For months now, the Philadelphia 76ers have been searching for the home of their new stadium. The search has even branched across the river where New Jersey officials have offered up space in Camden for the new 76ers stadium.
However, Philadelphia’s latest solution to keeping the team has many citizens unhappy. Philadelphia proposed building the new stadium in Chinatown at the site of the current Fashion District.
In response, a rally was hosted Saturday by the Save Chinatown Coalition. The group marched past the proposed spot for the new arena and protested in front of City Hall. There were thousands of protestors in attendance, even the rain did not deter the large crowd. They argue that the new stadium would cause congestion, indirect displacement and gentrification, forcing out the long-time residents of Chinatown.
On Saturday there were drum lines, posters and coordinated t-shirts as protestors chanted, “Hands off Chinatown.”
One protestor, Shawmar Pitts, said in an interview with NBC10 Philadelphia, “We know this is a bad idea because it will displace the residents of Chinatown.”
Another protestor, Ximenia Violante, agreed, “I think there’s lots of other viable options that don’t involve destroying a thriving community.”
The proposed land in Camden is currently empty and publicly owned land. New Jersey is also offering $500 million in bond funding for the team’s new stadium. And there are even other proposed projects for the Fashion District in Philadelphia. One investor proposed renovating the empty building into a medical research center, an idea that residents of Chinatown appear much more interested in.
“We need to hear more about it, but it’s already better just by the fact that it won’t involve demolition and reconstruction, which is also an environmental nightmare,” said Debbie Wei at Saturday’s protest.
There are many more protests planned for this fall by the Save Chinatown Coalition, and time will tell where the 76ers decide to build their new stadium.
