Report: Sixers Seeking $82 Million Grant For Practice Facility In Camden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Sixers are seeking a grant worth $82 million over a ten-year period for a practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. Since 1999, the Sixers have rented the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to practice.
The Philadelphia Business Journal reported that the grant amount became known when the New Jersey Economic Development Authority listed the annual figure of $8,204,050 to be discusses during a June 10th meeting.
On Friday, Sixers CEO Scott O'Neil, announced the Sixers had officially filed for an application for a site along the New Jersey waterfront in Camden.
"As part of our due diligence related to a new Training Center, we have officially filed an application for a site along the New Jersey waterfront in Camden," O'Neil announced in a statement. "We understand the New Jersey Economic Development Authority will be voting on an incentive for a possible facility on the waterfront at their upcoming meeting. We will have more to say on this matter after the EDA vote."
New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, was on the WIP Morning Show Monday morning and spoke about the developing situation.
"We're very happy that it appears they're going to move their practice facility and offices over to Camden and it's going to be a regional situation," Christie said. "The Jets and Giants are called New York, but they do everything in New Jersey. They have their offices there, they have their practice facilities there, and obviously they play their games there. I don't see that happening with the Sixers. I think the Sixers are a Philadelphia team and they'll play in Philadelphia, but if they practice and spend a little time with their South Jersey fans, that's not bad."