76ers Purchase Former Utah Flash NBA D-League Team; Delaware 87ers Open In '13-14

The 76ers have purchased the right to own and operate an NBA D-League that will begin play in the '13-14 season in Newark, Del. The team will be called the 87ers, in recognition of Delaware's history as the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The rights to the D-League team were previously held by the Utah Flash, which went on hiatus two seasons ago. The 87ers will play their home games at the Bob Carpenter Center on the Univ. of Delaware campus. The team will be referred to as the "Sevens" as a nod to the parent team's nickname "Sixers" (NBA D-League). 76ers CEO Adam Aron said the team looked at dozens of communities in seven states "before deciding Delaware was perfect." NBA D-League President Dan Reed said that the average ticket prices for an 87ers game "will be about $15" (NEWARKPOSTONLINE.com, 4/27).