Christina Renna, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, has seen the recent transformation of Camden firsthand.
From safer streets to better schools to increased business relocation, the city has been on the rise for the past decade. There’s only one thing missing: Increased entertainment and nightlife offerings.
That’s why Renna and the South Jersey Chamber are fully supportive of the state’s pitch to have the Philadelphia 76ers relocate to a new state-of-the-art arena that would anchor a transformative mixed-use project on the waterfront, just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Read more from ROI-NJ:
- State, in aggressive push, giving Sixers details of massive Camden arena project proposal — and huge incentives that come with it
- Sixers: Organization taking N.J. offer to move to Camden ‘seriously’
- Scutari, Coughlin, Sarlo, Greenwald offer strong support for effort to bring Sixers to Camden
- Camden’s Carstarphen sees Sixers relocation as culmination of city’s effort to transform itself
“There are a lot of conversations about how we move the needle to make sure Camden continues to flourish and progress in the right direction,” she said. “We’ve seen the economic development. We’ve seen the job creation. We’ve seen the increase in safety.
“Camden is thriving. This would be the next step.”
Renna said a new arena, which figures to be in use 150-175 nights a year, would spur more restaurant and nightlife options. It could create the need for another new hotel, too — just a few years after the city welcomed its first new hotel in 50 years.
“It checks off so many helpful boxes,” she said.
The proposal was sent to the team by Tim Sullivan, the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. (See full details here.)
Tom Bracken, the CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, is in full support of the effort.
“This would be a great step forward for the state,” he said. “It could be the big boost to really ignite the potential of South Jersey.”
Bracken said it’s not just the jobs, but also the branding that comes with it.
“This would improve our image in the business world,” he said. “It would give the state and South Jersey a higher profile.”
John Harmon, the CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, couldn’t agree more.
“This speaks to (Gov. Phil Murphy’s) legacy and his commitment to community transformation,” he said. “This would be a transformational and impactful event in a city that needs a second chance.
“This would give a city that was once the most dangerous in America another chance at being what it once was: a nice play to live, work and have fun.”
The jobs it would bring to the city of Camden, both during the construction and while the arena is in operation, would be incredibly impactful, too, Harmon said.
“A true game-changer for a generation,” he said.
Bracken agreed.
“The World Cup is going to be great, but that’s a one-shot opportunity,” he said. “This is going to be ongoing, like the impact the Giants and Jets have had in North Jersey.
“This would impact so many things: our image, the economy, the stature of South Jersey. You can’t put a price tag on all of that.”
The price, in fact, would be good news for New Jersey taxpayers.
The multibillion-dollar project would come with tax incentives (and a commitment from the state to improve infrastructure), but it would be self-financed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the entity that owns the Sixers (as well as the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils).
That’s another reason to applaud the proposal, Harmon said.
“There are no negatives here,” he said. “It’s all positive.”
