Fixing The Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers are no longer a Comcast-Spectacor commodity and the first order of business for the new owners was to slash ticket prices.

The new owners – and there are a lot of them – announced the reduced prices at their first press conference Oct. 18. Tickets for nearly 9,000 seats at the Wells Fargo Center will be reduced. Dramatically reduced. Tickets priced at $101 will now be $54. Tickets at $54 will be $29.

The owners also launched NewSixersOwner.com to solicit fan feedback in an attempt to energize “one of the weakest and passionless fan bases in Philadelphia sports,” as characterized by AP sports writer Dan Geltson.

The ownership group is led by buyout specialist Joshua Harris and includes former Vail Resort CEO Adam Aron among seven others. Investors include actors Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

They’ve already fired general manager Ed Stefanski, and team president Rod Thorn will assume greater day-to-day control of the franchise. Doug Collins will remain coach and was praised by the owners at the press conference.

The one thing they did not talk about were players – because the NBA lockout bans specific talk about players and a blueprint to build a championship team.

Comcast-Spectacor bought the Sixers from Harold Katz in 1996. The company also owns the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, which play at Wells Fargo Center as well.