Sixers May Be Eyeing Camden As Sight Of New Practice Facility
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- The Philadelphia 76ers may soon call Camden, New Jersey home. At least part time.
No one is talking officially, but it's clear the full court press is on for an announcement as early as mid-June that the team will open offices and a practice facility along the Camden Waterfront. Games, however, would continue to be played in South Philadelphia.
Camden County Freeholder Director Lou Cappelli is, at least for now, non-committal in discussing the situation.
"We welcome all inquiries and interest from all developers," Cappelli says. "So hopefully we're all moving forward together."
However, Cappelli concedes any such deal, if it were to happen, would be big.
"It would keep the momentum going," he says. "It would mean new jobs. It would mean new ratables for the city."
And it could be on the agenda for the June meeting of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which could approve tax breaks to sweeten the deal.
A spokesman for Camden Mayor Dana Redd confirms an overall uptick in business interest in the city but would not discuss anything involving the Sixers.
The club now practices at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Sixers are also the only team in the NBA without their own practice facility.
