Axios poll: Philadelphians want Sixers to stay in city
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Most Axios Philadelphia readers would forsake the Sixers if the team left for New Jersey, our Axios poll found.
Why it matters: The Sixers' future here could hinge on the outcome of a stalled effort to bring a new $1.5 billion arena to downtown Philly.
Driving the news: Nearly 56% of more than 270 readers who voted said they wouldn't remain loyal 76ers fans if the team moved to Camden.
Catch up quick: The Sixers are committed to leaving the Wells Fargo Center for their own arena by the start of the 2031-32 season.
- The project faces opposition from Chinatown leaders, and the completion of city-led studies has been pushed back.
- Meanwhile, New Jersey officials have been in talks with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Sixers, over the past two months to build a new arena in Camden, as first reported by roi-nj.com.
What they're saying: Some readers said they'd feel betrayed if the Sixers left for the Garden State, believing the proposal could be a way for the organization to "blackmail the city of Philadelphia."
- "Philadelphia is the Sixers. The Sixers is Philadelphia," one reader wrote.
- "Philly sports team fandom is rooted in location," another responded.
Yes, but: Others said the love for the team "shouldn't end at the river."
- "Pro teams are a regional thing, not a city. Strong fan bases reach out 200 miles," one reader said.
Here are some other reader responses:
👍 "I'd still be a fan, but I would not renew my season tickets and never go to games."
👎 "It's disrespectful to move the team from Philadelphia, which represents our city, to another city with a much smaller population."
👍 "South Jersey is basically a suburb of Philly. If you come to games here, you'll be able to also load up on cheaper gas and liquor."