Philadelphia awarded WNBA franchise (OT)

[Philsmania]

I thought about putting this in the Sixers thread but decided it probably deserves its own. Team won't begin play for five years, however.

WNBA expanding to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia over next five years

[zambonir]

There's some talk already about whether they will play their first year in the WFC or if they might be able to get the new arena open in time. Also apparently Harris and the Sixers made the bid on their own, Comcast wasn't involved (presumably beyond the small share of the Sixers they're already taking, and of course via the arena deal itself).

Too far away to really think about but I'd probably buy a mini-plan or something.

Now do hockey!

[Philsmania]

I've heard conflicting stories about the new arena. One that the WFC will be demolished and both the Sixers and Flyers will call the new arena home. One that the WFC will remain as the secondary arena like the old Spectrum did for many years. One that the new arena will be basketball-centric with the Flyers remaining in the WFC which will be hockey-centric. Which is it?

[zambonir]

No, it's definitely a single new shared arena. It's possible the WFC will stand for a while and be used in that secondary way but that is not the long-term plan. Not sure what exactly - hotel, parking, concert hall - will go there, but you won't see any NBA or NHL games there once the new one opens. Whatever ridiculous new club and luxury boxes are put in for the new place will instantly render the old one unattractive to any major league tenant. And it would be both bad PR and unnecessary (because the seasons don't overlap) to put the WNBA there (plus they can charge more for the year-round club seats and luxury boxes with it).