Sixers

Trust the Processed Meat

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Nov 20th, 2017 · 11:21 AM EST

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Let’s give the meat pie a big Philadelphia welcome.

The Sixers’ Aussie influence is bleeding into the concession stands at Wells Fargo Center, with a new offering on the menu beginning, I think, tonight against the Jazz.

It’s exactly what it sounds like – meat and gravy inside of a flaky pot-pie looking thing. They sell these at global sporting events but it’s never been a thing in America.

Always looking for new and interesting business pursuits, the Sixers inked a partnership with Four’n Twenty, the Australian company that makes the pies. They’ll sell their “traditional beef pie” at games:

We're pumped to announce @FOURNTWENTY partnership with the @sixers Our traditional beef pies available courtside now.#4N20sixers pic.twitter.com/Vlp26iDbdk

— FOUR'N TWENTY (@FOURNTWENTY) November 20, 2017

(basketball and hat not included)

Ben Simmons is, of course, from Australia, and Brett Brown spent years coaching down under, so the marketing connection is a no-brainer.

Brown is quoted in a piece by Melbourne’s Herald Sun:

Brown predicted Americans would fall in love with pies with “the market there to penetrate.”

“It’s such a part of the Australian culture,’’ he said.

“What the hotdog is to America, the meat pie is to Australia.

“It’s just part of the fabric of the nation and I think it’s an interesting and logical relationship and we look forward to helping them.’’

ESPN Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell gave one a try this morning:

The @sixers, inspired by Australian star Ben Simmons, are now selling Meat Pies at their games. I put them to the taste test this morning. pic.twitter.com/vgtSDaeLcv

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 20, 2017

Give him a break with the cutlery use. The whole point is to show consumers what’s inside the damn thing, so yea, he’s gonna cut it open with a fork and a knife. Dude isn’t sitting there in section 117 eating it the same way.

Apparently we’re going to get our own taste testing tonight:

Welcome to the fam, @FOURNTWENTY! Look forward to serving these in the press room tonight prior to Sixers-Jazz. Team continues to attract global support! #4N20Sixers https://t.co/XEyw98z9Pv

— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) November 20, 2017

I’ll try to get my hands one of these, just gotta get there before the newspaper guys eat them all.