In a matter of months, the southeast corner of Delaware Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Camden New Jersey will begin to take on a new form. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) voted Tuesday June 10, 2014 to build the Philadelphia 76ers practice facility across the Delaware River in Camden, NJ.
$82 million dollars in tax credit drew the attention of the Philadelphia 76ers, who visited six sites in Philadelphia including the Navy Yard which currently holds some of the team’s office space. It will cost the Sixers $82 million dollars to build the 120,000 square feet, state of the art facility which they will get all back in tax credit by the State of New Jersey, coming out to 8.2 million dollars in tax credit annually.
Major news for the city of Camden, both Governor Chris Christie and Camden Mayor Dana Redd are pleased with the new construction set to break ground later this year in October. Both said it would not only be great for the city but the state of New Jersey as well. The facility will bring 250 jobs to Camden, 200 of which are already filled by Sixers employees, the remaining 50 are open to be filled by sales and marketing representatives. New Jersey’s estimated revenue over the next 35 years for the project is $76.2 million dollars.
The city of Camden is hopeful this new growth will bring light to the community. The facility has potential to have a spill-over effect where more growth can occur. Small businesses are expected to reap the benefits as more people are drawn to the city, while additional construction projects such as restaurants are anticipated to occur in the area.
The Philadelphia 76ers now practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, but are scheduled to move into the new facility by June 2016. Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil said “This will be the biggest and best facility in the country”.
With 60,000 square feet dedicated to the coaches and athletes fully equipped with two basketball courts, fitness training center, rehabilitation space, player and coaching locker rooms, audio/video rooms, support services, and office facilities. The other three story addition with the remainder 60,000 square feet will hold business operations, more offices, and storage.
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