NEW Jersey officials have launched an audacious attempt to lure the Philadelphia 76ers to the Garden State.
As part of the plans, a state-of-the-art waterfront arena will be built in Camden, where the 76ers already have team offices and practice facilities.
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Discussions between top New Jersey state officials and 76ers parent company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment have been ongoing for the past two months, by ROI-NJ.
The 76ers currently have plans to build a new arena in downtown Philadelphia once their lease on the Wells Fargo Center ends in 2031.
But the proposed $1.3 billion real estate project was met with huge opposition from several groups due to fears that it would lead to gentrification and displacement.
There are also concerns that the self-funded project could cause traffic and congestion.
Amid these enormous obstacles, a move to New Jersey is being considered – although it may be a negotiating ploy.
There are deep ties between the 76ers and New Jersey.
The team has practice facilities in the state, while parent company HBSE owns the New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center in Newark.
Publicly, the 76ers are committed to building a new stadium in Philadelphia.
“We remain focused on bringing a state-of-the-art arena to Philadelphia, as we have for the past four years,” a spokesperson said.
The 76ers, however, are out of time to build a new arena for the 2031-32 season.
Construction will likely need to begin in 2025 for a new facility, wherever it may be located.
“We hope to reach an agreement with the city this summer to ensure legislation is introduced in early September that will allow the 76ers to open our new home in time for the 2031-32 season,” the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for the City of Camden said it was “open to new opportunities” for property development.
“The 76ers are fully engaged in the unprecedented revitalization of Camden and have been incredible community partners since moving here,” a statement read.
“The city is always open to new opportunities and the potential for new projects, and of course any development would need to be a collaborative effort with the community.
“We are grateful to Governor Murphy and the EDA for promoting economic growth across the state, while focusing on Camden as a prime location for these efforts.”
New Jersey has not had an NBA franchise since the Nets moved to Brooklyn in the 2012-13 season.
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David Adelman, president of 76 Place, recently defended plans for the proposed downtown arena.
“The goal here is for 76 Place to become a catalyst for other developments in Market East,” he told NBC10.
“We are not going to displace a business or a resident. We are taking one box and building another.
“I’ve had over 130 meetings with a lot of different groups in Chinatown, so we’ve heard a lot of different things.
“We’ve also heard from people in Chinatown who support the project, who think it will bring much-needed economic energy post-COVID.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
