New Philadelphia 76ers Fieldhouse Designed to Support NBA Development Team, Local Youth
*By Brian Henry*
The Delaware Blue Coats will make their debut Wednesday night at the brand new Philadelphia 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del., and the team will share the spotlight with an arena that boasts five stories, can seat 2,500 fans, and includes three NBA-regulation basketball courts.
But flashy as the arena may be, it was designed with a less glamorous intention ー to promote youth sports in the state of Delaware and the greater Philadelphia region.
"It's so different than anything that we've ever seen. On the other side of this basketball court in this arena we have a full-size football field, soccer field, lacrosse field, we have sports rehab," said Chris Heck, the president of the Philadelphia 76ers.
"It's all geared towards youth. We have retail shops, concessions, there's parking gear," he added.
According to Heck, the Fieldhouse is an ideal setup for an NBA development team like the Blue Coasts, members of the G League.
Heck said the stadium is such a draw that "when we're at the 76ers \[home stadium\] we sell out every game. There's an incredible demand for tickets. This gives us an opportunity, right down the road, about 26 miles from South Philadelphia, in Wilmington, Delaware, to actually cater to our fans with our G league affiliate."
Ninety-five percent of front row seats have already sold out for the season, which Heck attributes to the Fieldhouse.
"Its small enough where it's going to be a hard ticket to get but it's also small enough where you can really be a part of the action."
The 76ers Fieldhouse will also host adult leagues, tournaments, clinics, play-days and even serve as a concert venue.
Eighteen of the Blue Coats' 24 home games will be played at new 76ers Fieldhouse for the remainder of 2018-19 season.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-delaware-blue-coats-unveil-76ers-fieldhouse-as-their-new-home).
The future of gambling in Florida recently suffered a major setback after a federal appeals court rejected a request from the state and the Seminole Tribe to allow online sports betting in the state. Now, the tribe has been forced to stop taking bets on its Hard Rock sportsbook app. ESPN gaming writer David Purdum joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss what this could mean for the future of sports betting in Florida.
The potential growth for the sports betting industry is almost unfathomable. what will the future of sports betting look like, and how did we get here? John Atkinson, director of business development at 888 Holdings, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
What began as a one-on-one fantasy baseball competition back in 2012 is now one of the biggest American daily fantasy sports contests and sports betting operators in the world. JD sat down with Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings, to talk about the company's milestones and future endeavors.
Former Denver Broncos wide receiver and five-time Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas was found dead at the age of 33. Thomas officially retired from the NFL in June, ending his playing career with the New York Jets in 2019.
Carlo and Baker wrap up the week talking about the Biden economic boom that no one seems to notice, a verdict in the Jussie Smollett case, the first Starbucks union in America and the pleasures of the "dude nod."
Olivia Harlan Dekker dissects the Week 14 NFL slate and makes her picks for the week's top games, while Frank Schwab discusses the impact of bad weather on betting lines. Meanwhile, Alex Christenson dishes out his insights when it comes to betting on the NBA.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Russ Davis, Crypto Consultant and Educator at consulting firm In Russ We Trust Crypto, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains why now is a time to buy low on cryptocurrencies as investors are still reacting to the latest testimonies.
Frank Schwab, NFL and Betting Writer, Yahoo Sports, joins Cheddar Bets to break down what bettors should be wary of and opportunistic about when betting on football games featuring winter weather.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Alex Christenson, host of Brown Bag Bets, joins Cheddar Bets to break down how bettors should think about betting NBA over/unders and player props on a nightly basis.
Sponsored by BetMGM
