In June last year, the WNBA announced its plans to expand to 18 teams, adding three more in Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, coming in 2028, 2029, and 2030, respectively. Philly WNBA fans have received some good news after it was announced that the Philadelphia-based team will have a new arena in its debut season. The Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) unveiled a first look at the arena that will break ground in early 2027.
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“This is a new era for Philadelphia sports. To build our future where Ed Snider and the Spectrum made history makes this project truly special. Working with HBSE, we are creating a world-class experience worthy of Philadelphia’s incredible fans.”
“We can’t wait to bring championships to this new home. I would also like to thank Mayor Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson for their leadership as we work to bring this transformative project to life for Philadelphia and its fans.”
Brian Roberts, the Chairman of Comcast Corporation, which owns the Flyers, said in a statement about the arena.
According to NBC Philadelphia, the construction of the arena will be the largest ever fully privately funded project in Philly’s history. The arena is expected to generate $6 billion in the next decade, starting with its operation in 2030. Moreover, the arena is expected to create nearly 15000 jobs in the city and generate hundreds of millions in revenue, which will eventually benefit the city.
“The new arena will connect the next gathering place for Philadelphia sports and entertainment to one of the city’s most storied sports sites for future generations,” said a press release from the Flyers and 76ers.
The arena’s architectural design takes inspiration from the shape of Spectrum that was home to the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers from 1967 to 1996. However, the overall design of the arena will give a modern touch to the old design. The Philly-based WNBA team will be owned and operated by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the 76ers. The other ownership group will include Comcast and local investors.
HBSE Managing Partner and Co-Founder Josh Harris revealed his commitment in a statement after getting ownership of the upcoming WNBA team.
“Philadelphia is one of the most storied basketball cities in the world and our region is home to some of the best women’s players and coaches to ever grace the hardwood. It’s only right that this city gets the WNBA team it deserves, and we’re humbled to help usher in a new era of Philadelphia basketball,”
“We are committed to building a world-class organization, fostering the continued growth of women’s professional sports in this great city, and bringing one of the fastest-rising leagues in the world to Philadelphia in 2030.”
Last year, it was announced that the WNBA team will play alongside the NBA team in South Philadelphia. Moreover, the new WNBA team will also have its own new state-of-the-art women’s performance center separately. The ownership has not yet come up with a name for the WNBA team. The team will be named after considering suggestions from the city’s fanbase.
As per the latest update, tickets and the membership opportunities for the Philadelphia-based WNBA team for the 2030 season are still in the pipeline. The organizers have not yet provided updates about the access opportunities and the details of the purchasing procedure. It will be shared in the future.
It was a bit surprising that Philly, a city that had never owned a WNBA team, acquired one of the expansion teams. But the city is also home to one of the largest sports fan bases in America. Cleveland has also not been home to any WNBA team, unlike Detroit, which was home to the Detroit Shock, one of the most dominant teams in WNBA history.