why are the 76ers called the 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are called the “76ers” as a direct nod to the year 1776 , when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. The name celebrates the city’s role as the birthplace of American independence and ties the team to that historic moment.

How the name came about

• The franchise began as the Syracuse Nationals in 1949 before being bought and moved to Philadelphia in 1963.

• Owners Irv Kosloff and Ike Richman held a public naming contest , and the winning entry—“76ers”—was submitted by Walter Stalberg.

• “76ers” references 1776 , while fans quickly shortened it to “Sixers ,” which is now the most common way to refer to the team.

Symbols that reinforce the meaning

• The team’s red, white, and blue color scheme mirrors the U.S. flag and reinforces the 1776 theme.

• Their logo sometimes includes 13 stars in a circle , echoing the original Betsy Ross–style flag from the Revolutionary era.

• The mascot Franklin is named after Benjamin Franklin , one of Philadelphia’s most famous Founding Fathers, further tying the brand to local history.

Why “76ers” sticks today

• Unlike many teams named after animals or abstract concepts, the 76ers name is built around a specific historical event , which gives it a strong local identity.

• In recent years the franchise has leaned even harder into this heritage with Liberty Bell imagery , Independence‑themed logos, and marketing that frames the team as part of Philly’s “City of Brotherly Love and 1776” narrative.

So in short: the 76ers are called the 76ers because they’re named after 1776 , the year the Declaration of Independence was signed in their hometown.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.