The Philadelphia 76ers have put into motion plans to move the team to Center City, but many fans aren’t happy with the notion. And now, add Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce to the mix.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced that she has approved a plan that would move the Sixers to a new arena in the Chinatown district of Center City. The arena, set to be named 76 Place and opened in 2031, has been in the works for some time under team owner Josh Harris. Over the years, the Sixers have flirted with leaving the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to a new stadium across the river in Camden, New Jersey, but Wednesday’s deal is set to keep the team in the city.
However, the deal is quite controversial. It’s well-known that the city’s four major sports teams all currently play in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex set 3.5 miles from downtown. The Sixers’ upcoming move would separate them from Philadelphia’s iconic sports complex, which has housed the city’s sporting teams for decades. Plus, the move into Center City is set to displace Chinatown residents to build the arena and likely add traffic congestion to downtown.
All in all, Philadelphia residents aren’t pleased with the plan. And on Thursday, Kelce added his voice to the mix as he vocalized his displeasure with the Sixers’ downtown move on a local Philadelphia radio show, 94WIP.
Jason Kelce’s full response to the new agreement to build a Sixers arena in Center City: “At the end of the day people are probably going to love it..But right now I really hate it.”
pic.twitter.com/M1uYBDFWgt https://t.co/FgBOmqkYYq
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) September 19, 2024
“They’re strong arming the city, what do you do? Do you risk losing the Sixers? It just sucks! The ownership group isn’t Philadelphian. He’s got a New Jersey Devils team, a Philadelphia team and now a Washington team. And now they’re forcing the city to do what this guy wants and it sucks! Like I said, at the end of the day, I think we’re all going to be really happy with it. I do think that, other than the people that get displaced out of Chinatown and the people that aren’t going to be able to live there anymore … Part of this is growing up in Cleveland and I lost a football team for three years. I just don’t think that amount of disrespect towards the citizens that allow you to have this team is appropriate.”
Kelce even expanded upon his thoughts on Twitter after his radio segment went viral.
To be clear, I would absolutely support the Sixers building their own arena in South Philadelphia. The renting thing isn’t fair to them, I just hate the strong arming of the city to force an inevitable move into an area that the local residents, and vast majority of… https://t.co/jJifC1XWip
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) September 19, 2024
As of now, the Sixers’ new arena isn’t a done deal yet, as Philadelphia’s City Council will also have to approve the plans. Philadelphia sports fans, at the very least, are happy a high-profile voice is speaking out on this issue.
Jason Kelce gets it. Philly sports fans are great because they care. The city loves players and people who also care.
It is painfully obvious Josh Harris does not care about Philly fans or Philadelphia.
Letting him dictate what happens to our neighborhoods would be a disgrace. https://t.co/FaObnBOJCj
— Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich) September 19, 2024
👑 @JasonKelce sums up what Philly fans know: No one likes the arena. Josh Harris and Mayor Parker don't care.
PS Jason, a #SaveChinatown shirt would look great under a kelly green tracksuit. https://t.co/LjiHhOEztl
— Save Chinatown Philly (@SaveChinatownPA) September 19, 2024
Here is the correct take on this. https://t.co/X2hKDdiE8Q
— Dena Driscoll (@bikemamadelphia) September 19, 2024
I appreciate Kelce's response here, especially replying to the straw man argument of the woes of the Sixers team. I'm a *big* Sixers fan. I don't think their gameday storage needs are more important than the safety and preservation of Chinatown & it's wild to me that anyone does. https://t.co/E3xO7lBoQW
— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn) September 19, 2024
Jason Kelce knows ball (shocker) https://t.co/CQk2uJJE8K
— George (@nothatcurious) September 19, 2024
