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Philadelphia 76Ers History

Introduction
The Philadelphia 76ers is one of the oldest franchises in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Although ticket sales have declined as a result of recent poor performance, the team has enjoyed moderate success over the years with two championship titles and a loyal fan base who continue to give their seemingly unconditional support. The team is owned by Comcast Spectacor, which has recently been considering selling the franchise in order to net a profit. Comcast would be in a position to receive the market value of the team, which is estimated at $300M, and continued lease payments from the team to remain playing in the Wachovia Center. Analysts speculate increased risk for the team based on the unknown likelihood for the team to sustain their popularity now that Allen Iverson and Chris Webber have departed. The recent rehiring of Larry Brown to a post in the front office has given avid fans and Philadelphians a renewed sense of optimism as to what the future may hold for their city's team.
The Past (1963 to 1996)
Persona
Establishing a new identity was an early challenge for the Philadelphia 76ers because the remaining team was still closely associated with the Syracuse Nationals franchise they had been in prior years. Management was determined to define their place in the league by gaining the local support and fan loyalty that the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers had achieved through their superior play and hometown spirit. A key component in establishing the 76ers as Philly's team was the acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain, who had been the city's all-time biggest star during his time as a Philadelphia Warrior. Chamberlain's contribution in the 76ers quest for their first NBA title in 1967 won the hearts of Philadelphia fans, and made basketball history by defeating the Boston Celtics in post-season play for the first time in nine seasons.
Professional sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys and New York...