Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter on Friday was "adamant" that the city "will fight to keep the 76ers practice facility on its side of the Delaware River" after reports emerged that the team was near a deal with Camden, N.J., to build a practice facility and team HQ on the waterfront, according to Julia Terruso of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Nutter: "This is a Philly team -- so I think fans, frankly, would be very insulted at any idea that part of the team would be outside the City of Philadelphia." He added that the city "had shown the team six public-land options in the last six months." Nutter said that simultaneously, talks "continue between the team and Comcast-Spectacor owners over a private deal to build adjacent to the Wells Fargo Center." But the competition in Camden "could be financially more attractive to the team." Sources said that a deal "fueled by hefty tax incentives could be close on the Camden waterfront" near Campbell's Field, the ballpark for the independent Atlantic League Camden Riversharks. The move "would be a substantial coup for the struggling city, which has long tried to build up its waterfront" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/31).
