Philadelphia Steps Up Efforts to Secure WNBA Team
In a significant move spearheaded by Mayor Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia is ramping up efforts to bring a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team to the city. This initiative has received robust backing from the Philadelphia 76ers, reflecting a concerted push to elevate the city's sports profile.
The campaign to host a WNBA team flirted with fruition a few years back, but was dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfazed by the earlier setback, Mayor Parker remains resolute. “We were able to secure support from the governor, from the city, its administration and legislative body. Although they were not successful, you all know me. I don't take no easy,” Parker stated. “I want us to keep working extremely hard, as hard as we can, united together.”
New Arena Proposal Bolsters Push
The timing of this renewed effort coincides with Parker's recent presentation of an ambitious 80-slide proposal for a new arena for the 76ers. The proposed 76 Place arena, estimated at a staggering $1.3 billion, is planned to occupy the area between Market and Filbert streets and 10th and 11th streets. Parker underscored the link between the arena and the WNBA initiative, asserting, “I will tell you that with this new Sixers arena there, there is no one who can tell me that Philadelphia would just not have upped its position in trying, and trying to pursue a WNBA team for our great city.”
The Sixers, who have called Philadelphia home since their relocation from Syracuse, N.Y. on May 22, 1963, currently play at the Wells Fargo Center. Their lease is set to expire in 2031. The new arena proposal includes plans for 76 Place to become the home of the Sixers by the end of their lease, keeping the team in Philadelphia at least until 2061.
Shared Vision and Future Prospects
The Philadelphia 76ers organization shares Mayor Parker's enthusiasm for the prospect of accommodating a WNBA franchise. “We share in Mayor Parker's desire to bring a WNBA franchise to Philadelphia and have been engaged with the league on the process. Our goal is for our new arena to serve as home to both the 76ers and a WNBA franchise,” a Sixers spokesperson confirmed.
The WNBA is set on a path of expansion, currently planning to grow from 12 to at least 15 teams by 2026. For the forthcoming season, new franchises like the Golden State Valkyries are set to debut, followed by entries from Toronto and Portland the subsequent year. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has expressed optimism about the league's potential to expand even further, projecting a growth to 16 teams by 2028.
Conclusion
Mayor Parker's commitment, combined with the Philadelphia 76ers' support and the ongoing development of the 76 Place arena, places Philadelphia in a strong position to be a future WNBA city. The collaborative effort between the city's administration and its flagship NBA team exemplifies a united front, striving to enrich Philadelphia's sports landscape with the addition of a WNBA franchise. As anticipation builds, Philadelphia's basketball fans eagerly await the possibility of welcoming a new women's team to their vibrant sports community.