What a day. It took forever to complete the vote because city council turned into a clown show with the amount of people they let speak, but we finally have an answer. The Sixers are building a new arena after two years of political theatre from every side of the coin. Here are reactions from the two main sides: union workers and arena protestors. Fair and balanced as you can get:

“Politricks.” What a phrase. I’m stealing that one.

There were not many fireworks after the vote went through. Not like there was before it:

 

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You had union workers mixed in with arena opposition on the balcony of city council like it was a neutral big time college football clash. It was awesome to see them mix it up. Arena opposition would get on the mic and you’d hear snaps and cheers from their supporters while union workers would mock them about sending a post card from jail when the vote doesn’t go their way. Boos would rain down when a pro-arena person would speak from opposition. It’s the closest I’ll ever be to a Gladiator Coliseum. It was awesome!

Then we lost the plot with some people getting on the mic talking about bombing Gaza and invoking the French Revolution and I could only take roughly 10 speakers before I just left and watched the rest on a livestream from a coffee shop outside City Hall.


Once the vote was read, protestors stormed the floor again, but no arrests were made even though they had two giant Philly Sheriff buses parked outside City Hall. Me and this lady apparently had the most fireworks:

@kylepagancb

I’ll take drunk Eagles fans over uptight arena protestors every day of the week #sixers #arena #protest #philly

♬ original sound – Kyle Pagan

God I hate those people. They don’t understand that those on the fence would probably take their side if they weren’t so cuckoo and insufferable. The minute you say something they don’t like they jump down your throat because they haven’t heard themselves talk in 10 seconds. I can’t lie, this lady knew her shit and if she just would’ve let me talk I probably would’ve said something stupid and she could’ve pounced all over it. Instead she looks like an unhinged lunatic.

I can’t tell you enough how glad I am this is over. Now union workers can build it and the protestors can move on to their next endeavor on the docket. I don’t know what it will bring to the city. No one does. It’s seven years from now and some of the conversations already being had are laughable. Crossing Broad had the best arena coverage over the last two years and I don’t even think it’s close. I had both opposition and union come up to me and tell me that when they saw me on Thursday. You know how hard it is for two completely opposite ends of the spectrum to agree on something? In this economy? Impossible. Go read Kinker’s 20 Thoughts on the Sixers Arena if you haven’t already.

P.S. I hate sad tuba. I wouldn’t wish sad tuba on my worst enemy.