The Philadelphia 76ers are at the crossroads yet again! This time it’s not about basketball action. At least not directly. The Philly side has tangled itself in a controversial issue involving locals and government over the last four years. It’s regarding the construction of the Sixers’ very own home court. While the issue didn’t seem to see the end of the tunnel, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stepped in to take some pressure from the team’s ownership group.

Everything began in 2020 when the team revealed its intention to move out of Wells Fargo Center and build its own arena before the 2031-32 season. Notably, the Sixers’ lease comes to an end in 2031. It’s important to note that the construction of a new arena didn’t create any controversy, but the place where the team proposed to build the arena irked debate. The proposal initially intended to build the 76ers’ home at Penn’s Landing.

While the city already has a dispute surrounding revitalizing the Delaware River waterfront, this didn’t sit well with the locals. The president of the Civic Board, Tami Sortman, said that the grand structure will leave a “much more negative impact for our neighborhood and for Chinatown.” and also urged the City Council to vote against the decision.

Despite the resistance, Philadelphia’s Mayor Cherelle L. Parker green-lit the agreement to build the arena in Center City on September 18. The agreement also stated that the team will have a 30-year lease and the project won’t include any public funds. The Mayor’s official statement read, “No burden on Philadelphia taxpayers.” However, David Adelman & Co., the co-owners of the 76ers, expected taxpayers’ support in their initial proposal, as per Inquirer. Right when Adelman & Co., scratched their head in confusion, NJ Gov. Phil Murphy came in to adamantly lure the owners. In short, came in to save them.

Phil Murphy saves the day for the 76ers!

According to the Inquirer, Murphy took David Adelman & Co. on a private tour to the Camden waterfront site, in an attempt to convince the Philly owners to build the new arena there. Notably, it’s on the other side of the Delaware River, away from affecting the neighborhood. Above all, there is an added advantage to the New Jersey Governor’s proposal as the state will offer $400 million in state subsidies for the arena. Along with another $400 million for the franchise to construct a mixed-use development nearby.

Comparing both offers, Murphy proved to have given a much better proposal, satisfying the Philly neighborhood and also providing subsidies for the construction. Notably, the estimated expense for the construction of the new arena will be around $1.55 billion. While the NJ Gov. has agreed to give almost half of it, the Philly side doesn’t have a financial burden as well.

The only problem is NJ is 60 miles away from Philadelphia, which will force the team to change its name. So, is Murphy adamantly luring the 76ers owners to leave the City of Brotherly Love and join NJ? Well, it will remain a question until the owners come to a decision. What do you think? Should the Sixers move to NJ? Let us know.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.