Skyscrapers being taller than William Penn was historically a superstition thing. Penn "overlooks the city" and people were superstition about there being parts that he didn't overlook.
There's no reason for it to be downtown. What's wrong with having all of the arenas in one place? How many other cities have that? 1 and that's because the 2 sports share the location? It's a rarity. It's in the perfect location for what it serves. Why not move the Eagles downtown or the Phillies or Flyers? What's the difference? You aren't going to the arena area unless you want to go there. Everything people want around arenas are already there. And there's nothing but empty space around there. No matter how you slice it, an arena there displaces some of the pre-existing business, whereas it goes into a lot with empty space and creates more business.
AND there's no such thing as center city taxes. Taxes for Philly are the same no matter the location. The revenue from building it in the P are the same as the built it downtown. The jobs, the taxes it brings are the same. Basically, there's no benefit for it being in center city...only to match what other cities do...and so many negatives. There's plenty of things they can use the Gallery for, and I agree it needs to be something else there, but that arena isn't the way to go. Hell, they actually said the same about the Convention Center when they "moved" it from UC to downtown. And 30 years in the location and all of the things they said it would bring, it has not.
#1, The Sixers do not want to share an arena with the Flyers
#2, the Phillies wanted to be downtown but Chinatown nixed that and they ended up at CBP
#3, 11th & Market is surrounded by transportation...regional rail, trolleys, PATCO, Broad St Sub, and the El...not just the Sub
#4, the Sixers arena would host more than just Sixers games...it would actually broaden the city's appeal for attracting national & international events, and having the infrastructure to support tens of thousands of ppl at venues within walking distance to one another
#5, East Market has failed, the Gallery has failed...to do nothing there would be a lost opportunity
#6, 11th & Market is not Chinatown
#7, A world class city deserves a downtown arena...the Wells Fargo/First Union/Corestates Center will still be down there
#8, The potential for additional tax revenue is much greater downtown than it is in SP
If the Sixers end up building their arena in NJ, I won't feel one bit of remorse when Philly fans riot over it...the Sixers have not requested any public funding, unlike most pro sports teams who are seeking new arenas/stadiums...they simply want to control their development destiny and develop their own economic hub that's bigger than basketball
