Do you know why some businessmen are called shrewd or discerning? There are, of course, who are just as successful, yet there is that certain something that makes them different. In all honesty, it’s being highly aware of their surroundings. And with million-dollar enterprises, it means keeping a sharp eye on the goings-on in the field. When an opening presents itself, that’s when they make the move, with a lightning-quick reflex. It looks like sports and venue management company, Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment LLC (HBSE), might have one such suitor. You might understand it better if we point out that HBSE owns and operates the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now, everybody who knows the Sixers knows that this NBA team has forever been on the lookout for an arena to call their own. So far, there’s been no luck. The Wells Fargo Center, as much as it’s been considered their home, can never truly become one, can it? In fact, their current lease ends after the 2030-31 season. Although Josh Harris and David Blitzer, the founders of HBSE and by extension, the 76ers, are more than happy to self-finance an arena in Center City Philadelphia, they have always encountered roadblocks.

Enter New Jersey! According to the latest report by ROI-NJ, “the state of New Jersey is making a serious push to convince the Philadelphia 76ers to move to New Jersey and into a new arena that would be built in Camden.” The NJ media company further revealed that “discussions between top state officials and leaders from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (which owns the team) have been ongoing for the last two months.”

“76 Place”, Harris’ name for the proposed state-of-the-art arena, continues to be just that, a proposal. To begin with, it faced significant resistance. They included reasons such as traffic and congestion, and yet not the predicted revenue. Hence, it seemed the most natural route for Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, a die-hard Sixers fan, to also step forward in support of the move to Camden. If that isn’t being astute, what is?

However, is that all there is to it?

Are there any benefits to the Philadelphia 76ers moving a few miles to the East?

Well, first and foremost, the Sixers’ team and training facility are already situated in Camden, New Jersey. Granted, it is just a distance of five miles from Philly to Camden. But why even bother making that trip when you have every incentive not to?

The HBSE headquarters are also situated in the ‘Garden State’. More importantly, they have available land to construct “76 Place”.

And the land is not that bad, either. Camden’s biggest attraction is its waterfront. An ultramodern arena, home to one of the oldest NBA franchises – imagine the kind of domino effect it would bring about if such a development were to take place. And as mentioned, the short distance would allow Philly fans to enjoy the 76ers games easily. These were some of the more sensible pointers that work for NJ.

But there’s obviously the other side of the coin to consider. For starters, the state’s Aspire program would mean a tax credit of up to $400 million. And then there’s also the Sixers’ wish to stay in Philadelphia. As pointed out earlier, their lease comes to an end after 2030. As such, if they are to open an arena, the owners will have to get approval from the city this year.

The construction can then begin in 2025, effectively ready to open its doors just in time. So, with Philly, HBSE is pretty much on a time crunch. And yet, a spokesperson for the team said, “We remain focused on bringing a state-of-the-art arena to Philadelphia, as we have been for the last four years.” 

Hopefully, Harris and Blitzer can do just that. If there’s no such luck, they might want to consider a potential move to a waterfront city. What do you think of the whole situation? Tense, sure. But realistic? Let us know in the comments below.