It’s been an eventful summer for the South Philadelphia sports complex. It has hosted World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, and there are ongoing talks of plans to further develop the area.
For much of this time period, a new arena seemed to be in the works. This was first a concept for the Philadelphia 76ers to move into their own building in the Chinatown section of Center City Philadelphia. In January 2025, an updated plan was announced with both the Philadelphia Flyers and Sixers coming together on a building with shared ownership that would be home for NHL hockey, NBA basketball, the city’s WNBA expansion team, and numerous other events.
That arena now has a visual and a timeline for potential completion. The first renderings of the new arena were unveiled on Tuesday morning.
Photo: Philadelphia Flyers/Philadelphia 76ersNew South Philly Arena
The new South Philadelphia arena, set to be home to the Flyers and Sixers, will be located on the site of the former Spectrum, and features a design that resembles the original Philadelphia arena with a modern flare. The project is expected to break ground in early 2027 with completion set for 2030 in time for the inaugural WNBA season in Philadelphia.
The new arena is part of an agreement between Comcast Spectacor and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
“This is a new era for Philadelphia sports. To build our future where Ed Snider and the Spectrum made history makes this project truly special. Working with HBSE, we are creating a world-class experience worthy of Philadelphia’s incredible fans,” Brian Roberts, Chairman of Comcast Corporation, said in a statement. “None of this would be possible without great partners, and I’m deeply grateful to Dan Hilferty, Josh Harris, David Adelman, David Blitzer, and all the teams who worked so hard to get us here — we can’t wait to bring championships to this new home. I would also like to thank Mayor Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson for their leadership as we work to bring this transformative project to life for Philadelphia and its fans.”
“Philly fans deserve the best arena in the world, and we are excited to partner with Comcast to deliver just that. This privately funded arena will be the home to moments and memories that define this city for generations,” Josh Harris, Co-Founder of HBSE and Sixers Managing Partner, said in a statement. “We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us and look forward to partnering with Mayor Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson to transform a site rich with history, while creating thousands of jobs, driving lasting economic impact and delivering an arena that honors the deep sports and entertainment culture of the city. I’m grateful to my partners David Blitzer, David Adelman, Brian Roberts and Dan Hilferty for helping make this vision a reality.”
Photo: Philadelphia Flyers/Philadelphia 76ersNew South Philly Arena
Both the Flyers and Sixers have called Xfinity Mobile Arena home since its opening in 1996. Based on the renderings, the current home of the two teams would be removed and host parking.
Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.
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