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The New Flyers and Sixers Arena Has Spectrum Vibes
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The Flyers and the Sixers released the first renderings of the new South Philly arena on Monday morning, and one of the things folks noticed is that it resembles the Spectrum:
It’s the oval design and the top panels that make you think of the classic arena.
Sure enough, that’s mentioned here in the writeup:
The arena’s architecture draws inspiration from the shape of the Spectrum, which hosted the Flyers and the 76ers for nearly three decades, and reimagines it through a contemporary design lens. The exterior will be defined by stacked, cantilevered bands that break down the scale of a typical arena and create a bold, instantly recognizable profile as a new South Philadelphia landmark.
It looks like a bigger, nicer, more modern Spectrum.
Instead of people referring to Dominik Hasek as Dominik Ha-“shit” (one of my earliest Philly sports memories), they will instead be boooooooooooooooooooing Cutter Gauthier inside this building as the Flyers look for their second straight Stanley Cup title in 2030. This, of course, will be a few seasons after the Sixers had won the NBA title with Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe. And Caitlin Clark will be suiting up for the Philadelphia WNBA expansion team, alongside teammate Angel Reese.
The last picture in the slide gives you a better idea of the arena location. This spot is currently off to the side of Stateside Live!. In the renderings, Xfinity Mobile Arena has been demolished and replaced with parking lots. Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field are in their usual spots.
The Eagles haven’t joined the larger sports complex project, nor have they decided what they’re going to do when their lease expires.
And while these are early renderings, when the new arena is paired with Stateside Live!, you can see the beginnings of this Atlanta Battery-looking mixed-use type of complex that Spectacor is taking inspiration from.
Outside the arena, fan plazas will extend the energy of the venue with active outdoor spaces inviting visitors, families and neighbors to come together. A broad arrival stair at the front will create a signature gathering point in the heart of the arena district, echoing Philadelphia’s best-known public landmarks, including the iconic steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With over a half-acre of outdoor space, the site boasts flexible fan-friendly areas to utilize for expanded entertainment experiences. The first look also lays out options for how the teams plan to extend the restaurant footprint, showcasing food-and-beverage pavilions.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com