The Philadelphia 76ers have called the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania home since the Syracuse Nationals moved there back in 1963. But with the 76ers’ ownership eyeing a new arena for their team, they might not only leave the city but the entire state.
According to Tom Bergeron of ROI-NJ.com, the state of New Jersey is making a “serious push” to bring the 76ers to the Garden State and place them in a brand new arena in the city of Camden. Per the report, the push comes as the Sixers’ owners have “hit repeated roadblocks” in their efforts to build a new arena for the team even with $1.3 billion out of their own pockets.
Via ROI-NJ.com:
The state of New Jersey is making a serious push to convince the Philadelphia 76ers to move to New Jersey and into a new arena that would be built in Camden, four people familiar with the discussions confirmed to ROI-NJ.
Discussions between top state officials and leaders from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (which owns the team) have been ongoing for the last two months, the sources said.
The sources indicated that talks have picked up recently, in part because HBSE’s efforts to build a new arena in Center City Philadelphia have hit repeated roadblocks, despite the fact that the owners have indicated they would self-finance the $1.3 billion proposed project.
The Sixers, whose current lease at the Wells Fargo Center ends after the 2030-31 season, have been looking for a new home for the better part of the past five years.
The Philadelphia 76ers have called the Wells Fargo Center home since 1996. But there is a lot working in New Jersey’s favor to potentially get a move like this across the finish line.
As Bergeron noted, the owners have strong ties to the state of New Jersey through their joint ownership of the New Jersey Devils hockey teams and reportedly have a strong relationship with NJ governor Phil Murphy.
Given the proximity of Camden to Philadelphia (five miles separated by a bridge), 76ers fans wouldn’t even have to make a wildly different travel arrangement just to go to the games.
But of course, the distaste of not physically being in the city whose name you hold will likely be a sticking point.
Will this move come to pass?
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