the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Camden NJ, in a significant push to bring the Philadelphia 76ers to New Jersey, state officials are presenting a detailed proposal to the team’s ownership, offering prime state-owned land in Camden for a massive mixed-use development. This ambitious project, backed by Gov. Phil Murphy and the state legislature, would include a world-class arena, along with commercial, residential, and retail spaces, transforming the former state prison site near the Delaware River and north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.
The proposed development, which would be self-financed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the entity that owns the Sixers, is eligible for substantial tax incentives. If approved, HBSE could receive two Aspire tax credits, each worth up to $400 million, due to the inclusion of both an arena and a full-scale mixed-use component. Additionally, the state plans to work with the legislature to structure up to $500 million in special-purpose bonds, supported by fees and surcharges on tickets, concessions, and parking, ensuring no financial burden on New Jersey taxpayers.
The details of this proposal will be officially conveyed in a letter from Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), to HBSE CEO Tad Brown. In the letter, Sullivan envisions the development as a “multibillion-dollar, privately-led comprehensive mixed-use development” that would act as a transformative catalyst for Camden and New Jersey.
The push to relocate the Sixers to Camden is not a sudden move. The team has been struggling for years to secure approval from the city of Philadelphia for a new arena in Center City, despite offering to self-finance the $1.3 billion project. With their current lease at the Wells Fargo Center expiring after the 2030-31 season, the Sixers have indicated a need to finalize plans for a new arena by the end of 2024 to stay on track.
New Jersey’s offer comes at a time when the state has been holding regular discussions with Sixers representatives, sensing an opportunity due to the slow progress in Philadelphia. The letter emphasizes New Jersey’s willingness to collaborate closely with the team, city, county, and regional governments to ensure the success of the project, including tailored traffic, transportation planning, and necessary infrastructure investments.
The proposal offers several strategic advantages, including potentially acquiring the land at little to no cost and the fact that the site is shovel-ready, allowing for rapid construction. Moreover, the state has committed $300 million to revamp the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, enhancing public transportation access to the proposed arena site.
Governor Murphy, a passionate sports fan, is fully backing the project, seeing it as a key addition to New Jersey’s growing sports legacy, which already includes hosting the final of the FIFA 2026 World Cup. The letter underscores Murphy’s commitment to a “whole of government” approach to facilitate the project, ensuring that New Jersey positions itself as the ideal new home for the Philadelphia 76ers.
As the 76ers consider their options, New Jersey’s proposal represents a bold vision for the future, offering the team not just a new arena but an entire community development that could redefine Camden’s landscape and solidify the state’s standing in the world of professional sports.
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Maybe they can get them and call them “The New York Basketball 76ers”….
or maybe “The Philadelphia Basketball 76ers”
…it’s been done before.