Although the rain relentlessly poured down throughout the night, nothing could damper the spirits of the Philadelphia faithful who gathered at Eakins Oval to witness the 2016 NBA Draft.
As was expected, thousands of Sixers fans attended the fun-filled Draft Party, which was sponsored by DraftKings. Season-ticket holders, Philadelphia locals and out-of-town fans all gathered to mingle and help usher in a new age of 76ers basketball.
Leading up to the event, hype surrounded the city of Philadelphia, as fans and media outlets debated whom the Sixers should take. The anticipation for this year’s draft was expected, but entirely understandable.
For the first time since 1996, the Sixers held the first overall draft pick. Excitement was in the air, as fans understood the pedigree that accompanies a top draft pick. When the Sixers picked first in ’96, the team nabbed Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson, who has etched his name into Philadelphia sports lure.
Philadelphia possessing the first overall pick was also significantly hyped because many viewed it as the turning point for a franchise that endured a lot of suffering over the past few seasons.
The Draft Party officially began at 5 p.m., but that didn’t stop fans from getting to Eakins Oval as early as 3:50 p.m. The hype brought over 3,500 people to Eakins Oval, as lines of fans nearly poured out into the streets of Philadelphia.
After fans were waved in by security and ticket-checkers, they were given a free T-shirt, which marked the beginning of the fun.
Before the NBA commissioner announced whom the 76ers would be taking, fans were able to enjoy a slew of entertainment and food.
A litany of vendors, ranging from Chick-fil-A to the Philadelphia Pretzel Factory, provided fans their services. Food trucks were lined up on the perimeter of the enormous tent, ensuring fans could eat their food without getting rained on.
For the adults, the MillerCoors beer garden was a popular destination, as fans were given two free drinks, courtesy of the 76ers.
Kids weren’t left out, however, as there was a high-end Kid Zone, featuring a myriad of inflatables, boardwalk-style games and more to enjoy. Fans were also treated to the Sixers Dream Team dancers, as well as the always-exciting Phlight Squad dunk squad. Additionally, beloved mascot Franklin made an appearance, as well.
A sport court was assembled by Sixers staff to hold contests for the fans, as well as to provide a location for a live DJ.
Additionally, 76ers legends occupied the event. Julius Erving, World B. Free, Eric Snow, Clarence Weatherspoon and the aforementioned Iverson all made guest appearances and met fans.
At times, the draft party resembled less of a basketball event and more of a night out at Dave & Buster’s to an outsider’s perspective.
But that all changed when the NBA Draft officially started.
As the Philadelphia 76ers were put on the clock, the level of excitement throughout the draft party rose to gargantuan levels. Fans patiently awaited NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to approach the podium to announce whom would be this year’s top pick.
Finally, Silver made his way to the podium, the ESPN broadcast played the music signifying the pick was in, and the entire Draft Party was as quiet as a church mouse.
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The soporific volume-level didn’t last long, though. As Silver announced the 76ers had selected LSU forward Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick, the entire Draft Party erupted. The raucous crowd celebrated with one another, soaking in the positive vibes.
Despite the Sixers no longing being on the clock until the 24th pick, the energy level ceased to die down. While the Sixers fans waited to hear who would be joining Simmons in this year’s rookie class, a video of Ben Simmons’ private workout with the team was showcased on the big screen. The crowd watched on in awe, as the 76ers fans realized a superstar was coming to the City of Brotherly Love.
As fans funneled out of the Draft Party, smiles, excitement and positive energy were easy to find. Despite the positive energy and excitement, Sixers fans are certainly hoping Thursday night was the last time the team holds the top pick for a long time.
