Tag: David Blitzer

Paul says he still respects the team’s …

Paul says he still respects the team’s upper management amid the current dispute. “I don’t think the 76ers are a bad organization. Josh Harris and David Blitzer are great governors, they’ve done a great job with the organization. I have respect for Daryl Morey,” Paul said. “Ben has a mental issue, let’s support him. I’m happy he got to a place where he realized and accepted help. I understand it’s a business, but even in business, you need humanity. “I have a great level of respect and love for the city of Philadelphia, as someone who loves the game, but this isn’t about that. This is about Ben getting back to a place mentally where he can be back on the floor — and only Ben can tell us when that is. We have to allow him to do that.”

Sixers team with African American Chamber of Commerce, Black businesses

The Philadelphia 76ers are teaming up with the African American Chamber of Commerce to help Black-owned businesses.

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to step up and help the Black community in the area. After the managing group of Josh Harris and David Blitzer stepped up and donated $20 million in order to help the fight against systematic racism and they then hired David Gould to lead their racial equality initiatives.

Now, the Sixers are teaming up with the African American Chamber of Commerce for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The team wants to help promote more Black-owned businesses in the area and the Sixers will be the title sponsor for the Chamber’s annual event on October 29 which will be held virtually this year.

“This is the start of a great relationship with the African American Chamber of Commerce. As exemplified by the $20 million commitment made by our managing partners earlier this year, we are deeply committed to pushing for racial equity and know that supporting Black-owned businesses is a critical component to that effort,” said Gould via a press release. “The Chamber’s partnership will be critical in helping us reach and support Black-owned businesses, and we’re looking forward to working with the Chamber to ensure that more of these companies can compete and thrive within our region and economy.”

The virtual event will include speaking opportunities, a six-part digital content series highlighting local Black-owned businesses across social media and email, in addition to active recruitment of applicants to participate in the 76ers new upcoming programs supporting Black-owned businesses.

This is another example of Harris, Blitzer, and the rest of the organization stepping up and helping the Black community. In a time where there is a huge civil rights movement going on, it is inspiring to see bigger companies stepping into the fight for equality in the world. [lawrence-related id=38216,38209,38206]

Sixers to hire David Gould as leader of team’s racial equality initiatives

The Philadelphia 76ers have hired David Gould to lead the way for their racial equality initiatives.

On the floor, the Philadelphia 76ers are still trying to pick up the pieces and try to get things going in the right direction again after a disappointing season. Off the floor, the franchise is making strides within the community to push for equality.

In August, the Sixers managing group of Josh Harris and David Blitzer announced their plans to donate $20 million in order to help the Black community and fight systematic racism. Now, they have hired a man to lead the way for them.

They have hired Germantown’s own David Gould as their Chief Diversity and Impact Officer for Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment.

Gould told Danny Pommels of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

“We’re going to do that through investing in Black neighborhoods, investing in Black-owned businesses, supporting programs that are going to help address socioeconomic disparities,” he told Pommells. “My charge is to make sure that we are making good on that commitment, that we think about additional ways that we can have a positive impact in the community.”

Now that the Sixers have leadership in place for this initiative, they can now move forward with the execution and they can continue to be a positive influence in the Philadelphia community. [lawrence-related id=37689,37682,37679]

Sixers managing group to donate $20 million to fight systematic racism

The Philadelphia 76ers managing group is stepping up and donating money to help fight systematic racism.

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The Philadelphia 76ers have stepped up and joined the NBA in its fight against systematic racism going on in the country at the moment. The Sixers have peacefully protested during the national anthem to begin the restart inside the bubble and now they are taking it to another level.

Josh Harris and David Blitzer, the team’s managing group and owners of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, has pledged to donate a total of $20 million to fighting systemic racism and championing equality, including a $10 million contribution from the 76ers to the NBA’s newly-announced foundation to drive economic empowerment in Black communities.

On top of that, Harris and Blitzer are committing a minimum of $2.5 million to be donated to organizations and efforts that improve resident quality of life and further equitable development in Black communities as well as consistent capital commitments into real estate projects that advance community priorities in Black neighborhoods, such as affordable housing, health centers, commercial corridor improvements, among others through their HBSE Real Estate’s Community Advancement Program. The idea is to help revitalize these neighborhoods where their fans are located.

Harris said via a press release:

As leaders and stewards of community pillars, the eyes of the world are on us to do better, and they should be. While we will never be able to correct the past harm and injustice faced by Black Americans, it’s our duty to provide resources that enable tangible action and greater opportunities for equality. We are committing to a fundamental change in our business strategy by embedding our organization with Black communities and businesses through significant and sustained investment and support. We are deeply committed to fighting for a better, more inclusive future and we pledge to be leaders in doing so.

This isn’t the first time Harris and Blitzer have stepped up in a big way to help the Philadelphia community. They made a huge donation to Philabundance back in March to fight hunger and this is another example of the team helping when the time calls for it. [lawrence-related id=36874,36870,36865]

Sixers release statement regarding racial post involving dance team

The Philadelphia 76ers released a statement involving a racial allegation from a former dancer.

Late on Tuesday night, a social media post by a former Philadelphia 76ers dancer caused a stir over Instagram and Twitter as it included some racial accusations against other members of the dance team.

Yahne Coleman, a Black dancer on the team who left in 2013, posted on Instagram that she was racially profiled against by other white members of the team. She claimed that her pictures would be made fun of in the group chat, they would move her belongings to a bathroom stall for her to get ready, and they would threaten her safety. For more detail of what was said, the Instagram post is here.

The Sixers then released a statement that they will be investigating and looking into the matter. They added that the remarks are unacceptable and that they remain committed to creating a culture of inclusion.

This is a bad look on the dance team at the moment and the team’s managing group of Josh Harris and David Blitzer will have some work to do to ensure that this matter gets solved. [lawrence-related id=33789,33782,33770]

Sixers managing group to observe Juneteenth by closing offices, venues

The Philadelphia 76ers will recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday.

The managing group of the Philadelphia 76ers–Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment–has made a big statement on Wednesday. Josh Harris and David Blitzer have stepped forward and have made a significant day in American history an official holiday.

The two men announced that they will recognize and observe Juneteenth as a company holiday. Juneteenth is known as the day to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.

Per a team spokesperson:

Beginning this Friday, June 19, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment will permanently recognize the significance of Juneteenth by closing the offices for all teams, venues and companies within its portfolio so employees may spend the day renewing their commitment to fostering a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and equality, commensurate with organizational values; as we seek to combat systemic racism and injustice through our powerful platform of sports and entertainment.

This is a big step forward for the Sixers and the world as a whole to be able to come together in unity and combat the systematic racism in America right now.  [lawrence-related id=33178,33169,33162]

Sixers managing group of Josh Harris, David Blitzer invest in Steelers

The Philadelphia 76ers managing group has made an investment in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Philadelphia 76ers managing group of Josh Harris and David Blitzer is continuing to make strides forward on investing in other teams during this time. After a report came out earlier that the two were interested in buying MLB’s the New York Mets, they now are turning their attention to the NFL.

Harris and Blitzer are now making an investment in the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to a report by Bloomberg, the two of them are making a small investment in the team.

Bloomberg:

Josh Harris and David Blitzer acquired a stake of less than 5% in the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this year, according to two people familiar with the transaction. While no details on price were available, the pair of financiers may have paid as much as $140 million, based on the $2.8 billion value Forbes estimated for the NFL franchise last September.

The two will not be involved in the day-to-day activity for Pittsburgh, but they will provide support to Art Rooney II.

It will be interesting to see how Harris and Blitzer handle their responsibilities to the Sixers and now the Steelers as well. [lawrence-related id=33059,33052,33040]

Report: Sixers owner Josh Harris interested in putting in bid for Mets

The New York Mets are the sixth-highest valued franchise in MLB, according to Forbes.

Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris is in the market for buying a stake of another pro sports team.

Harris, who also owns the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, is interested in putting in a bid for the New York Mets, per Scott Soshnick of Variety. Harris, along with his managing partner David Blitzer, “are among the suitors for the New York Mets, according to people familiar with the matter.”

The Wilpons, the family that currently runs the team, are still looking to sell the franchise after negotiations of the deal with Steve Cohen crumbled by February, per David Capobianco of SB Nation.  

The Sixers’ net worth is $2 billion, according to Forbes. Harris bought them for $280 million in 2011. The Mets finished 86-76 last season and were third in the NL East.

They haven’t gone to the playoffs since 2016, when they lost in the National League wild card game to the San Francisco Giants. According to Forbes, the Mets’ net worth is currently $2.4 billion, making them the sixth-highest valued franchise in MLB.

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