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Tensions Rapidly Rising Between the NBA and NHL After Scheduling Issues Surface

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Austin Kelly
July 22, 2023  (4:58 PM)
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Philadelphia 76ers Co-Owner David Adelman had strong comments over scheduling between the 76ers and the Philadelphia Flyers.

76ers Owner Questioning Scheduling Fairness

Adelman appeared to hint at preferential treatment towards the Flyers against the 76ers, both of whom play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Adelman said that he feels that the Flyers are given the first pick of the crop in terms of getting better dates, citing examples such as Holiday games which don't go in the 76ers favor.

"When you look at our schedule, we play more 5-out-of-7 nights and more back to backs than anyone else in the league, on average. We've been home once for Christmas the last 11 years....The way the schedule works is the Flyers get their dates, the concerts get their dates, and then we get the rest. You don't see us with a lot of weekend day games, but you see the Flyers with a lot of them."

The 76ers, despite having the recent NBA MVP in superstar Joel Embiid, Adelman feels that there isn't enough to accommodate the Sixers. Embiid, who has led the NBA in scoring the past 2 seasons, being one of the top players in the league, is a major draw for the 76ers, who have been a perennial playoff team with his emergence. There is a potential argument there that the 76ers would hold more prestige over the Flyers currently, on top of the factor of having a reigning MVP in Embiid, the 76ers have made the playoffs in 6 straight seasons, dating back to the 2018 Playoffs, where the Flyers have not made the Playoffs in the last 3 NHL seasons.

Flyers Respond To Bias Allegations

Flyers Chairman Dan Hilferty pushed back on Adelman's comments, saying that both teams have an equal amount of fairness in determing what games are played.

"What is true is that we have a fair, back-and-forth, shared approach to scheduling. Sometimes we win, sometimes (the Sixers) win.....just based on whose turn it is."

As well, Hilferty said that he was bothered by Adelman's comments, saying that the 76ers are not disadvantaged.

"Nobody has an advantage. And 98% of the events that we'd like to have here, we get here. But it's the one thing that does upset me about the rhetoric that's coming from the Sixers is that they're disadvantaged in that way."

One could point to the dueling words of Adelman and Hilferty to the ongoing dispute over the sharing of Wells Fargo. Adelman is the project leader of a planned arena in Philadelphia, which would host the 76ers by 2031. The Flyers have also been invited as a potential host at the arena in Center City, as opposed to the Wells Fargo Center, owned by Comcast Spectator, in which Dan Hilferty is Chairman and CEO.

Could the current dispute be just a division between two dueling parties? Hilferty's active leadership role in the Flyers and Wells Fargo Center is in contrast to Adelman's planned vision to do the same with the 76ers and Center City. Hilferty has said prior that he would rather both teams stay at Wells Fargo. Adelman's questions ponder the impact the 76ers have at Wells Fargo, and whether Hilferty's control over both parties handicaps the Sixers, although there isn't evidence to suggest so.

Either way, it's clear there's more here beyond the surface, and it's clear the 76ers Front Office are less than happy.

Read More at Flyers Insider - Turmoil between the Sixers and Flyers arise due to the scheduling issues

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Tensions Rapidly Rising Between the NBA and NHL After Scheduling Issues Surface

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