If The 76ers Want To Move To New Jersey So Bad, Then Philly Should Just Let Them Go
Mitchell Leff. Getty Images.ROI-NJ.com -- A week after a city-sanctioned report cast doubt on the economic benefits of the Philadelphia 76ers’ proposed facility in Center City, the team received a written proposal from the state of New Jersey detailing a transformative arena project in Camden that the team could own and operate, should it choose to relocate to New Jersey.
It is a proposal that the Sixers will look at seriously, a team spokesperson told ROI-NJ.
“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.”
Somebody needs to remind the Sixers that it's been over 20 years since the team has done anything for this city to give a shit about. They purposefully sucked the most amount of ass as humanly possible for like 6 years for what? To draft a guy who hates playing basketball and another one who completely forgot how to play the game? To give Tobias Harris $180 million? They are as unserious of a franchise as they come.
That's what happens when you're owned by a dude who also owns the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Commanders. Josh Harris doesn't give a shit about Philly sports or Philly sports fans. The man just cares about money. Which is fine. He's a businessman, and he should care about money. But if Josh Harris doesn't give a shit about Philly, then why should Philly give a shit about Josh Harris? Why should we let him completely wreak havoc on Center City to put a stadium in Market East if he's also actively trying to beat the Eagles and Flyers? It would be one thing if the Sixers were constantly contending for a title, but they're not. That would be like me telling Dave to give me a $500,000 raise or else I'm leaving for Deadspin.
I mean listen, is the Sports Complex perfect? Of course not. For starters, you almost have to drive there unless you live in the city and can easily hop on the Broad Street Line. Getting there on public transportation is a massive pain in the ass. There's not a ton to do there if you have kids besides having them start tailgating young if you want to show up a couple hours early to beat the traffic getting in and out of the lots. But having all 4 major teams playing in the same location is part of this city's identity. The Sports Complex is the soul of Philadelphia. If the Sixers don't want to be a part of that anymore, then they can pound sand.
Go ahead and leave for New Jersey. It'll be a disaster, and those cheap sacks of shit will come crawling back a few years later. By that time, Comcast will have finished up all the renovations planned for the Sports Complex anyway.
By the way--I should mention that out of the 4 Philly teams, the Sixers are by far and away my least favorite. So I'm sure there are some diehard Sixers fans out there who would feel differently about them leaving for across the river. But oh well, that's on you.