DXFlyers
Registered Trader
From the Delco times Saturday:
It's end of the line for the Spectrum By Anthony SanFilippo, Times Sports
Columnist 06/28/2008
Like an inmate awaiting his death sentence, the Wachovia Spectrum sits idly
where it has for the past 41 years at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison
Avenue in South Philadelphia. Come autumn, however, it will be alive and as
vibrant as ever. That's because the building will celebrate its 42nd birthday in
grand style, with a year-long honorarium as fans and players alike will pay
tribute to what was once known as "America's Showplace."That's quite
appropriate, since it won't live to see birthday No. 43.
The Daily Times learned Friday that the Spectrum's end would come sometime next
summer. As first reported in these pages, the Spectrum will be imploded to build
a chic hotel as part of a significant entertainment initiative known as "Philly
Live!"
It will be a destination location for sports fans and party denizens, one set to
be built in the parking lot currently located between the Spectrum and the
Wachovia Center.
Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider and president and chief operating officer
Peter Luukko originally tried to do some fancy downplaying on the building
implosion. Although they admitted that "Philly Live!" was going to be a reality,
they also tried to push the notion that the demolition of the Spectrum was not,
well, an obit written in stone.
There was chatter that they might try to save the Spectrum and build a hotel in
a different part of the stadium complex. But really, the best alternative all
along was to use the hotel as an anchor for the new development project, with it
dropped right where the Spectrum sits now and has sat for more than 40 years.
So the kaboom will come. Comcast executives aren't saying anything publicly, but
they aren't denying the demolition is coming, either. Nor are they currently
offering up alternative ideas to save the Spectrum."We probably will know
something definitive in the next couple of weeks," is all Luukko would offer
Thursday.
The thing is, The Cordish Co., the developer hired by Comcast to build "Philly
Live!" is in the final process of securing all of the permits necessary from the
Philadelphia city officials to begin the construction of the project. Some of
those permits pertain to blowing up the Spectrum.
Therefore, demolition is inevitable, and as big a Philadelphia sports fan as Ed
Rendell is, there will be no telephone call from the governor to stay this
execution. Unlike the emotionless leaders of the Eagles, who very publicly paid
Veterans Stadium a "Good Riddance," Snider and Luukko are savvy enough to know
they need to throw a heck of a going away party for the building, even if the
76ers and the Flyers have not played a game there in a dozen years.
That's because in Philadelphia, there is an emotional attachment to sports
venues that is hard to explain. Maybe it's because some people grew up in these
venues. Anybody between the ages of 25 and 54 spent a majority of their lives
cheering for their favorite hockey and basketball teams in the Spectrum.
That's why Comcast is planning to give those fans one last chance to relive the
past.They wanted to move a 76ers game to the Spectrum last March, but backed out
because too much planning was needed to get the game moved to a new venue in
such a short period of time.Not now. The team has plenty of time, and it's all
but guaranteed a regular season Sixers game will take place at the Spectrum next
season.Here's one vote for it to be against the World Champion Boston Celtics.
(Don't you love to hear those four dirty words, Sixers fans?)
As for the Flyers, they have too many season ticketholders to squeeze a regular
season game into the old barn. But in all likelihood, the Flyers will move a
preseason game there for fans to wax nostalgic. Expect more fun and festivities
to be in the works soon.
The Spectrum salute will come off in grand fashion. Certainly the Phantoms will
mark their 13-year existence in that home before shipping off to parts unknown.
And don't be surprised if a concert or two will be played there instead of the
Center, especially if it's someone like Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen, who
rocked the Spectrum for many years before the Center was even a twinkle in
Snider's eye.
While that's all good, what will become of those Phantoms, and the KIXX, of
indoor soccer fame?Well, the KIXX are without a league right now. The MISL
disbanded earlier this month, although owners remain optimistic they will form a
new league. So whatever teams they can line up for games, the KIXX will only get
to play those games for one more season in the Spectrum before seeking a new
home elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Phantoms are probably ticketed for Atlantic City for a few years
while plans for a new arena are developed for the Allentown area. While the
Phantoms will likely be based in A.C., they will probably play a handful of
games in Philadelphia on the few open dates available at the Wachovia Center.
But all of that's a full calendar year away. For now, it's time to prepare to
send the building off into the sunset. The right people are in charge to assure
that grand goodbye takes place in style.
It's end of the line for the Spectrum By Anthony SanFilippo, Times Sports
Columnist 06/28/2008
Like an inmate awaiting his death sentence, the Wachovia Spectrum sits idly
where it has for the past 41 years at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison
Avenue in South Philadelphia. Come autumn, however, it will be alive and as
vibrant as ever. That's because the building will celebrate its 42nd birthday in
grand style, with a year-long honorarium as fans and players alike will pay
tribute to what was once known as "America's Showplace."That's quite
appropriate, since it won't live to see birthday No. 43.
The Daily Times learned Friday that the Spectrum's end would come sometime next
summer. As first reported in these pages, the Spectrum will be imploded to build
a chic hotel as part of a significant entertainment initiative known as "Philly
Live!"
It will be a destination location for sports fans and party denizens, one set to
be built in the parking lot currently located between the Spectrum and the
Wachovia Center.
Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider and president and chief operating officer
Peter Luukko originally tried to do some fancy downplaying on the building
implosion. Although they admitted that "Philly Live!" was going to be a reality,
they also tried to push the notion that the demolition of the Spectrum was not,
well, an obit written in stone.
There was chatter that they might try to save the Spectrum and build a hotel in
a different part of the stadium complex. But really, the best alternative all
along was to use the hotel as an anchor for the new development project, with it
dropped right where the Spectrum sits now and has sat for more than 40 years.
So the kaboom will come. Comcast executives aren't saying anything publicly, but
they aren't denying the demolition is coming, either. Nor are they currently
offering up alternative ideas to save the Spectrum."We probably will know
something definitive in the next couple of weeks," is all Luukko would offer
Thursday.
The thing is, The Cordish Co., the developer hired by Comcast to build "Philly
Live!" is in the final process of securing all of the permits necessary from the
Philadelphia city officials to begin the construction of the project. Some of
those permits pertain to blowing up the Spectrum.
Therefore, demolition is inevitable, and as big a Philadelphia sports fan as Ed
Rendell is, there will be no telephone call from the governor to stay this
execution. Unlike the emotionless leaders of the Eagles, who very publicly paid
Veterans Stadium a "Good Riddance," Snider and Luukko are savvy enough to know
they need to throw a heck of a going away party for the building, even if the
76ers and the Flyers have not played a game there in a dozen years.
That's because in Philadelphia, there is an emotional attachment to sports
venues that is hard to explain. Maybe it's because some people grew up in these
venues. Anybody between the ages of 25 and 54 spent a majority of their lives
cheering for their favorite hockey and basketball teams in the Spectrum.
That's why Comcast is planning to give those fans one last chance to relive the
past.They wanted to move a 76ers game to the Spectrum last March, but backed out
because too much planning was needed to get the game moved to a new venue in
such a short period of time.Not now. The team has plenty of time, and it's all
but guaranteed a regular season Sixers game will take place at the Spectrum next
season.Here's one vote for it to be against the World Champion Boston Celtics.
(Don't you love to hear those four dirty words, Sixers fans?)
As for the Flyers, they have too many season ticketholders to squeeze a regular
season game into the old barn. But in all likelihood, the Flyers will move a
preseason game there for fans to wax nostalgic. Expect more fun and festivities
to be in the works soon.
The Spectrum salute will come off in grand fashion. Certainly the Phantoms will
mark their 13-year existence in that home before shipping off to parts unknown.
And don't be surprised if a concert or two will be played there instead of the
Center, especially if it's someone like Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen, who
rocked the Spectrum for many years before the Center was even a twinkle in
Snider's eye.
While that's all good, what will become of those Phantoms, and the KIXX, of
indoor soccer fame?Well, the KIXX are without a league right now. The MISL
disbanded earlier this month, although owners remain optimistic they will form a
new league. So whatever teams they can line up for games, the KIXX will only get
to play those games for one more season in the Spectrum before seeking a new
home elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Phantoms are probably ticketed for Atlantic City for a few years
while plans for a new arena are developed for the Allentown area. While the
Phantoms will likely be based in A.C., they will probably play a handful of
games in Philadelphia on the few open dates available at the Wachovia Center.
But all of that's a full calendar year away. For now, it's time to prepare to
send the building off into the sunset. The right people are in charge to assure
that grand goodbye takes place in style.
