Home Court Advantage The Blue Coats to call new 76ers Fieldhouse home

NOVEMBER MARKS THE BEGINNING of the 2018-2019 Delaware Blues, who were instrumental in the American Revolution and season for the , who first faced the , distinguished by their blue uniforms. of Ontario, Canada, in the Raptors’ arena. The Blue Coats early sched- The Delaware Blue Coats are the ’ affiliate in the ule also includes the Maine Red Claws, , and Long National Association’s G League, the NBA’s official minor Island Nets. All of which will be away games as the team, along with league. The 76ers Fieldhouse, which broke ground in August of 2018, will much of Delaware, awaits the completion of the 76ers Fieldhouse. Currently playing at the Wells Fargo and the , the Blue Coats look forward to playing in the new space under their new moniker. In case you missed it, the team rebranded from their 2013 founding name of the 87ers. Much like the Philadelphia 76ers, who derive their name from the year the Declaration of Independence was signed in the City of Brotherly Love, the 87ers drew inspiration from the year Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Their updated brand pays hom- age to 1st Delaware Regiment soldiers, also called

President of Business Operations Chris Heck with Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki at the 76ers Fieldhouse groundbreaking ceremony.

30 November/December 2018 | DELAWARE BUSINESS Guide to Real Estate & Construction be home to both teams as the result of a partner- ship between Buccini/Pollin Group and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. The ground- breaking ceremony hosted Philadelphia 76ers President of Business Operations Chris Heck, Delaware Governor John Carney, Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki, NBA G League President Malcolm Turner, The Buccini/Pollin Group Co-Founder Rob Buccini, Delaware Blue Coats General Manager and Delaware Blue Coats President Larry Meli. Wilmington, Delaware’s business community is excited about the construction project and what the future holds. “We’re building what we feel is going to be the best G-League facility throughout the country in Wilmington with Buccini Group and, of course, working with the mayor and the governor,” said the 76ers president of soccer fields. Visitors will find a sports performance and athletic training business operations, Chris Heck, a Wilmington resident, in a recent inter- area, along with office and retail space. The facility also aims to provide view with The News Journal. basketball skills development, physical fitness, and nutrition and wellness The $26 million state-of-the-art facility will sit on nearly nine acres off programs, to served underprivileged youth within the community. U.S. Route 13, and feature a 2,500-seat arena. It will house three full-size January 2019 is when we can expect to witness the Blue Coats first true NBA-regulated professional basketball courts and two full-size indoor turf home game, when they place the . Q



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