Savin’ the Sixers
Is This Philly’s Last Chance to Save Their Beloved 76ers?’
In 1954 — with Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics brought to the brink of bankruptcy — the city attempted to save the franchise. The fundraising campaign, “Saving the A’s,” was Philadelphia’s last-ditch effort to keep the AL championship franchise in the City. Philadelphia had lost franchises previously, including when the Frankford Yellow Jackets went bankrupt and sustained heavy damage to their Stadium in 1931 at the corner of Devereaux and Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philly.
In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nationals had been NBA Champions in 1953–1954. Their arrival followed the void left by the Philadelphia Warriors, who had just left for San Fransisco.
Upon arriving in Philadelphia in 1963, the 76ers played at Philadelphia Arena and Convention Hall on Market Street. By 1968, they moved to the first version of The Spectrum.
In 2024, time is running out to save the Sixers here in Philly.
Plans were moving forward for 76 Place at Market East in Center City, which is expected to open in 2031 with an estimated capacity of 18,500 seats near public transportation and the Fashion District Shopping. The Market-Frankford Line and Jefferson Station would be available to fans, an easier destination than trying to get to South Philadelphia.
For the better part of a year, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and Chinatown activists opposed the Center City arena and shopping destination, citing traffic concerns and the possibility that the City would end up spending more on the project than it would generate in revenue.
Earlier this month, Delaware Governor John Carney posted on social media that he wants the Sixers to move to Wilmington. A spokesperson for Governor Carney confirmed the tweet later in the day.
And then this week, a confirmation that New Jersey has placed a bid to build an arena in Camden for the Sixers. Governor Phil Murphy has proposed $400 million in tax credits through the Aspire Program and possibly $500 million in bonds.
Other Philadelphia professional sports franchises have tried similar proposals, like the Phillies’ attempt to build a baseball stadium near the same center city location in 2000.
Philly is running out of time to keep its beloved Sixers. If it is not feasible for Center City to retain the franchise, let’s keep it in South Philadelphia.
It doesn’t matter that it’s not a far-away state that is trying to poach the team — the 76ers belong to Philadelphia. Not Camden, New Jersey, or Wilmington, Delaware.
In 1954, the Athletics could not be saved. Connie Mack’s family sold the bankrupt team, which was then moved to Kansas City.
Shibe Park — their once state-of-the-art home ballpark—was sold to the Phillies.
PHOTO: 76 Place at Market East
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