Philadelphia's Sports Stadiums and Arenas: Present and Future

Sports arenas inherently demand a lot from their immediate surroundings, in terms of crowds, transportation access, local services, and associated land uses. Philadelphia's "Sports Complex" of three arenas hosts four professional sports teams within a couple of blocks of each other. Although this situation may not be replicated in other parts of the United States, planners should think carefully about what economies of scale and efficiencies can be gained by siting multiple large crowd-generators in the same general location. As more dollars are concentrated on professional sports, the continued effort to provide state-of-the-art facilities while balancing community access is becoming challenging to achieve.

Consider the planning effects of a new project that could have ramifications far beyond its immediate neighborhood. The proposed new Sixers arena in the East Market/Chinatown area will give the city of Philadelphia its next chance for comprehensive public input and community engagement. Planners will be engaged in all aspects of the proposal.