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Philly Youth Basketball Opens $36 Million Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center
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You know the Sixers superfan who sits in the front row near the team bench? Alan Horwitz? This week was the ribbon cutting and grand opening of a humongous big youth facility in Nicetown with his name on it:
PHILADELPHIA, PA –Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) recently held a ribbon-cutting celebration and grand opening of the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, a newly renovated, $36 million, 100,000 square-foot facility located in Nicetown, North Philadelphia.
Providing remarks at the ribbon cutting were Ameen Akbar, PYB’s Chief Mission Officer; Philadelphia Mayor, Cherelle Parker; Pennsylvania State Senator, Vincent Hughes; donor, Alan Horwitz; and Kenny Holdsman, PYB’s Co-Founder and CEO.
“Over ten years ago, we embarked on creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for Philly youth, and turning our dream into reality,” said Holdsman. “And the process was neither straight nor smooth, but the pride and grit demonstrated by everyone involved made it worth every challenge. I am so filled with gratitude as we embark on this new chapter for PYB and officially open the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center.”
As a youth empowerment organization, PYB utilizes basketball not only as a sport but as a vehicle to address and overcome some of the most pressing and systemic issues in underserved communities. The Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center will stand as a “third-place” for the city’s youth—a safe haven where they can enjoy basketball and benefit from workforce development, health and wellness programs, entrepreneurial training, and beyond.
“This special and powerful space is everything that PYB has envisioned since 2015” said Akbar. “It represents our mission within middle schools, recreation centers, and college campuses. It’s a reminder of the countless supporters and stakeholders who helped us get here. Today, our dream has materialized, allowing us to create a culture in a place we call our own.”
The bond between Co-Founder Kenny Holdsman and Eric Worley, who created the Philly Triple Threat AAU program, led to the creation of PYB. Their shared vision and the support they garnered have culminated in the establishment of the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center. Holdsman’s determination to embody an authentic commitment to racial equity has only strengthened their strides in building an inclusive and impactful organization.
In keeping with the center’s commitment to racial and gender equity, the Sixth Man Center partnered with Pride Enterprises (BME), Voith and Mactavish Architects (WME), and D3 Development. The construction of the center was carried out by Black-owned businesses, Black workers, and Black apprentices, ensuring that the facility’s development was a community effort.
The center features seven basketball courts—six main courts and a seventh “early development” court for toddlers. In addition to basketball, the facility will house a multimedia lab; a café; a financial empowerment center for internships, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship; a civic engagement arena; a gym and mental wellness services.
Following the opening, PYB will embark on Phase Two of their project: a $20 million workforce development and economic opportunity generator focused on aiding teenagers transitioning into adulthood. This phase will include a skill-building training academy, a community health center, and an entrepreneurship accelerator program.
The Sixth Man Center is up on Wissahickon Avenue next to the Salvation Army building, or “The Kroc” as we call it. Horwitz is the founder of Campus Apartments and has been going to Sixers games for as long as I can remember. He’s a basketball nut and co-owner David Adelman’s mentor. Horwitz has done a lot of philanthropy over the years and donated to a lot of great causes, like the Holocaust Memorial Plaza on the Parkway.
Some photos from the event courtesy of PYB:
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com