The Philadelphia 76ers officially unveiled their new G League team identity today, announcing the “Delaware 87ers” will become the “Delaware Blue Coats” at the start of the next G League season this fall.
In addition to changing its name and logo, the team will play in a brand new, state-of-art field house on the Christina Riverfront next season. The reported 140,000 square-foot complex will be able to seat roughly 2,500 fans and will include three full-size basketball courts, in addition to two indoor soccer fields and a performance training center.
Introducing the @blue_coats!https://t.co/KXey7HSt2F | #JoinTheRevolution pic.twitter.com/CWCvFrpgnl
— x – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 28, 2018
Following from Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia:
“It really puts the team in a more proper light to Delaware as well as 76ers fans,” Chris Heck, the Sixers’ president of business operations, said of the Blue Coats’ new name, uniforms and branding.
The name Blue Coats, a tip of the cap to the University of Delaware’s Blue Hens and the Kansas City Royal’s Single-A affiliate Blue Rocks, was inspired by a skilled Revolutionary War regiment led by founding father Caesar Rodney, whose famous horseback ride from Delaware to Philadelphia is depicted on the logo.
“The construction of a new, state-of-the-art 76ers Fieldhouse on the Riverfront and the move of the Delaware Blue Coats to Wilmington are signs that our city is on the move,” Wilmington mayor Mike Purzycki said.
The Delaware Blue Coats, known as the Delaware 87ers for the past five seasons, are currently coached by Eugene Burroughs and managed by former Sixers player Elton Brand.
