Phantoms Heading to Glen Falls, NY

At a game during this past season, a contigent from Glen Falls, NY including the mayor, were being entertained by Comcast Chairman Ed Snider and other Flyers’ brass.  I wondered what they were doing in Philadelphia and thought that the Phantoms may be heading there since Glen Falls used to have an AHL franchise.  Just announced is that Glen Falls is indeed the Phantoms destination.  It will be sad to see them go, as they provided some entertaining hockey at a price that was more affordable than the Flyers.  We certainly wish them luck as they begin play in their new town.  They also have some new uniforms to go along with their new locale:

Craig Berube Named Assistant Coach

Former Flyers’ tough guy Craig Berube was promoted from head coach of the Phantoms to Flyers’ assistant coach to fill the vacancy caused by the departure of Terry Murray to the Kings.  Former Flyers’ player and former Ottawa Senators head coach John Paddock was named head coach of the Phantoms.

It’s Official: Goodbye Spectrum, Goodbye Phantoms

 The sad news came down officially today as Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider announced that the 2008-09 season would be the last for the Spectrum, the venerable arena that served as the Flyers’ first home when they came into existence in 1967.  Also hosting Sixers’ basketball, the Spectrum was replaced as the teams’ home in 1996 when the new CoreStates (now Wachovia) Center was constructed.  Most organizations felt it was necessary to build modern arenas that offered more amenities than the older stadiums were designed to offer, such as luxury boxes and more open concourses.  Of course, more revenue was generated with the premium seating and this was necessary because player salaries began to rise at higher and higher rates.  Hallowed structures such as the Montreal Forum and Boston Garden were replaced in the 1990s as well.   An entertainment and retail complex will eventually be built on the site of the Spectrum along with a hotel. 

The Spectrum will be greatly missed.  Although its usefulness has in many ways been outlived, there are many great memories that many Philadelphians have about the Spectrum.  Topping my list is the Flyers’ Stanley Cup-winning victory over Boston in 1974, the only time a championship was won by the Flyers or Sixers in Philadelphia. (Other championship-clinching games by those teams occurred on the road).   The Flyers 4-1 victory over the Soviet Red Army team in 1976 would also be a memorable event that occurred there.  The Phantoms of the AHL clinched the Calder Cup there in 1998.  Personally, the first live hockey game I ever saw was at the Spectrum, a pre-season game against Boston in October of 1975.  I still have vivid childhood memories of emerging from the subway into the cold air on a winter evening with the imposing home of my ice hockey heroes looming in the distance.  The air of expectation and excitement as I approached the building is something of which I am reminded still today whenever I enter or even drive past the building.  I suppose the memories will remain even when the Spectrum is gone, but it won’t be quite the same without seeing the arena that has been so much a part of Philadelphia hockey and sports history.  Although the Wachovia Center is great in terms of modern amenities, it doesn’t have quite the same intimacy as the Spectrum.  You just felt closer to the game in that arena and felt that you and the other fans were more intimidating in the more intimate atmosphere.   Remembering my usual seat in the last row of section 51 during the 1980s, there were some great times with the other regulars in that section, especially in the playoffs.  Not quite the same in the new building.

The AHL Phantoms will need to be relocated after next season.  This is another unfortunate casualty of the Spectrum’s demise.  The Flyers’ minor-league affiliate played some good, entertaining hockey at a reasonable price, which was welcome as Flyers’ ticket prices became unaffordably high for many fans.  Allentown and Atlantic City have been mentioned as possible relocations. 

Comcast-Spectacor has set up a web site devoted to the Spectrum: www.rememberthespectrum.com