- The Flyers and 76ers released the first renderings of their new arena on Tuesday
- The building goes up on the old Spectrum grounds and borrows the Spectrum’s shape
- Read below for the timeline, the price tag and what Comcast gets out of it
The Flyers have a first look at their next home, and it leans hard on their old one.
Philadelphia’s two winter tenants unveiled the opening renderings of their proposed South Philadelphia arena on Tuesday. It sits on the grounds of the old Spectrum, it opens in 2030, and it houses the Flyers, the 76ers and the city’s incoming WNBA team.
The exterior pulls its silhouette straight from the Spectrum, then wraps it in stacked, cantilevered bands. Populous and Moody Nolan handled the design.
Outside, more than a half-acre of plaza space is set aside for fans, along with food and beverage pavilions and a wide arrival staircase at the front entrance built to echo the Art Museum steps.
Shovels go in the ground before the doors open, obviously, and Frank Seravalli put a date on that part:
The teams are calling this the largest fully privately funded project in Philadelphia history. Their projections put it at roughly 15,000 jobs and close to $6 billion in economic activity over a decade, with tax money flowing to the School District of Philadelphia.
Comcast owns the naming rights, and there is no name yet.
Chairman Brian Roberts framed the site itself as the whole point of the project.
“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.”
He is not overselling the address. The Spectrum housed the Flyers for nearly three decades and holds both Stanley Cups in franchise history, 1974 and 1975. Philadelphia went back to the Final there in 1985 and 1987.
The current building has not been as kind. Since moving in for 1996-97, the Flyers have reached two Finals and lost both, in 1997 and 2010.
Philadelphia is not the only market saying goodbye to an old barn, either. Calgary plays its last season at the Saddledome this year, and tickets to the final game there vanished in minutes.
Ed Snider got the Spectrum built in 1967 so his expansion team would have somewhere to play. In 2030, the Flyers move back onto that same block at Broad and Pattison.
