The NBA has pushed through the 2020-21 season amid murky waters amidst a global pandemic that has caused the majority of the league to play in empty arenas and, eventually, a limited number of fans. As cases go down and vaccination rates go up, it does seem that there is light at the end of the tunnel and a push to normalcy can really begin.
The Philadelphia 76ers began allowing fans back at the Wells Fargo Center on March 14 when they allowed roughly 3,000 fans. That number since then has increased to around 5,100 at their latest home matchup on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons.
As the playoffs get set to begin, that number is going to increase to around 50% capacity which means that roughly 10,000 fans can return to Wells Fargo Center for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 11, 2021
“That’s up to that 7,000 more mouths yelling, so it’s gonna be a lot louder,” said rookie Tyrese Maxey. “I think it’d be a great advantage. Philly’s crowd, whether it’s 1,000, 2,000, or 22,000 it’s going to be crazy and rowdy and they’re going to be very passionate. We appreciate the fans as always and we can’t wait to get started.”
Maxey has not yet experienced what a full capacity crowd in Philadelphia is like just yet so he does not know how passionate the fans really are, but he is continuing to get a taste as time goes on. With the increase in fans, he can continue to see more people at the Wells Fargo Center.
“You can feel the energy kind of ratchet up,” Maxey added. “It’s funny, I was telling someone on the bench, I feel like every single other game a Wells Fargo that they add 1,000 more people because it seems like it gets louder every single time. That’s been great, but I can’t wait to see what the experience is going to be like. Everybody has always told me that Philly fans are rowdy and it’s hard to play in Philly. So, I’m ready to see it.”
This is big news for the Sixers, especially if they do get the No. 1 seed. That means that the road to the NBA Finals in the East would have to go through the City of Brotherly Love and they will have their fans behind them for the playoff run.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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