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76 Place Gives Philadelphia A Chance To Show Its Greatness

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Author Tyrone Johnson and Dylan MacKinnon
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 23: An exterior view of Wells Fargo Center on December 23, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After 2.5 years of debate and protest, the Sixers have gotten the approval they needed to build 76 Place. By 2031, the Sixers will no longer call The Wells Fargo Center home and will move into their new arena built in the Fashion District. On Thursday the City Council voted in favor of giving them approval to build what will be known as 76 Place.

The Sixers announced their plans to build a new Arena in Center City back in 2022. There was immediate pushback. Not just from their future neighbors in Chinatown, who fear the new Arena could negatively impact their businesses, but from Sixers fans who like the current setup, and who do not want to lose the Sports Complex.

Even while the City Council voted to approve the plans on Thursdays, protestors still fought back inside City Hall. But the vote passed anyway, clearing the way for the Sixers to build their future home.

76 Place Is Happening, So Give It A Chance

76 Place is happening. There is no changing that. And on Thursday, Tyrone Johnson made the case for embracing it as a chance for Philadelphia to show off how great it is.

“The arena is happening. I’m not saying you should like it. I personally love it. If only I was making some money from this the way I’ve been selling it. But I love it. I love it. I love it.

I love it because it’s new. It’s different. It’s exciting. It will force the city of Philadelphia to do something better rather than do something that’s comfortable.

I love the idea. I recognize many of you do not love the idea. I am not trying to change your mind. But you have to get used to it because it’s happening. Let’s embrace it. Let’s support the city being better because that is what’s going to happen. It’s happening and I’m excited about it.“

Tyrone shared a similar sentiment a week ago when it passed a preliminary vote in the City Council, where he also expanded on how he hopes it will force people to experience more parts of the City than just the Sports Complex.

“I think more people need to see the actual city and not three blocks in South Philly…

I envision a situation where you’re coming from Jersey, are you coming from the Main Line, or from Delco, and sometimes you go to South Philly and sometimes you go to Center City and sometimes you’re down there in Northern Liberties, Old City, and sometimes you’re in the Northeast rather than everybody going to three blocks.

I just think that as a great city, a great city, which I believe Philadelphia is, it has more to offer to people who don’t live in the city than three damn blocks.“

76 Place is slated to open in 2031 when the Sixers’ lease at the Wells Fargo Center will be up. Construction should start in 2026. The Flyers and Phillies have their own plans to liven up the current Sports Complex. Meanwhile, there are rumors the Eagles could eventually leave the Sports Complex themselves down the line.

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Dylan MacKinnon is The Digital Content Coordinator For 97.5 The Fanatic. he has been an Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Flyers fan his whole life. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Journalism. Dylan has worked at the Fanatic since 2016, starting as an Intern, moving to the Street team, and eventually was hired as an Associate Producer before settling into his current role in the Digital Department. You may hear him referred to on-air as "The D-Train."

The All-Time Roster Of Homegrown Sixers Players

  • PG- Maurice Cheeks (1978-1989)

    11.1 pts, 2.8 rebs, 6.7 asts, 2.1 stls, 0.3 blks, 52.6 fg%

    Who else was it going to be? Ben Simmons? Hell no. Jrue Holiday? Love him, but Mo accomplished more here. Mo was an elite defender, was part of the last Sixers team to win a championship, and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Also unrelated to what he did as a player, he will always be a legend for stepping in and helping this girl who was struggling with the National Anthem.

  • SG- Allen Iverson (1996-2006) and (2009-2010)

    26.7 pts, 3.7 rebs, 6.2 asts, 2.2 stls, 0.2 blks, 42.5 FG%

    I mean, duh. There are other great SG options, one of which we will get to. But AI defined a generation of basketball in Philly. Check that, he kind of defined a generation of Basketball period. He may not have won any rings, but he was as influential as anyone in his era.

    AI carried the Sixers on his back to their one NBA Finals appearance since the 1980s. That team around him was not a Finals worthy roster. There were nice pieces, but without AI they wouldn’t be competitive.

    AI has a special place in this city. I saw the ovation he got when he came to Fan Fest and saw the emotional reaction it sparked in him. His time here was not without controversy, but AI will always be a legend in Philly.

    Natalie Egenolf on X (formerly Twitter): "The @alleniverson gives an emotional speech to the fans of Philadelphia at @975TheFanatic #FanFest."This is how Michael Jordan made me feel, this is legendary."❤️ pic.twitter.com/hqxS0WlIF3 / X"

    The @alleniverson gives an emotional speech to the fans of Philadelphia at @975TheFanatic #FanFest."This is how Michael Jordan made me feel, this is legendary."❤️ pic.twitter.com/hqxS0WlIF3

  • SF- Billy Cunningham (1965-1972) and (1974-1976)

    21.2 pts, 10.4 rebs, 4.3 asts, 1.8 stls, 0.5 blks, 45.2 FG%

    A member of the 1967 championship team. Cunningham was drafted by the Sixers in 1965 and became a scoring machine for them. He was the first player in franchise history to score 50 in a playoff game.

    He took a two-season break to play for Carolina in the ABA but then returned to Philly for the final two years of his career. Cunningham is in the Hall of Fame, made 4 All-NBA teams, and averaged a double-double across his career. He needed to appear on this list somewhere.

    Philadelphia 76ers on X (formerly Twitter): "Happy birthday to former player, coach and 2x NBA Champion Billy Cunningham! 🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/nYAO3qot4Z / X"

    Happy birthday to former player, coach and 2x NBA Champion Billy Cunningham! 🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/nYAO3qot4Z

  • PF- Charles Barkley (1984-1992)

    22.1 pts, 11.7 rebs, 3.9 asts, 1.5 stls, 0.8 blks, 54.1 FG%

    Most wasted Sixers career has a lot of competition. Allen Iverson is up there. Embiid is in danger of being there. But Charles Barkley also has a very strong case.

    Barkley is a Hall of Famer but never won anything here. Then they traded him for peanuts. But when he was here, he was must watch TV. Between shattering backboards, filling up the scoreboard, and being an elite rebounder, Barkley deserved better than he got here.

    Thankfully he doesn’t hold it against the city. Barkley still loves the city, and will still be in and around it during his downtime.

    Legion Hoops on X (formerly Twitter): "This is awesome.Charles Barkley receives his own statue outside of the Sixers practice facility.pic.twitter.com/tgxKx5gDoF / X"

    This is awesome.Charles Barkley receives his own statue outside of the Sixers practice facility.pic.twitter.com/tgxKx5gDoF

  • C- Joel Embiid (2014- Present)

    27.8 pts, 11.2 rebs, 3.6 asts, 0.9 stls, 1.7 blks, 50.4 FG%

    Thankfully Wilt did not start his career here, so we don’t need to start this debate. Joel is the most talented Sixers player ever, let alone being the most talented center. He is currently first in NBA history in points per minute. Add on elite defense, you get one hell of a player.

    Obviously, he needs to do more come playoff time. But if you can’t appreciate how amazing Joel Embiid is, you just don’t appreciate great basketball. Embiid will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer one day and will undoubtedly go down as a top 5 Sixer, if not the greatest Sixer of all time.

    Jack Connell on X (formerly Twitter): "Joel Embiid is the only player EVER to score 70+ points in 37 minutes or less. MVP. pic.twitter.com/CVvExMfl8J / X"

    Joel Embiid is the only player EVER to score 70+ points in 37 minutes or less. MVP. pic.twitter.com/CVvExMfl8J

  • BE- Hal Greer (1958-1973)

    19.2 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts, 45.2 FG%

    When he was drafted, they were still the Syracuse Nationals. But that counts. You could argue he belongs in the starter spot over AI. Greer spent his whole career here, won a Championship, and made the All-NBA team 7 times.

    Even though he played his last game here 50 years ago, he still leads the franchise is games, minutes, and points. But I went with AI still, call it recency bias, or my personal bias because AI was the guy who got me into Basketball. But I had to put AI in the starting lineup.

    Philadelphia 76ers on X (formerly Twitter): "the all-time leading scorer in 76ers franchise history. remembering Hal Greer on what would have been his 86th birthday. 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/vXl2YjUlo4 / X"

    the all-time leading scorer in 76ers franchise history. remembering Hal Greer on what would have been his 86th birthday. 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/vXl2YjUlo4

  • BE- Daryl Dawkins (1975-1982)

    12.0 pts, 6.1 rebs, 1.3 asts, 0.5 stls, 1.4 blks, 57.2 FG%

    He had one of the best nicknames ever. Chocolate Thunder, given to him by Stevie Wonder. He got the nickname because of his knack for booming dunks. The NBA literally changed the way they make their rims and backboards because he kept shattering backboards.

  • BE- Andre Iguodala (2004-2012)

    11.9 pts, 4.9 rebs, 4.2 asts, 0.5 stls, 0.4 blks, 46.3 FG%

    Iggy gets a bad rap. He was expected to be the guy here and never was. But we saw him go on and be an important piece of winning teams. That is what he is. Had the Sixers put star power around him, and he was the 3rd or 4th guy, Philly would have loved him. But from the start here he had expectations thrust onto him that he was never going to live up to.

    NBA History on X (formerly Twitter): "In 2006, Andre Iguodala hit this putback buzzer beater to complete a dramatic 19 point Sixers comeback.#NBAClutchWeek pic.twitter.com/Pj0Cl2rdBG / X"

    In 2006, Andre Iguodala hit this putback buzzer beater to complete a dramatic 19 point Sixers comeback.#NBAClutchWeek pic.twitter.com/Pj0Cl2rdBG

     

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