The Spectrum begins to crumble: A sad day in South Philly

by Travis Hughes on Nov 23, 2010 3:45 PM EST in Philadelphia Flyers News

PHILADELPHIA -- It's kind of weird. If you go down to the corner of Broad and Pattison in South Philadelphia right now, the Spectrum is still standing. In fact, if you're standing on the Pattison Avenue side of the building and you ignore the chain link fence and the lack of landscaping, it looks like the Flyers could play inside tonight.

Then, when you walk around to the other side of the building -- the side that faces the "Wells, um... Fargo... whatever Center" as Ed Snider so aptly put it this afternoon -- it looks a lot like 1967 when the wind blew a hole in the roof of the Spectrum, forcing the Flyers to play most of their inaugural season on the road in Quebec City. It's just on the side this time.

So just patch that thing up and we'll be ready to play hockey again, right?

Sadly, that won't be the case. After today, the demolition crew will continue to slowly take the Spectrum down piece by piece. There will be no implosion like we saw with Veterans Stadium seven years ago. It will be a slow process. Within a few months, though, the Spectrum will be completely gone and Philly Live! will be on its way. Peter Luukko has said that they plan on having Philly Live! ready for the start of baseball in 2012, so construction will be here before we know it. Progress or something.

Today was about remembering, though. Dr. J and Bernie Parent and Bobby Clarke and Snider all talked about their memories before the wrecking ball made its first strike. When it was time for the orange ball to smack the side of the building for the first time, it was a bit anti-climactic. It didn't even do any damage and it took several strikes before a brick even fell.

After about 10 or 15 minutes, they smashed out some windows for effect and there was a sizable hole in the brick, but the jokes were already flowing.

"Use Pronger's elbows instead! We're gonna be here til June! Jesus, even Crosby hits harder than this! Must be this guy's first day on the job!"

You get the point. Today wasn't really about the actual demolition of the Spectrum, at least in my eyes. It was more of a chance to officially say goodbye, like visiting an old friend on their death bed. It's not quick like a Band-Aid.

I didn't cry or even feel really all that sad today, probably because I know when I head down to the Sports Complex on Friday for the Flyers game, the Spectrum will still be there in some form. It's not until the building is actually completely gone that it'll hit me, and I think a lot of the people down there today had the same feeling.

We'll have video of the entire demolition as soon as YouTube decides to cooperate.

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In true Philladelphia style, are they gonna sell the bricks?

DCCGDP 13,28,36

by Cillo stache on Nov 23, 2010 3:56 PM EST reply actions

39.95 a piece.

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Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. 2010 Eastern Conference Champions.

by Travis Hughes on Nov 23, 2010 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

By “piece” do you mean a whole brick, or a busted chunk of wrecking-ball’d brick? :-p

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!

by hintzy64 on Nov 23, 2010 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

It better be a brick for 40 bucks.

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Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. 2010 Eastern Conference Champions.

by Travis Hughes on Nov 23, 2010 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

If it was something in MD, it’d be $40 for a microscopic speck of brick-colored dust.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!

by hintzy64 on Nov 24, 2010 5:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

So Ed Snider plans to build Philly live on the site of the Spectrum, waiting ever impatiently for the day when he will be allowed to build a casino there. I get that. He has a plan!
My question is what is his plan for the next hockey rink?
I know its 10-15 years down the road, but where dose he plan to fit the rink which will eventually replace the ~~Spectrum 2~~ The~~First Union Centre~~ The ~~Wachovia Centre~~ the Wells Fargo centre?

bread. butter. cheese. VICTORY!

by Prometheus74 on Nov 23, 2010 4:01 PM EST reply actions

Forgot Core States

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Nov 23, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

Very true, thanks The names have changes so much I was sure I was forgetting at least one.
My question is a sincere one.
Dose anyone have any information on their future planning past Philly Live, and what they are going to do when they upgrade the Flyers Building?

bread. butter. cheese. VICTORY!

by Prometheus74 on Nov 23, 2010 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

They should have brought in Terry O’Reilly and Phil Esposito from the Bruins and some of the old Celtics to knock the Spectrum down. It would have been a classic move to knock down the building that scared so many opponents in the 1970s. They could have also raised a bunch of money for charity by doing that!

Phigment

by Phigment on Nov 23, 2010 4:29 PM EST reply actions

As with many I have great memories of that building. Saw first concert there, many more which I have a hard time recollecting ever happened, got my first bj in parking lot after a Flyers game. Just a great venue for hockey. Yeah it was small but, u cram a bunch of ravenous fans screamin there heads off, just can’t be beat. When its gone, it will be like going back to your home town and your high school is a strip mall. Nothing to ignite those treasured memories that marked your path to manhood. Rest in Peace Spectrum

Leino = $$$

by flyerfreek on Nov 23, 2010 8:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Lol. My memories are similar, First concert Guns and roses in 1991 ( there was another unknown band. Oh wait. It was fn soundgarden ) Charles Barkley v manute Bol , and many flyers memories. But I’d rather have a Stanley cup

by manko on Nov 23, 2010 10:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

What are they doing with all the banners in there?

by Phuck The Penguins on Nov 23, 2010 11:09 PM EST reply actions

They were taken down awhile ago, the numbers are going to the players (and Donna Ashbee), I believe. Don’t know about the others.

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Nov 23, 2010 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t have a lot of great sports memories from the Spectrum, but I saw a crapton of concerts there. Billy Joel, Madonna, Springsteen, Barenaked Ladies (New Year’s Eve), Eagles, U2…it was a great place to see concerts. Wells Fargo just doesn’t compare audiowise. Of course, nothing beats the TLA (I like the Keswick, too), but the Spectrum was awesome for an arena.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Nov 23, 2010 11:21 PM EST reply actions

Van Halen was my first. 10 row back. Deaf for days. Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Prince, yeah I know but was the best concert I’ve seen, Joel, Springsteen. I have seen over twenty, but as stated above it gets foggy cause of the alcohol/drug induced stuper I was in. Never had a bad time there. Maybe the can lay down some of the bricks in Philly Live marking the redline to keep it alive. That would be cool as hell.

Leino = $$$

by flyerfreek on Nov 24, 2010 1:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I was actually kind of hoping they’d use the bricks when building PhillyLive, so I’m glad somebody else mentioned it… Your idea is far more creative than anything i came up with

by DragonGirl0583 on Nov 24, 2010 8:31 PM EST up reply actions

Video of the first wrecking ball hit

Certified Grabbo Lover

by SkinnyFish on Nov 24, 2010 9:56 AM EST reply actions

Memories

I will surely miss the Spectrum and the feeling that came over my body when entering the venerable building at Broad & Patterson Avenues in South Philadelphia. The exciting anticipation of a well played game or memorable performance was second to none. The place just put a smile on my face every time especially when recalling the fabulous events that played there over the past five decades including those by the Flyers and Phantoms squads.

Flyer’s Stanley Cup wins, Kate Smith performances, defeat of the Soviet Red Army team in 1976, LCB line, Fred Shero, Dave Schultz, Bernie. Lou Nolan, Gene Hart and Don Earle. Thirty-five game unbeaten streak. Pelle Lindbergh’s uncanny likeness of Parent in the net and becoming the first goaltender to ever place the water bottle on top of the net (look it up). Ron Hextall smacking the goal posts before the period started and scoring goals. Dave Poulin, Mike Keenan, Rick Toccett, Peter Zezel, Mark Howe, Brad McCrimmon, Tim Kerr, Legion of Doom. The celebration in the stands of the first Phantoms Calder Cup championship, Frank “the Animal” Bialowas, Peter White, Bruce Coles, even Phlex… ahh the memories.

Here’s to a grand building, the people and the passion of those who ventured into it’s halls!

Attended the last Phantoms regular season game

It was a memorable night for hockey fans of the Flyers and Phantoms but more importantly, it was this writer’s memory of his first live hockey game ever, of a sport he grew to love since the age of ten, of an era gone bye and a building for the ages. Countless games viewed in person and in living color on PRISM then Comcast, the friendships forged watching those events, the ability to bring those memories to my children and their friends with group packages .

A funny story to end the evening…as we were leaving the building, I had to use the restroom facilities before the drive home. The men’s rooms at the Spectrum were rather confined so between periods and after games, you often found yourself shoulder to shoulder with your fellow fans. As I was returning the last vestiges of the $7.50 ShockTop 12oz draft beer from my system, I made a comment, “Wow, this will be my last piss in the Spectrum.” The fan beside me stated, “Damn, that’s right…maybe I should take a picture…but then somebody would probably think I was a pervert.” I said, “Yeah…that’s probably something you just want to keep as a memory as opposed to having a keepsake.” In retrospect, I should have pee’d on his shoes; he probably would have remembered that, I’m sure!

Thanks for letting us share and Good Night, Good Hockey!

by FlyersFan4Ev on Nov 25, 2010 9:26 PM EST reply actions