76ers continue to be pursued by New Jersey in ‘aggressive push’

Officials from the state of New Jersey continue to pursue a possible deal to convince members of the Philadelphia 76ers ownership group to utilize state-owned land in Camden, for their new arena, according to ROI-NJ. This report follows an initial report—also by ROI-NJ—that linked the team to the state of New Jersey in July of this year.

According to the new report, NJ officials have now sent details to representatives at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the 76ers ownership group, hoping to build negotiations as the team continues to face adversity regarding their current plans for a new arena.

The NJ proposal offers the 76ers the opportunity to use state-owned land in Camden for “a massive mixed-use development,” according to ROI-NJ. The details include commercial, residential, and retail offerings, as well as a “world-class arena.”

Since July 2022, HBSE has stated that the company would be self-financing the building project; however, a potential NJ arena would be eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives. Specifically, HBSE could be eligible to receive two tax credits worth up to $400 million each via the state’s Aspire program, according to ROI-NJ.

In an email to HBSE CEO Tad Brown that included the proposed details, Tim Sullivan, the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority,

“We envision a multi billion-dollar, privately-led comprehensive mixed-use development north of the Ben Franklin Bridge that would serve as a transformative catalyst for Camden and New Jersey,” wrote Sullivan in an email to HBSE CEO Tad Brown, provided by ROI-NJ. “Anchored by a world-class arena, we believe that this project will enable development of significant residential, commercial and retail offerings within the city of Camden.”

The pitch by the State of New Jersey makes sense for HBSE. Between the tax breaks, ready-made land, and the company’s current relationship with the state due to its ownership of the New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center, it’s not hard to imagine the possibility of motivation on their end. As for the people of Philadelphia, a potential advantage to a possible 76ers move across the Delaware is not so clear.

While HBSE has made it clear that they would prefer the team to remain in Philadelphia, the catch-22 of it all remains the controversy surrounding the 76ers’ current arena plans in Center City as HBSE looks to replace the Fashion District Mall between 10th and 11th streets along Market Street with a newly designed arena in 2031.

As they continue to face consistent backlash from multiple groups, including the Save Chinatown Coalition, the 76ers’ ownership group could very well see a potential move to New Jersey as an opportunity.

According to ROI-NJ, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia 76ers stated that the team would give the proposal a “serious” look, saying:

“We have worked tirelessly for the past five years to build an arena in Philadelphia, and negotiations remain ongoing with city leadership regarding our proposal at Market East,” the spokesperson said. “The reality is we are running out of time to reach an agreement that will allow the 76ers to open our new home in time for the 2031-32 NBA season. As a result, we must take all potential options seriously, including this one.”

In the end, the division of the people—whether they prefer the team in Camden, Center City, or somehow still near the sports complex—may be the listed reason for an unpopular decision, fair or unfair to all parties involved.