*By Brian Henry*
The Delaware Blue Coats will make their debut Wednesday night at the brand new Philadelphia 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del., and the team will share the spotlight with an arena that boasts five stories, can seat 2,500 fans, and includes three NBA-regulation basketball courts.
But flashy as the arena may be, it was designed with a less glamorous intention ー to promote youth sports in the state of Delaware and the greater Philadelphia region.
"It's so different than anything that we've ever seen. On the other side of this basketball court in this arena we have a full-size football field, soccer field, lacrosse field, we have sports rehab," said Chris Heck, the president of the Philadelphia 76ers.
"It's all geared towards youth. We have retail shops, concessions, there's parking gear," he added.
According to Heck, the Fieldhouse is an ideal setup for an NBA development team like the Blue Coasts, members of the G League.
Heck said the stadium is such a draw that "when we're at the 76ers \[home stadium\] we sell out every game. There's an incredible demand for tickets. This gives us an opportunity, right down the road, about 26 miles from South Philadelphia, in Wilmington, Delaware, to actually cater to our fans with our G league affiliate."
Ninety-five percent of front row seats have already sold out for the season, which Heck attributes to the Fieldhouse.
"Its small enough where it's going to be a hard ticket to get but it's also small enough where you can really be a part of the action."
The 76ers Fieldhouse will also host adult leagues, tournaments, clinics, play-days and even serve as a concert venue.
Eighteen of the Blue Coats' 24 home games will be played at new 76ers Fieldhouse for the remainder of 2018-19 season.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-delaware-blue-coats-unveil-76ers-fieldhouse-as-their-new-home).
Vanity Fair's Hive + Between Bells. We’re joined by the crew at Vanity Fair's Hive to discuss Kushner, Cook, and Cohn. Between Bells celebrates International Women's Day with Cosmopolitan. Madame Noire, and more.
You don't hear sports and mental health mentioned together often, but that's changing, thanks to a new essay from NBA All-Star Kevin Love. Chat Sports' James Yoder joins Cheddar to discuss how the revelations might change the way we talk about sports.
Athleisure is a competitive industry dominated by giants such as Nike, Lululemon, and Under Armour, but Rhone is betting that it can keep up. Nate Checketts, CEO & Co-Founder of Rhone, a line of men's activewear, was with us to share the company's plan to be a winner in the space.
Pizza Hut is resurrecting its Pie Tops sneakers to celebrate March Madness. Chief Marketing Officer Zipporah Allen joins Cheddar to discuss the kicks' new-and-improved features.
For years, online gaming has been a boys' club. Now women like Emmalee Garrido and Carolyn Noquez are trying to change that.
Emmalee Garrido and Carolyn Noquez have had to work hard to achieve their status as professional gamers, juggling full-time jobs and staying physically healthy for competition.
Val Ackerman, commissioner of the Big East Conference, discusses the Big East Tournament's return to Madison Square Garden. The tournament is in its 36th year at MSG.
Commissioner Val Ackerman told Cheddar that, while she doesn't support pay-for-play for college athletes, top prospects should be allowed to go pro right after high school.
President Trump doubles down on tariffs, saying a trade war doesn't hurt us. Blackberry is suing Facebook. Amazon Prime's former Vice President is heading to Airbnb. Plus, we take a look at the business of marijuana on Cheddar's Cannabiz.
This Changes Things: Advice for the executives and leaders of tomorrow, brought to you by American Express OPEN. On Between Bells: The Bachelor finale and big changes at ESPN. With Popular Science, Us Weekly, and more.
