Quick Facts: Philadelphia 76ers
| Current Owner | Josh Harris & David Blitzer (Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment) |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Founded | 1946, as the Syracuse Nationals |
| Headquarters / Arena | Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia (moving to new arena ~2031) |
| Acquired | 2011, Harris-led group |
| Sister Franchises (HBSE) | New Jersey Devils (NHL), Crystal Palace FC (part-stake) |
| Championships | 3 NBA titles, most recently 1983 (pre-Harris) |
Who Owns the Philadelphia 76ers?
The Philadelphia 76ers are owned by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, through their firm Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE).
Harris, who also made his fortune at private equity giant Apollo Global Management before striking out with his own investment firm, led the group that bought the team in 2011.
Blitzer, a senior executive at Blackstone, joined as a co-owner and has become Harris’ regular partner across multiple sports investments since.
Together, their HBSE umbrella also controls the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and holds a stake in England’s Crystal Palace FC — making the 76ers one piece of a genuinely multi-sport, multi-league portfolio.
76ers Ownership History
The franchise has deep roots — it’s one of the NBA’s original teams, just under a different name and in a different city.
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Founded as Syracuse Nationals | Danny Biasone | Original NBA/BAA-era franchise |
| 1963 | Team moves to Philadelphia | Irv Kosloff & Ike Richman | Renamed 76ers |
| 1996 | Sold to Comcast Spectacor | Comcast-Spectacor | ~$125 million |
| 2011 | Sold to investor group | Josh Harris-led consortium | ~$280 million |
| 2011–Present | HBSE ownership era | Josh Harris & David Blitzer | Multi-team portfolio expansion |
About Josh Harris & David Blitzer
Josh Harris co-founded Apollo Global Management, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, before launching his own firm and building an increasingly large sports portfolio.
Beyond the 76ers, Harris and Blitzer own the New Jersey Devils, hold a stake in Crystal Palace, and — separately from HBSE — Harris led the group that bought the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023 for a record $6.05 billion.
David Blitzer’s day job is as a senior executive at Blackstone, one of the world’s largest alternative-asset managers, giving the HBSE partnership deep institutional financial backing alongside Harris’ own dealmaking experience.
Key Ownership Highlights
- One of the NBA’s original franchises, twice renamed: From the Syracuse Nationals to the Philadelphia 76ers, the team’s lineage stretches back to the NBA’s earliest years.
- Comcast owned the team before Harris: The Comcast-Spectacor era (1996-2011) tied the 76ers to the same corporate family that also owns the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.
- HBSE is a genuine multi-league operation: Harris and Blitzer’s partnership spans the NBA, NHL, and English football, a rare combination for American sports owners.
- Harris’ Commanders purchase is separate from HBSE: His 2023 record-setting NFL purchase was structured through a different ownership group, though Harris personally leads both.
- A new arena is part of the long-term plan: HBSE has pursued a new Philadelphia arena to replace the aging Wells Fargo Center, with a target timeline extending into the early 2030s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Philadelphia 76ers?
Josh Harris and David Blitzer, through Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, have owned the team since 2011.
Who founded the team that became the 76ers?
Danny Biasone founded the franchise in 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals; it moved to Philadelphia in 1963 and was renamed the 76ers.
What other teams do Josh Harris and David Blitzer own?
Through HBSE, they own the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and hold a stake in Crystal Palace FC. Harris separately led the group that bought the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023.
How much did Harris’ group pay for the 76ers?
Approximately $280 million in 2011, a figure that looks small compared to current NBA franchise valuations.
Has the team changed ownership multiple times?
Yes — from its original Syracuse ownership, to the Philadelphia move under Kosloff and Richman, to Comcast-Spectacor in 1996, to the Harris-Blitzer group in 2011.