I lived on top of a sports stadium. It was fantastic.

I am a lifelong four-for-four Philly sports fan, and my 76ers fandom dates back to the Spectrum days. I love the uniqueness of the South Philly Sports Complex. But as the team crystalizes plans for their new 76 Place arena (or whatever corporate name it will have attached) at 11th and Market, I found myself intrigued by their intentions not only to make the venue the center of a retail, dining, entertainment, and nightlife district, but also to construct new apartment buildings atop the mall, towering over the arena site and transforming Market East into a shiny new live-and-play neighborhood.

It all sounded very familiar to me, having just spent several months last year living in just such an apartment building — the three-year-old, 38-story Hub50House, which looms over TD Garden in Boston.

A stage play I was involved with had a run at Boston’s Huntington Theater last year, and I enjoyed an opportunity to live gratis in a two-bedroom corporate apartment at Hub50. The apartment building is attached to the southwest corner of TD Garden, home to the Bruins, Celtics, and major concerts.

The mixed-use Hub on Causeway complex — fully completed just over a year ago — also features a boutique hotel, a food hall with nearly 20 vendor stalls, Boston’s largest supermarket, a massive sports bar, a 15-screen movie theater, a 2,000-person capacity live music venue, and a number of retail shops. The development sits directly above North Station, one of Boston’s busiest rail terminals.

Ring a few bells? Sounds a lot like the Sixers’ plans.

So what was it like to live in the shadow of an NBA arena, as many might one day in Center City? Frankly, it was fantastic.

On days and nights when there was no game or event, both vehicle and pedestrian traffic was light. Restaurants, bars, and sidewalks made to accommodate throngs of fans before a game were uncrowded, left for residents to enjoy.

Come gameday, the vibe of the neighborhood changed, and not for the worse. The energy along my street at game time was electric. I made a point of going for walks around then. There was just so much to see and absorb. I was fond of hopping into the food hall for takeout while it was packed with jersey-wearing fans pregaming. Despite the crowds, I never had trouble ordering dinner or grabbing something from the supermarket before tip-off (fans weren’t typically lining up for salad dressing and Oreos).

“The energy along my street at game time was electric.”

For the most part, I found that Hub district locals, fans headed to the game, street-corner merch vendors, and scalpers (often very different personality types) interacted reasonably. Most attendees seemed to understand they were in someone’s neighborhood. Even after big wins or bad losses, the fans on foot or heading to the T were mostly peaceful post-game. There was no rowdy partying in the streets or jamming up the bars. People seemed to just want to go home. It did not take long for the streets to go back to normal after a game. Almost creepily fast.

» READ MORE: I was born and raised in Philly’s Chinatown. I don’t want a Sixers stadium here.

Some caveats: I am quite sure my roommate (and lead in the aforementioned play) would feel a little differently than I did about living on top of an arena. Most nights, she would be driving home from the theater around the time games and concerts let out. Driving towards the arena while everyone else was driving away was a nightmare. Police were mindlessly directing traffic, unaware anyone would be coming against the flow. Streets were turned into one-ways and the road to our garage was frequently blocked off, requiring waiting for them to move cones and cars just for her. Based on that, I wouldn’t want to have to drive home down Market after a game.

Speaking of cars, I will mention that the TD Garden Hub complex includes an expanded 1,275-space parking garage underground serving the arena, hotel, apartments, and shoppers, in addition to an existing parking lot behind the arena. This doesn’t seem to be in the Sixers’ plans.

And regarding location, TD Garden is on the fringes of downtown, not smack dab in the middle as 76 Place would be. When the Hub was built, there was little to relocate, few to displace, and minimal disruption. The effect here in Philly may be very different on Chinatown and other established parts of Market East.

For me, I loved living on top of an arena. I could sit on my couch and know the moment the Bruins scored or the Celtics hit a big shot. The roar from the crowd was acutely audible even from my 14th-floor living room with the television on. I thought that was cool (your experience may vary).

My first in-person event at the arena was a Sixers-Celtics game on my birthday. How long did it take me to get to the game? About a minute elevator ride down from my apartment and a minute walk into the arena, and just as quick to get home. Honestly, like Joel Embiid dropping 41 points the night I went, you just can’t beat that.

Michael Hochman is a journalist from Montgomery County who covers local craft beer and breweries for Visit Philly and rental trends and city living for Apartment Guide/Rent. @PhillyPartTwo