New Jersey will not go down without a fight for the Philadelphia 76ers to Camden.
On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy, Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen, and other New Jersey leaders gave one of the Sixers’ owners a tour of the facility. They hope to lure the team across the river. with a new arena.
Last month, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced she was… deal to keep the Sixers in the city, although that is far from a done deal. The City Council will still have to approve the proposal before groundbreaking begins on 76 Place at Market East.
The plan would allow the Sixers to do just that build a $1.3 billion arena in the Market East section of Center City.
The proposal is controversial for years and still faces resistance.
CBS News Philadelphia found that New Jersey leaders were determined to remain a viable option if the Center City deal fell through.
The state currently offers this $800 million in tax breaks.
A Sixers spokesperson said the team remains committed to the Center City deal, but the team is on deadline to open a new arena for the 2031-2032 NBA season. The spokesperson added that the team must ensure the franchise has suitable options moving forward.
“The state of New Jersey has expressed interest in revitalizing a portion of Camden’s waterfront, including an arena and mixed-use development,” the team spokesperson said in a statement.
