The 76ers on Friday opened their new training facility in Camden, N.J., the "largest in the NBA" and a "valiant effort to revitalize" the team, according to David O'Reilly of PHILLY.com. The 125,000-square-foot complex -- soon to "include the team's corporate offices -- is the first to open for business among several major building projects rising as part of a multibillion-dollar effort to remake the city's waterfront." 76ers Managing Owner Josh Harris said the facility's $86M price tag represents a "signature investment in our team and players." O'Reilly noted the facility "boasts two regulation basketball courts, a 2,800-square-foot locker room, an upscale players' restaurant, a media center, and state-of-the-art wellness and hydrotherapy rooms." Instead of "selling naming rights to a corporate sponsor, the team is promoting its own brand by calling the facility the 'Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex' and proclaiming the name in giant letters outside." The team's business offices are to "open within the building early next year." About 250 people are "expected to work at the facility." Until now, the 76ers were the "only team in the league not to own a practice facility" (PHILLY.com, 9/23).
DEAL BREAKER: In Boston, Steve Bulpett notes groundbreaking for the Celtics' new facility at Boston Landing "will come later this fall," with opening set for '18. It will be located between the Bruins' new practice rink and the New Balance Building. Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said, "It is a big deal. It’s a big deal for our players, and it’ll be a big deal for our team to have two regulation courts. ... Our facility’s good now, but one court’s not enough. I mean, with 15 players, we need two courts. We don’t have enough space. We’re trying to build a better facility to become a better team." He added, "This will be better for training. We have more bang for the buck with our players. And some players really do care about it." Ainge: "It'll be a great thing for our players and maybe they'll spend more time at our facility. I don't know. That's what we're hoping" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/26).
