The Philadelphia 76ers publicly announced their proposal to build a basketball arena atop Jefferson Station on July 22, 2022. The billionaire owners’ “done deal” has devolved into an echo chamber of attacks and counterattacks by opponents and supporters of 76 Place. In the absence of facts, the Sixers’ communications team has filled the void with fanciful factoids like “76 Place is a slam dunk for Philly’s economy.” They claim an arena that would be closed more days than it would be open would generate $1.5 billion in new tax revenue.
The Sixers’ math ain’t mathing. Study after study shows sports venues have a limited economic impact. In the most recent economic analysis, Dr. Arthur Acolin of the University of Washington found that 76 Place could cost Philadelphia and Pennsylvania more than $1 billion in lost tax revenue.
CBS News Philadelphia reports:
With zero self-awareness, Sixers’ limited partner David Adelman questions Prof. Acolin’s objectivity.
In the billionaire’s worldview, the public should be skeptical of an academic study but trust the economic analysis of a firm hired by PIDC and paid for by the Sixers. Records received in response to my Right-To-Know Law requests show then-PIDC president Sam Rhoads participated in “Philadelphia Weekly Connect” meetings with 76 Place representatives and government officials.
In their increasingly desperate quest for approval of their transit-oriented project in a city “without a viable transit system,” the Sixers have spent millions on lobbyists, advertising and canvassers. I recently spotted a 76 Place billboard on the Lit Brothers building. I did not take any photos because the digital images were as fleeting as the 76ers’ odds of getting past the second round of the NBA playoffs.
PHL Watchdog 