76ers Fieldhouse Celebrates Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
June 26, 2019 2:12 pmWILMINGTON, DEL. – June 26, 2019 – Governor John Carney and Mayor Mike Purzycki joined representatives from The Buccini/Pollin Group and BPG|SPORTS on Monday, June 24 at 4pm, to celebrate the grand opening of the 76ers Fieldhouse, the 161,000 sq.ft. multipurpose sports complex and elite youth training center at 401 Garasches Lane in Wilmington, DE.
Individuals in attendance included Megan McGlinchey, Executive Director of Riverfront Wilmington Development Corporation, City Council President Hanifa Shabazz, 4th District Council Member Michelle Harlee, Chris Heck, President of Philadelphia 76ers, Larry Meli, President of Delaware Blue Coats, Robert Buccini, Co-President of The Buccini/Pollin Group and Michael Hare, Executive Vice-President of the Buccini/Pollin Group.
(shown left to right) President H. Wesley Schwandt, Project Coordinator Brenden Callahan, Project Engineer Bryan Haldeman, Superintendent Chris Terzaghi, Superintendent Vinnie Troise, Senior Superintendent Brent Biddle, Senior Project Manager Ryan Givler, Executive Vice President John Groth
“We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate grand opening of the 76ers Fieldhouse, which welcomed an NBA G League team to our city, and helped connect development along the banks of the Christina River,” said Governor John Carney. “More importantly, this facility has expanded opportunities for kids in Wilmington to participate in sports activities and attracted even more visitors to our great state. Thank you to the 76ers organization and the Buccini/Pollin Group for their commitment to Delaware and their continued partnership.”
“Today, we celebrate the 76ers Fieldhouse as a premier destination for great basketball development, while also providing valuable resources to this area’s youth,” said Chris Heck, President of Philadelphia 76ers. “As a resident of Delaware, it’s incredible to see the growth of a community when civic leaders commit to positive change. We are so excited to follow their lead and truly engage in a meaningful and impactful way.”
Home to the Philadelphia 76ers G-league affiliate the Delaware Blue Coats, the facility’s 2,500-person arena with three full-sized NBA regulated basketball courts opened in January to accommodate for the Blue Coats’ season.
Monday’s guests were thrilled to celebrate the completion of the facility’s indoor and outdoor turf fields, which both hosted youth soccer and lacrosse camps during the event. The completed 76ers Fieldhouse currently offers youth programming and clinics for basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, football, and baseball in addition to various adult leagues through Delaware Sports Leagues.
Less than one year after the groundbreaking ceremony last August, the 76ers Fieldhouse has opened its doors to thousands of visitors for a wide variety of events, ranging from tournaments and camps to concerts and graduation ceremonies. Notable events include the Wendell Smallwood Pro Football Camp, Stormin Norman Reunion Classic, SL24 Memorial Tournament, Delaware Public Safety tournament for Wilmington’s first responders, 93.7 WSTS Snow Jam with O.A.R, BYDAWAY Bash with Cardi B., JP Morgan Chase Corporate Away Day with Natasha Bedingfield, and many more.
Most recently the Fieldhouse welcomed over 800 inner city youth for the free Future Soccer Stars Foundation “City on a Pitch” PlayDay. Thus far, an estimated 3,700 Wilmington Youth have participated in free sports programming at the 76ers Fieldhouse, proudly executing BPG|SPORT’s mission to provide quality sports programing for underserved youth. The 76ers Fieldhouse will also host a live broadcasting of ESPN’s “First Take” with commentator Stephen A. Smith this September for Wilmington’s annual HBCU Week and College Fair.
“Last Friday here at the 76ers Fieldhouse was truly the revelation of everything that we set out to accomplish with this facility for our community, from the 800 smiling faces of our inner-city youth during the City on the Pitch event that morning to the announcement from Stephen A. Smith later that afternoon accepting his role as the HBCU ambassador for over 1,700 students who will participate in our HBCU week at the Fieldhouse this fall,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki.“We are extremely proud to welcome the 76ers Fieldhouse to the City of Wilmington, and our gratitude to Buccini/Pollin and the 76ers organization for placing their faith in our great city.”
The variety of complimentary programing available ensures that the 76ers Fieldhouse is a resource for everyone in the community, regardless of previous sports experience or socioeconomic background.
Not only is the 76ers Fieldhouse a resource for the community, but it also due to a number of community partners that it is standing here today.
“The success of the 76ers Fieldhouse is due to the continued support from a number of organizations who believed in our vision to build a world class sports facility for our community right here in Wilmington,” said Rob Buccini, Co-Found of The Buccini/Pollin Group. “I couldn’t be more grateful to the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, Riverfront Development Corporation, WSFS Bank, and BPGS Construction who worked with a mission to successfully complete the facility on an accelerated timeline.”
Tenants Titus Sports Academy and Nemours Children’s Health System were also officially welcomed to the Fieldhouse yesterday during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Titus Sports Academy, founded in 2001, focuses on long-term athletic development and optimization through training, nutrition and recovery plans based on specific needs of each sport, level or mission. Titus utilizes technological assessment, evaluation and management tools that allow all athletes the opportunity to improve.
Nemours is an internationally recognized children’s health system that owns and operates the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, along with outpatient facilities in the tri-state area pediatric primary, specialty and urgent care. Nemours provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to families in the communities it serves.
For more details on upcoming programing and events at the 76ers Fieldhouse, please visit www.76ersfieldhouse.com.
Click here for photos from the grand opening. Image credit should be given to Moonloop Photography.
About The Buccini/Pollin Group
The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc. (Buccini/Pollin) is a privately held, integrated real estate acquisition, development and management company with offices in Washington DC, Wilmington, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Buccini/Pollin has developed and acquired hotel, office, residential, retail, and parking properties throughout the United States. Buccini/Pollin has acquired, developed and owns real estate assets having a value in excess of $5.0 billion, including over 40 hotels, 6 million square feet of office and retail space, 15 major residential communities and multiple entertainment venues, such as Talen Energy Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer team, and the 76ers Fieldhouse, home of their G-League affiliate team the Delaware Blue Coats. The principals of Buccini/Pollin, along with PM Hotel Group (hotel operating company), BPG Real Estate Services (office property management and leasing), ResideBPG (residential property management and leasing), BPGS Construction (construction management), oversee all aspects of project acquisition, finance, development, construction, leasing, operations, and disposition for its portfolio properties. The Buccini/Pollin Group has over 3,500 employees in 15 states. For more information, please visit www.bpgroup.net.
About BPG|SPORTS
BPG|SPORTS is a dynamic sports management and investment company. Our team, in collaboration with The Buccini/Pollin Group, provides a comprehensive set of resources to provide best in class sports experiences. We have industry leading expertise in operations, facility management, marketing and finance, as well as construction and development. At BPG|SPORTS, our mission is clear: We help build communities, promote health and encourage sportsmanship through our world class sports facilities.
BPG|SPORTS has a proven track record. From our development efforts for the Philadelphia Union’s Talen Energy Stadium to our ownership and management of the 76ers Fieldhouse, BPG|SPORTS implements innovative programing and sets the standard in the sports industry.
For more information please visit us at bpgroup.net or call us at 610-996-0425.
