With up to $400 million in tax credits and plans for a brand new waterfront development, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey is bidding to build the new Sixers home arena in 2031.
New Jersey is home to four professional sports franchises, but the only team who is playing on behalf of the state is the New Jersey Devils - the NHL team.
The New York Giants, (NFL) New York Jets (NFL) and New York Red Bull soccer team are the other three professional sport franchises that use New Jersey's MetLife Stadium as their home arena, but they are technically representing NYC. At least that's what their jersey says.
But check the maps app, they are physically playing in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Now, New Jersey is trying to add the Philadelphia 76ers to the list of state-sponsored pro-sport teams. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration wrote a letter to the Sixers organization laying out a comprehensive, multibillion-dollar economic plan "featuring residential, commercial and retail properties, with the Sixers as the focal point.
"Gov. Murphy and New Jersey officials were speaking with Sixers leadership about possibly relocating the team to Camden before their lease agreement expires with the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia in 2031."
"Gov. Murphy recently committed $300 million to revision the Walter Rand Transportation Center in downtown Camden, a vital link to the City of Philadelphia and a major regional transit hub. A world class sports and entertainment arena would also complement existing downtown destinations including the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion and Adventure Aquarium, which attract millions of visitors annually."
In the letter to Sixers leadership, it explains "Under the Economic Recovery Act Governor Murphy signed in 2021, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority has been empowered with substantial financial incentives to compete for significant economic opportunities like this, and our administration is prepared to work with our partners in the legislature to support any needed legislation to enable this project to proceed.
New Jersey could support two awards of up to $400 million of tax credits: one to support an arena and ancillary infrastructure (parking, open space etc.) and one to support significant residential, retail and office development as part of a broader mixed use neighborhood development strategy with potential to transform the surrounding areas of the City." (NBC)
Whether or not the 76ers decide to deracinate one of the most iconic fan bases in all of sports, only time will tell. The lease ending in 2031 with Wells Fargo Center leaves 7 years left but the fact that it is making headlines, should tells us these types of projects take time. So decisions have to be made sooner rather than later.
New Jersey entered negotiations only after the Sixers team announced plans to build a "new $1.3 billion arena in Center City titled “76 Place.” The proposal sparked resistance and protests from leadership in the city’s Chinatown community. Members of the community said that the proposed arena could cause street parking to disappear as well as a rise in traffic. They also said it could be harder to hold festivals." This gave New Jersey officials all the leverage they needed.
If Philly's local government and the powers that be cannot come to an agreement on a new relocation or lease renewal, New Jersey might just be the goat at recruiting pro sport teams to play in their state.
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