Could Philadelphia Land the 2017 All-Star Game?

The All-Star game for 2017 will be moved, but the NBA has yet to decide where it will be. The Philadelphia 76ers could be an easy fill-in host.

UPDATED POST: This post has been updated to reflect a conversation with a representative of Comcast Spectator, the group that owns and operates the arena. Update is listed at the bottom.

In light of recent discriminatory laws passed by the state or North Carolina, the NBA decided it was best to help use their significant presence in the state to send a message. Although the league isn’t going to go as far as taking their sole team in the state out and relocating, they did announce recently that they will be moving the upcoming All-Star game that was initially supposed to take place in Charlotte.

Most people agree with the NBA’s decision to move the game. It is very unfortunate for the Charlotte Hornets organization, as they would have benefited greatly from the game in both national exposure and revenue. With the recent re-signing of Nicolas Batum, their organization still seems to be on the up-and-up as far as getting towards deep playoff competition.

The NBA’s act of not supporting the state worked as more than just a symbol. The NBA moving the game reportedly is going to cost North Carolina $100 million.

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Now, the NBA is still left with a difficult task. Booking and planning the logistics of the All-Star game is not a simple thing to do, which is why the league usually has the games locations booked years in advance. The 2018 All-Star game is already set to be played at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

While the league is scrambling to find a venue, Philadelphia may at least be under consideration.

There’s a few reasons the league would look to Philly to bring the game. For one, they could be the most logistically sound place to have the game on a whim since the Wells Fargo Center is housed all the way down in South Philadelphia with the two other sporting venues, which gives a ton of space for parking. Other big-city venues such as New York City make it a drag to find parking near the venue itself.

Philly is housing the Democratic National Convention in the Center this week, a testament to the city and the building’s ability to put on big events with national attention, with little to no logistical issues.

Additionally, the Broad Street Line (SEPTA’s main underground rail system) has a final stop right at the sports complex, so people staying in Center City don’t have to hassle with parking (although long lines after the All-Star festivities are over to get on the BSL will be a nuisance, too).

Aside from logistics, Philadelphia is a major-market city, and is also not too far from the biggest market in America — The Big Apple. New York City is just about an hour away by car, and a pretty swift Amtrak commute as well. It wouldn’t be too difficult for anyone from New York City, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Washington D.C. to get to the game by car, and then figure in any fans who are willing to fly and you should be able to easily have a packed house.

There’s one main reason why this situation is unlikely to play out, despite the Wells Fargo Center making some sense. The league would look a little silly giving the All-Star game, which is seen as a huge privilege, to the team that lost on purpose over the last few years and was the laughingstock of the league. Generally, teams that have been competitive get the All-Star game in their town.

Getting the game would be a great feat for the Sixers, since their mere 48 wins over the last three seasons makes the clear underdogs to get the game in town.

All in all, this situation is highly unlikely. Adam Silver is just now repairing his view of the Sixers after Sam Hinkie’s departure. Although I don’t think it’s far-fetched that Philly may get the All-Star game by, say, 2022, I do not think they will be chosen to house the relocated All-Star game this season.

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If Philly was to get an All-Star game, it would be the fifth time that the annual game would be held in Philadelphia. It would have been the sixth had the 1999 game not been cancelled due to the lockout at the time.

UPDATE, June 28th

A representative of Comcast Spectator, the group that owns and operates the arena, informed The Sixer Sense that the arena has an event booked for All-Star weekend that will prevent them from being able to house the weekend’s festivities. The event is not yet listed on the Wells Fargo Center website since tickets are not on sale for it yet.