August 08, 2018
Delaware Blue Coats/Website
Rendering of the 76ers Fieldhouse being built in Wilmington, Delaware.
The 76ers broke ground Wednesday on the new 76ers Fieldhouse, a 140,000 square-foot training facility located in Wilmington, Delaware.
The facility eventually will serve as the home arena for the team’s G-League affiliate, the recently re-named Delaware Blue Coats.
Originally based in Utah, the minor league franchise was acquired by the 76ers in 2013 and moved to the Northeast.
The then-87ers had played their home games at the Bob Carpenter Center, also home to the University of Delaware basketball teams, through last G-League season.
Despite the NBA franchise playing its home games at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, both the Blue Coats and the Sixers now have training facilities located outside Pennsylvania. The Sixers practice in Camden.
Here are a few scenes from today's groundbreaking:
The Delaware Blue Coats(formerly the 87ers) breaking ground today in Wilmington. Details with @SeanGreeneWDEL at @WDEL coming tonight. #netDE #NCCDE #GLeague pic.twitter.com/hZnKNs1BpR
— Kevin Hayes (@KHradioNOW) August 8, 2018
“We have an obligation and an opportunity to do something special - this is a city on the rise...this is an opportunity for all of us ... I live in downtown Wilmington, and I’m buying season tickets...” - @Sixers Pres. @ChrisHeck76 on @NBAGLeague @Blue_Coats new facility in DE pic.twitter.com/VGnWel1zcG
— Lara Toscani Weems (@LTWPhilly) August 8, 2018
@blue_coats and the @sixers organizations managerment gave remarks during the 76ers groundbreaking ceremony for their new blue coats Field-house facilities Wed. August 08, 2018, in Wilmington. DE. 📸 by @monsterphotoiso pic.twitter.com/n3GiEaZUYQ
— WITN 22 (@WITN22Wilm) August 8, 2018
Also interesting: The new arena will be a downgrade in terms of capacity. The Bob Carpenter Center is a 5,100-seat arena, while the 76ers Fieldhouse will be a 2,500-seat arena.
The facility was originally announced late last November, and according to a release from that time, the plan for the facility is to include more than just a home court:
“Boasting three full-size professional basketball courts, two indoor turf soccer fields, a world-class sports performance and athletic training area, as well as retail and office space, this dynamic new facility will also serve as a beacon for youth sports in Delaware.”
The team’s plan as of last November was to have the fieldhouse ready for the start of the 2018-19 G-League season. A representative for the 76ers did not immediately return a request for comment on whether that was still the target date.
Here are a few renderings showing what the arena might end up looking like, courtesy of the Sixers:
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