When news broke that the 76ers were considering leaving Philadelphia to play their home games in Camden, many believed the NBA team was bluffing, looking for leverage as they weighed their future options.

But Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen is taking the possibility seriously, calling the possible move to South Jersey a “generational investment” in his community.

“We control what we can control,” the mayor said. “I try not to get involved with, you know, the emotions of it all. I have a job to do every day and that’s to try to make our city a better place and work with all the different entities involved and stakeholders in our community.”

New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority has made a serious pitch to the Sixers; up to $800 million in tax incentives if they build an arena and mixed-use development on a state-owned plot of land that used to house a prison, $500 in special purpose bonds, and free (or nearly free) use of said land.

The 76ers ownership group, which also owns the New Jersey Devils, is actively looking for a new home for the 76ers to begin play for the 2031-2032 season.