Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex explained

Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex
Logo Image:Sixers_Practice_Facility_Logo.png
Location:Camden, New Jersey
Coordinates:39.9432°N -75.1272°W
Type:Training facility
Broke Ground:2015
Built:2015–16
Operator:Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Project Manager:AthenianRazak
Cost:$82 million
Architect:Jacobs KlingStubbins with 360 Architects
Structural Engineer:Jacobs
Services Engineer:Jacobs
General Contractor:Intech Construction
Acreage:587700NaN0 grounds
662300NaN0 building
Total 1250000NaN0
Tenants:Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) 2016–present

The Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex is a 125,000-square-foot athletic facility and office building in Camden, New Jersey, which houses the training center and corporate offices of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. It opened in September 2016 and is managed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.

History

Prior to its opening in September 2016, the team practiced at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Wynnefield Heights neighborhood of Philadelphia, while business-side operations were located at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia.[1] [2]

Although the project was poised to be located at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, developer AthenianRazak, who was managing the project, brought the possibility of locating in Camden to the team, citing the newly enacted Grow NJ tax credit program. As a result, the team found a property at the Camden Waterfront and started construction in 2015. The facility had a $82 million tax credit approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.[3] [4] [5]

Features

The complex has two regulation NBA courts with 12 baskets. The courts are available for players and coaches use at any time. Also the building has it own players restaurant with its own full menu, along a private balcony and film and press room. A 2,800-square-foot player locker room, and state-of-the-art performance, wellness, recovery, and hydrotherapy room with recovery pool, a fully operational gym, rehab center, and players and coaches film and conference rooms.

Notable features

Controversy

The training facility was pitched as a project that would support the revitalization of Camden, a city with a 39.5%[6] poverty rate, by creating jobs for local residents and improving the surrounding areas of the facility.[7] Yet in 2023, it was reported that of the facility’s 275 employees, only 11 were Camden residents.[8]

The complex was built right next to the Mickle Towers, a housing project with low-income residents. To this day the area remains destitute with many abandoned buildings and little infrastructure for residents, despite the 76ers’ promise to revitalize the immediate area of the complex. A resident of Mickle Towers told Metro Philadelphia: “We don’t get nothing from them [the Sixers] being here. … They could at least clean up the trash on the street near us and help out with all that money they saved moving here.”[9]

The complex was constructed with $82 million in tax breaks from New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority and the Grow NJ program.[10]

References

39.9432°N -75.1272°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Seltzer. Brian. On the Beat: New Training Complex Brings Modern Feel, Promise. Philadelphia 76ers. September 23, 2016. January 21, 2018.
  2. Web site: Training Complex History. NJ.com. November 11, 2016.
  3. News: Laday . Jason . Philadelphia 76ers CEO: Camden practice facility will be 'biggest and best' in U.S. . South Jersey Times . June 10, 2014 . June 11, 2014.
  4. News: Laday . Jason . Philadelphia 76ers set to move office, practice space to Camden with $82M tax break . The Star-Ledger . June 10, 2014 . June 11, 2014.
  5. News: Jason . mark . Sixers to move headquarters to Camden . Philadelphia Inquirer . June 11, 2014 . June 11, 2014.
  6. Web site: Census profile: Census Tract 6103, Camden, NJ . 2024-05-06 . Census Reporter . en.
  7. Web site: Trethan . Phaedra . WATCH: Sixers' Camden facility taking shape . 2024-05-06 . Courier-Post . en-US.
  8. Web site: Mar 7 . Nancy SolomonPublished . Mar 7 . 2023Modified . 2023Share . 2023-03-07 . Companies that got huge tax breaks in NJ's poorest city barely employ its residents . 2024-05-06 . Gothamist . en.
  9. Web site: Moser . Ryan M. . 2023-05-07 . As 76ers eye Chinatown arena, a look at how their practice facility failed Camden community – Metro Philadelphia . 2024-05-06 . metrophiladelphia.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2019-10-17 . New Jersey Task Force: Public 'Essentially Paid' For 76ers' State Fee For Camden Practice Facility - CBS Philadelphia . 2024-05-06 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.