Building Sports Venues

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Philadelphia Writing Project

Supporting Civically Engaged Argument Writing with Primary Sources

Text Set

One of America's favorite pastimes is enjoying sports played by elite athletes. Professional teams partner with local and state governments to build stadiums and arenas. In the process of building a venue, communities discuss where these venues should be built and who should pay for them. In Philadelphia, community members are debating the potential impacts of a new arena near the city's historic Chinatown.

FEATURED PRIMARY SOURCES

Bill

H.R.993 - No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act of 2023. (Congress.gov).

Photograph

"History of Chinatown" mural, by four artists "Arturo Ho, Giz, N. Phung, and H. Tran" on the upper edge of the Chinatown neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2019. (Library of Congress).

TEXT SET

Introduce the Issue

Teachers may introduce one or both of the featured historical primary sources above alongside more current news articles to introduce the issue and jumpstart inquiry.

Philadelphia mayor, Sixers reach agreement on proposed Center City arena by Tom Ignudo. News article and video about proposed basketball arena in Center City Philadelphia. (CBS News Philadelphia, 2024).
Mayor Parker outlines Sixers community benefits agreement, legislative process for $1.55B arena proposal. News article on the Sixers agreement with the city of Philadelphia. (WHYY News, 2024).
Should cities pay for sports facilities? Informational article and data table arguing against public funding for professional sports venues. (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2021).
Stadiums as public investments. Informational article arguing how using public funds to build sports arenas is beneficial to cities and counties. (Econofact, 2023).

Go Deeper

Students may use these texts—or excerpts from these texts—to identify additional perspectives on the issue.

Despite dilapidation in Chinatown, DC's Chinese American community continues to thrive. News article how DC's Chinatown community has survived despite the effects of the displacement of residents and economic turmoil. (The Georgetown Voice, 2023)
The past and future of DC Chinatown. Documentary exploring changes to Chinatown in Washington, DC, over time. (Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, 2018)
From Chavez Ravine to Inglewood: How stadiums facilitate displacement in Los Angeles. Law review article detailing a history of displacement connected to stadiums in Lols Angeles. (UCLA Law Review, 2018).
Philadelphia's Chinatown organize against 76 Place, and not for the first time. News article explaining some of the history of protests in Philadelphia's Chinatown. (Metro Philadelphia, 2024).

Additional Planning Resources

Primary Sources

Chinatown YMCA, 125 North Tenth Street Philadelphia, PA. Photograph. (Library of Congress, 1933).
Two women hold protest signs in Chinatown. Photograph. Photograph. (Northeastern University Library, 1990).
"Save Chinatown" sign. Photograph. (Temple University Library, 1973).
Chinatown Pagoda, H Street NW, Washington, D. C. Photograph. (Library of Congress, 2010).
Fourth quarter radio coverage of Wilt Chamberlin's 100-point game. Recording transcription. (Library of Congress, 1962).

Classroom Informational Texts

Chinatown. (Macmillan Publishers, 2023).
Philadelphia, China, and Chinatown. Legacies, 12(1). (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 2012).

Picture Books

My Chinatown: One Year in Poems. (Harper Collins, 2016).

This website features resources created by educators affiliated with the Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP), supported by a Teaching with Primary Sources grant from the Library of Congress.

The following Philadelphia Writing Project teacher consultants contributed to this page: J. Ross and J. F. Smith.
Some of the resources and approaches referenced on this page were developed by the National Writing Project's (NWP) College, Career, and Community Writers Program.
Teacher Consultants in the NWP Write Now Teacher Studio and members of the Teaching with Primary Sources Teachers Network have provided feedback on and suggestions for this page.
This page was updated 2 November 2024.

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