A little taste of the NBA is coming to the First State. The Philadelphia 76ers announced Saturday they're bringing minor league basketball to Newark.
The Sixers purchased the dormant Utah Flash franchise of NBA Development League and are moving it to the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center.
The team is named the Delaware 87ers or the Sevens. The names are a nod to the parent club's moniker and nickname and to Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution in 1787.
Sixers managing owner Josh Harris hopes to deliver a product Delaware will embrace.
“We’re going to bring affordable, quality entertainment to a great place. We want to attract a lot of students a lot of families and really create an enjoyable place that celebrates grassroots athletics here in Delaware,” said Harris.
Sixers co-owner and CEO Adam Aron says the 76ers looked at "dozens of communities" in seven states before choosing to come to the First State. And he says the Sevens will be a team for all of Delaware - not just Newark.
"Our team will play in Newark. Our offices will be in Wilmington. And we hope to cater to all the fans of New Castle County, as well as the entire state," said Aron.
The Sevens begin play in the 17-team D-league starting this fall. The league’s 50 game season runs from November to April and includes 24 home games. The majority of tickets will sell for between $9 and $29, with limited court side seats costing as much as $150.
State and officials embraced the 87ers' arrival.
The Sevens expect to hired up to 40 people to run the organization, plus part-time game day staff. That's good news to Gov. Jack Markell (D).
"This is more about the front page than the sports page,” said Markell (D). "What I'm excited about what it says about Delaware and the job creation, the people who will be hired here. And when you think about the kind of businesses we want to grow in Delaware and have expand here, they care a lot about quality of life issues. Are there fun things and affordable things for their families to do here and this is just one more thing going on."
The team will pay the University of Delaware an undisclosed flat fee to use the Bob, but UD president Patrick Harker sees benefits beyond that.
"I'm especially excited about what this offers Delawareans, our neighbors next door and across the state. They'll be able to jump in their cars after work, head out to a Sevens game with their families and have a great time watching some future NBA stars. Any time we can get the community on campus and offer them something fun and exciting, it's a great day," said Harker, who also announced that as part of the deal with the Sixers two UD students each will get summer internships with the 76ers organization.
The Sixers and minor league basketball were both part of the Delaware spots scene as recently as the 1990s. The 76ers held their preseason training camp at the Bob in both 1995 and 1996. The state also was home to the Delaware Blue Bombers minor league franchise that played in the Atlantic Basketball Association and United Basketball Alliance from 1993 to 1999. The Delaware Express briefly replaced the Blue Bombers in the UBA in 200 and 2001.
The D-league is the NBA’s only official minor league and the Sixers are one of just 6 NBA teams that will own 100 percent of their D-league affiliate. 132 players currently playing in the NBA have come from the D-League ranks.
Aaron Moszer will serve as the Sevens' team president. Moszer comes from Ripken Baseball Inc. where he was Assistant Vice President of Sales/Marketing thre last three years. He was also previously General manger for the Aberdeen IronBirds, the single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
“With more than 15 years of experience in minor-league baseball, I know what it takes to integrate a new team into a community for the betterment of both, and will lead this team to success," said Moszer.
The official 87ers schedule will be released in August.