Philly fans loved Jason Kelce’s passionate rant against the Sixers’ controversial Center City arena plan
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.”
(@WIPMorningShow)
pic.twitter.com/M1uYBDFWgt https://t.co/FgBOmqkYYq— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) September 19, 2024
@JasonKelce @WIPMorningShow you do realize sixers don’t really have control of schedule in their current situation. They are third. They don’t have little things like storage for the game day supplies, it’s brought over for games. The team pretty much has a locker - that’s it?
— Jason (@jasoncc024) 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
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Philly fans loved Jason Kelce’s passionate rant against the Sixers’ controversial Center City arena plan
