The stunning reversal comes as a relief to critics of the plan to put a $1.3 billion arena near City Hall at the edge of Chinatown.

It is a head-spin development from the fight the 76ers have lodged over the last two years when it sought to build a new arena in Chinatown and close to the city’s center, and as it went to battle with Comcast,

The Sixers had gotten approval for a controversial new arena Center City, on the border of Chinatown, but changed plans.