Philadelphia 76ers And Philadelphia Flyers Unveil First Look At New Arena

The Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers unveiled the first exterior renderings of the proposed new arena, which will also serve as home to Philadelphia’s WNBA team, planned for the historic Spectrum grounds in South Philadelphia. 

Marking Philadelphia’s largest fully privately funded project in the city’s history, the new arena, which is scheduled to open in 2030, is anticipated to create nearly 15,000 jobs and generate nearly $6 billion in economic activity over the next 10 years, with hundreds of millions in new tax revenue directly benefiting the School District of Philadelphia and the city.  

“Philly fans deserve the best arena in the world, and we are excited to partner with Comcast to deliver just that,” stated Josh Harris, Co-Founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Managing Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers in the announcement. “This privately funded arena will be the home to moments and memories that define this city for generations.”

Harris continued: “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.”

“This is a new era for Philadelphia sports,” added Brian Roberts, Chairman of Comcast Corporation. “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. 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.”

Global design firm Populous and architect Moody Nolan were selected by the 76ers and Flyers to bring the arena to life as one of the most technologically advanced, experience-driven venues in the country shaped by Philadelphia’s one-of-a-kind sports culture, history, neighborhood character and civic pride. The new arena will connect the next gathering place for Philadelphia sports and entertainment to one of the city’s most storied sports sites for future generations.

The arena’s architecture draws inspiration from the shape of the Spectrum, which hosted the Flyers and the 76ers for nearly three decades, and reimagines it through a contemporary design lens. The exterior will be defined by stacked, cantilevered bands that break down the scale of a typical arena and create a bold, instantly recognizable profile as a new South Philadelphia landmark. 

Outside the arena, fan plazas will extend the energy of the venue with active outdoor spaces inviting visitors, families and neighbors to come together. A broad arrival stair at the front will create a signature gathering point in the heart of the arena district, echoing Philadelphia’s best-known public landmarks, including the iconic steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With over a half-acre of outdoor space, the site boasts flexible fan-friendly areas to utilize for expanded entertainment experiences. The first look also lays out options for how the teams plan to extend the restaurant footprint, showcasing food-and-beverage pavilions.

The first-look renderings reflect fan feedback and stakeholder input on the arena experience, public spaces and amenities that Philadelphia residents want from the city’s next major sports and entertainment hub. Fan surveys, focus groups, community engagement, and public review will continue throughout the design and approval process.

The proposed arena is targeted to open ahead of the 2030 inaugural season of Philadelphia’s WNBA expansion team as well as the respective NBA and NHL seasons. Comcast will own the naming rights of the new arena to be formally named at a later date.