NEWARK, Del. — The Philadelphia 76ers are bringing a minor-league team to Delaware!
The team, which will be known as the Delaware 87ers, will begin playing at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center this November. The 87ers — known colloquially as the “Sevens” — will play 24 games on campus each season in the NBA’s Developmental League.
“Sixers games have long been a great source of fun for so many Delaware families, including mine, so this really is exciting news,” Senator Coons said. “Delaware loves the Sixers and will undoubtedly love the Sevens. This news is a sign of the 76ers’ appreciation for their Delaware fans and of their commitment to this community. I look forward to bringing my kids to Sevens games this fall, and to further strengthening the ties between our state and this historic franchise.”
Senator Coons was on hand for the announcement at the Bob on Saturday at the invitation of Sixers CEO Adam Aron. Aron said the organization had looked at dozens of communities in seven states, crediting Senator Coons with suggesting Newark and aggressively advocating on its behalf.
The team name “87ers” was selected in recognition of Delaware’s place in United States history, as it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. The 87ers name also is immediately evocative of the parent “76ers,” a name similarly derived from Philadelphia’s place in U.S. history with the Declaration of Independence being signed there in 1776. The 87ers team will also be nicknamed the “Sevens,” a nod to the way the parent club’s official name is often shortened to the “Sixers.”
“The creation of the Delaware 87ers is an important milestone in our quest to ensure that the Philadelphia 76ers are viewed in all respects to be a world-class and cutting-edge NBA franchise. We believe that the ability to own and operate our own NBA D-League affiliate will strengthen our player development and other team initiatives, and be a tremendous asset to the entire Sixers organization,” said Sixers Managing Owner Josh Harris. He continued, “We are particularly excited that we can situate the team in the welcoming, nearby state of Delaware, especially since there are so many Delawareans who already are avid 76ers fans.”