Comcast-Spectacor wants to build a 10,000 to 12,000 seat arena to replace the Spectrum as a concert and minor-league pro sports venue, and it's been looking at sites in the Camden-Cherry Hill corridor.
"It's so preliminary it's unbelievable," said Comcast-Spectacor CEO Peter Luukko when we asked him about site rumors. "We're closing the Spectrum in a year. We absolutely have to look around. We've had some confidential conversations in Camden County." The company has also looked into Atlantic City and Allentown.
Would the company really leave its South Philly base? "If we could get some momentum for it, we'd love to stay here," Luukko said.
Public arenas get built with taxpayer subsidies. Expect a lot of heavy negotiations among developers and politicians before the Spectrum's replacement is settled and announced.
Posted by Joseph N. DiStefano @ 11:30 AM
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17 comments
How about Rowan university...they already were going to build a soccer stadium there but Corzine wouldn't spot them an extra 2 mil.
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Wow, the Cherry Hill Phantoms...
How about any of those vacant lots along the Admiral Wilson Blvd in Camden? You could add jobs to an area that needs it...the waterfront needs some more substantial development so I hope they aren't looking there. Atlantic City already has Boardwalk Hall and hasn't supported minor-league sports very well.
I just hope wherever it is it has good public transit access, but I suppose stadium traffic isn't really that bad for minor league games. I really hope it stays in South Philly.
Wait! They haven't even torn the Spectrum down and they're already looking for public money to build a replacement?!? Does anyone else smell a DRPA contribution forthcoming?
The spot that was the Cherry Hill Arena (Jersey Devils played there) is now a shopping center, Garden State Park ?,the same. Pennsauken Mart site was slated for entertaiment-sports complex... never got off the ground.
Partner with a casino, that should free up some waterfront.
I expect them to play coy and flirt with leaving the Philadelphia until they get everything that they want in tax abatements, credits and breaks from the city.
If the waterfront is being considered, could they possibly consider vacant land north of Center City. For instance, anywhere from the Academy Rd exit on I95 going north, so as to alleviate traffic congestion in and around Center City.
Build it down in Chester near the Soccer Stadium...again, providing jobs, tax support and infrastructure to a community that needs it. And its right off 95.
Months ago when talk about closing the Spectrum came about, I suggested in this comment section that the original Spectrum be kept and refurbished. Parking can be created by constructing parking garages nearby while more land can be taken for hotels and commercial establishments. To build a new Spectrum will cost $400M with 19K seats and to renovate the current Spectrum much less. Plus we have access to I-95, the Airport, and most of all the Broad Street Subway along with the Walt Whitman bridge! Best of all, renovations can be done when the hockey, indoor football and lacrosse seasons are over and those sports can be accomodated in nearby venues. Rock concerts and circuses can be accommodated where the Spectrum is. And this will nicely complement Wachovia where the Sixers/Flyers call home. The time is to now start using your head before you tear down the Spectrum and then decide to build a new Spectrum on the same site!
Build it next to the Wachovia Center right in between the Linc and call it the Squeeze Zone for all of the tax dollars they're going to use to build a useless stadium.
One of these smaller cities deserves this franchise. Building a new arena in Philly just for this is totally unjustified, especially when the economic impact would be so positive for another city.
I hope Allentown gets chosen.
Just what the area taxpayers need - another government hand-out to sports teams. SUBSIDIES DON'T WORK! If something can not generate sufficient profit on its own, then it is not a viable enterprise. Ask the taxpayers of Pennsylvania how much more they'd like to spend to finance any sport teams' new arenas. And for the record, I am glad that "Corzine wouldn't spot them (Rowan) another 2 mil....." Rowan has enough problems managing the funds that they have. Why consider giving that group more? Just ask the townspeople of Glassboro about how much good Rowan has done for the town. Plus, we are talking about OUR money doled out indescriminately with little REAL return. Sure, it's nice to have our sports teams here, but why should the taxpayer bear the burden? I'm no Snider fan but the man did build the Spectrum with private funds (for the most part). If the powers that be are talking about replacing the Spectrum, what kind of logic is being used here? Keep the original Spectrum, make improvements and then see if the state will make improvements to access to I-95 and the Walt Whitman Bridge which will aid traffic flow, especially when there are events at 2 or 3 of the sports and entertainment venues.
South Jersey would be a good site. The Phantoms and Kixx fanbase or market are mostly suburban. With the MLS on the Chester side of Philly, an arena with minor league soccer and hockey make sense on the Camden side of Philly.
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