After more than two years of singularly pushing to build a downtown Philadelphia arena, the 76ers are at least entertaining the notion of building a facility in Camden, N.J.
Marking a significant turn in a long-simmering venue issue in the City of Brotherly Love, the state of New Jersey has directly pitched the 76ers to abandon their plans to construct an arena in Philadelphia’s Center City, and instead locate the project in Camden, just across the Delaware River. The Garden State’s pitch comes with an offer of up to $400 million in tax credits toward an arena and mixed-use development. The 76ers’ downtown plan involves entirely private financing.
“I am confident that as you identify potential locations for the new home of the 76ers, you will find no better partner than the state of New Jersey and the city of Camden,” wrote Tim Sullivan, New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO, in a letter to Tad Brown, CEO of 76ers parent company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. “Choosing Camden as the 76ers’ new home will be the best decision you will ever make.”
Surprisingly, the 76ers have shown at least an openness to the idea, which would expand on the team’s existing, eight-year-old headquarters and training facility located in Camden. They are taking the proposal seriously. Until now, the 76ers have shown an unyielding focus on the downtown concept. But continued resistance from various community groups to that proposal has now shown some strain on the team.
Further adding to the team’s frustration is that the current struggle with the downtown arena effort follows a prior, failed push to build at the city’s Penn’s Landing neighborhood. Those roadblocks notably contrast against some recent sports-related successes in New Jersey, including a winning bid led in part by Gov. Phil Murphy to have the title game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup played at MetLife Stadium.
“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,” said the 76ers in a statement provided to Front Office Sports. “The reality is we are running out of time to reach an agreement that would 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.”
Back in South Philly
While the 76ers expand their consideration of a location for a new arena, an offer stands to stay at the Comcast Spectacor-controlled Wells Fargo Center in the existing south Philadelphia sports complex after the current lease expires in 2031. Executives for Comcast Spectacor, which also controls the NHL’s Flyers, have proposed an equal partnership with the 76ers on a new arena in the existing sports complex that would house both the basketball and hockey teams.
As that offer has remained, both Comcast Spectacor and HBSE have also sought to fortify their respective arena development efforts in recent months. HBSE has shown no interest in staying at Wells Fargo Center, but Comcast Spectator is still making overtures.
“As we have said from the beginning, our hope is that the 76ers will remain in south Philadelphia as a partner in the Wells Fargo Center,” said Dan Hilferty, Comcast Spectacor chair and CEO, in a statement to FOS. “We firmly believe if the 76ers and Comcast Spectacor partner together, we can make great things happen together for the city and region.”
