leaders have used the hearings to express concerns that 76 Place could harm their neighborhood, while labor union and construction industry officials have described the project as potentially transformative for the city’s economy.
A public comment session on the arena bill is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at City Hall, and another hearing is set to begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday. No further meetings have been announced.
Lawmakers moved two arena bills out of committee in a 10-3 vote last week following a hearing. Those pieces of legislation, surrounding a special services district and an existing Tax Increment Financing District, will not be enacted unless the broader package is approved.
Hours of 76 Place-related Council meetings have been held since Squilla introduced the arena bills Oct. 31 and began the legislative process to officially consider the project.
A section of the Fashion District mall along Market Street between 10th and 11th streets would be knocked down to make way for the 18,500-seat arena.
