Dan Hauser, senior vice president of corporate development for the Philadelphia 76ers, said Monday that the new Camden facility should be open this time next year. Watch video
CAMDEN -- One of the first big businesses to recently claim Camden as its new home revealed Monday that all operations will be under one roof roughly one year from now.
Dan Hauser, senior vice president of corporate development for the Philadelphia 76ers, speaks Monday in Camden. (Greg Adomaitis | For NJ.com) Dan Hauser, senior vice president of corporate partnerships for the Philadelphia 76ers, added that the 120,000-square-foot practice facility will likely be put to use as soon as October of this year.
"We are excited to be there," Hauser told members of the Camden Chamber of Commerce at a meeting on Monday. "We're very happy to be moving ... the employees are excited."
In June 2014, Sixers leadership joined with Camden elected officials to announce the organization would be moving its practice space and front office operations to the waterfront area.
Construction of the facility that will be located off Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard continues. Presently, the team practices at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Bala Cynwyd, while business-side operations are located at The Navy Yard, in South Philadelphia.
"We're extremely proud of it," Hauser, now in his third season with the Sixers, said of the new facility.
According to previous reports, the Sixers toured the Navy Yard to mull expanding operations there. Moving to the other side of the Delaware River was finalized after the New Jersey Economic Development Authority approved $82 million in tax breaks, which will be awarded over a period of 10 years.
Such incentives have recently enticed a number of companies -- such as Holtec International and Subaru of America -- to move their operations to Camden.
As part of the financial award, the 76ers were required to create at least 250 jobs at the Camden facility. Jobs, both for local residents as well as employment opportunities for the companies attending Monday's gathering, were brought up a handful of times.
While Hauser noted that the company expects to hire new employees, he added that it's difficult to say at this point what options will be available one year from now.
"There will be opportunities but what exactly does that mean, it's hard to say at this point," Hauser said, adding that the team's community relations crew have been working with city groups to further immerse themselves in the new hometown.
Ray Jones, a former Camden City police officer and current president of security firm We See You, asked Houser about providing his company's services to the 76ers.
Although it was too early for the 76ers to pin down their security needs, Jones said he received an email from Holtec during Monday's gathering that confirmed his crew would be securing the company's construction site at the Camden waterfront.
"We will continue to be a part of this community," Hauser said, adding that 76ers staff all perform 76 hours of community service each year.
Asked after the meeting what it means to pick up and move, the former Detroit Pistons executive of 33 years said Camden will play a very important role in the team's future.
It doesn't hurt that a large percentage of the team's fan base is on this side of the river, either.
Speaking about the team's record, which stands at four wins and 36 losses as of Tuesday, Hauser asked fans for their patience.
"That's a major step in the right direction," he said of a practice facility that will help newer players like Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Oakfor develop.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
