76ers Unveil New Arena... Without LeBron James

It's highly unlikely that LeBron James, who moved to Philadelphia this offseason and, at 41, is preparing for his 24th season, will ever play there. But with the 76ers' forward, you never know... This comes as the Sixers and the Philadelphia Flyers (ice hockey) unveiled on Tuesday the first images of the arena they plan to build on the site of the historic Spectrum, directly across from the Xfinity Mobile Arena (20,478 spectators), their home since 1996.

With the idea of building a new structure downtown, or even staying put, seemingly off the table, the new arena deal for the 76ers was forged in partnership with Comcast Spectacor. They plan to construct a private, $1.5 billion (1.291 billion euros) arena within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which already houses their current venue, an American football stadium, and a baseball stadium.

The joint project by the 76ers and Flyers represents the largest private investment in Philadelphia's history. It's projected to open in 2030, ahead of the inaugural season for the city's new WNBA team. This new team will also utilize the venue, which is also designed to host concerts and entertainment events.

As mentioned, the new facility will rise on the grounds of the old and historic Spectrum, which served as the 76ers' home from 1967 to 1996 and where the club clinched its third and last NBA title in 1982/83.

Construction is slated to begin in early 2027, pending final approvals from the City Council and local authorities. The venture will be equally owned (50-50) by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (owners of the Sixers) and Comcast Spectacor (owners of the Flyers), ending over a decade of the basketball team playing as tenants in the Flyers' current arena.

This marks the largest 100 percent privately financed project in Philadelphia's history. According to the developers, the infrastructure is expected to create nearly 15,000 jobs and generate close to $6 billion (5.162 billion euros) in economic activity over the next decade, injecting hundreds of millions in tax revenue for the school district and city coffers.

Architecturally, the arena draws inspiration from the geometry of the old Spectrum—a venue that hosted both teams for nearly three decades. It will feature over two thousand square meters of outdoor plazas, fan gathering spots, and dedicated areas for dining and entertainment.