The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in NBA history, with the team being located in Philadelphia since 1946. Despite that, a new report suggests that they could relocate to New Jersey, which is fewer than 100 miles away. New Jersey hasn't had a team since the Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012 and they appear to be trying to lure the Sixers there.
The Sixers already have a practice facility in New Jersey, and they also plan to build an arena, though their ownership group is trying to have one built in Philadelphia, but so far to no avail. They are also headquartered in New Jersey, adding another link to the Garden State.
Can New Jersey steal the Sixers away from Philadelphia?
At the moment, it seems like a long shot for New Jersey to lure one of the oldest teams away from a major market. Especially after the Nets didn't have a huge following, with them finishing last in the NBA in attendance in two of their last three seasons there.
Not only that but they often seemed to be overshadowed by the New York Knicks. While the Sixers would already have a built-in fan base and stars to attract more, including Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, relocations often lead to a significant loss of fans from the previous city.
As a result, they might not be as appealing as Philadelphia, which is one of the largest cities in the U.S., with the Sixers already drawing fans from New Jersey. The report could also help the team stay in Philadelphia, with New Jersey serving as a threat and possibly motivation for a new stadium to be approved.
That would cost more than $1.5 billion and take three years to complete, with it supposed to be open in 2031 if approved. That might take longer but with Sixers ownership planning to pay for it on their own, it seems likely that a new arena will eventually be built. Therefore, the Sixers will probably be staying put.