Work begins on Allentown arena that Philadelphia Phantoms will call home

Demolition work has begun at the Allentown site where the Philadelphia Phantoms will someday play.

The 8,500-seat arena is expected to open by September 2013, the Associated Press reports. The Phantoms, the Flyers’ minor league affiliate, will be the anchor tenant.

But the $157 million arena can’t be built until the storage facility that currently occupies the space is cleared. Redirected state tax dollars is the primary source of funding for the project.