Philadelphia Arena Project Quietly Updates Rendering That Initially Appeared to Exclude Women Fans

Just two days after the Flyers and Sixers jointly released exterior renderings of the new arena the teams are building in South Philadelphia, the project’s website quietly swapped in a new rendering depicting Flyers fans arriving at the arena.

The original rendering, one of several produced by the design firm Populous and released with the announcement, showed a crowd of almost entirely male fans. On social media, people were quick to point out the apparent lack of women, even if it was only a rendering meant to showcase the future arena’s design. 

Upon extremely close inspection, some on social media pointed out what appeared to be a pair of women sitting on the new arena’s steps. One fan on X/Twitter joked, “Hockey is for boys and boys only.”

While the proposed arena is a privately funded, 50/50 joint venture between Philadelphia’s NBA and NHL teams, it will also be home to the WNBA team coming to the city in 2030. 

A Populous spokesperson told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the company took responsibility for the original rendering and quickly worked to provide the updated version now on the site. 

The 76ers, Flyers, and Populous did not respond to requests for comment from Front Office Sports.

The new building will sit on the same grounds as the former Spectrum, the Philadelphia arena that was home to the Flyers and the 76ers for nearly three decades and hosted a number of legendary concerts. The arena’s design also draws on its predecessor. 

“This is a new era for Philadelphia sports. To build our future where Ed Snider and the Spectrum made history makes this project truly special. Working with HBSE, we are creating a world-class experience worthy of Philadelphia’s incredible fans,” said Brian Roberts, chairman of Comcast Corporation, the Flyers’ parent company. 

“We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us and look forward to partnering with Mayor Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson to transform a site rich with history, while creating thousands of jobs, driving lasting economic impact and delivering an arena that honors the deep sports and entertainment culture of the city,” said Josh Harris, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers. “I’m grateful to my partners David Blitzer, David Adelman, Brian Roberts and Dan Hilferty for helping make this vision a reality.”