I've seen tons of concerts, flyers games, phantoms, etc. Even though it is a grungy building, I've had a lot of fun times there. Kind of sorry to see it go.

I don't know if this has been posted elsewhere, but I didn't see anything here and one of the Philly papers just ran an article on it.

I've enjoyed many games and concerts there. I will be a little teary eye when they knock it down. But you can't holt progress. Maybe delay it, but can't stop it.

I think it's a necessary evil. I was just in there this past year for 2 events. Monster Jam and a Phantoms game. I went to many concerts and games in the past in The Spectrum even went to Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus there as a kid.. Ice Follies as a kid. My first arena concert was in The Spectrum. The building is getting old. My Uncle was part of the engineering team that improved the air conditioning system in there. I have many memories of that building. The thing that bothers me about it's impending doom is we are probably gonna lose the Phantoms because theres no way that anyone is gonna be able to schedule a full season of The Flyers, Sixers, and Phantoms plus all the other events that come to that building. I guess that The Phantoms are gonna become the Atlantic City Phantoms, or The Camden Phantoms if they are gonna stay in the immediate area. That would also complete the cycle of demolishing every stadium that was standing in South Philly when I was born. JFK Stadium, Veterans Stadium and now The Spectrum.

Not happy about it. I love having the Phantoms and Flyers play in the same city and I don't look forward to losing that. I remember hearing about this possibility a while back and, at that point, I think they were saying the Phantoms would move west, a little closer to Hershey and Scranton. I would love to see them build a rink in Camden near where the Riversharks play for the Phantoms. It would be cool to build that area up a little more and it would keep the Phantoms nearby.

Here's an article I just found on this: Link

the phantoms may not even stay in the area. I am a season ticket holder and their has been talk that they are looking to possibly move them to New York State. Thay also talked about Trenton. I heard AC was out

I've heard Rumors that Wilmington or the surounding area was looking to maybe get another pro-team there. I think the Phamtoms would be a perfect fit.

I've only been to the Spectrum once or twice, but I'm gonna miss it.

I wasn't alive for it, but this is the buidling where we heard these words that still give me chills...

"Ladies and gentlemen... the FLYERS... ARE GOING TO WIN... THE STANLEY CUP!!!"

Now that's the shot.

That is horrible that the Spectrum is going to be a victim of commercialism.

i would love to have the phantoms in Wilmington, there's just no arena for them yet. although if they really want to come here I'm sure they'd build something for it on the riverfront.

and its true. the only pro team in the state (delaware) is a high A minor leauge baseball team.

I've been to the Spectrum only once in my life. It was to see Nin a few years back. I got the chance to see the band warm up and was more stoked to touch the ice under the floor. It was cool to see the banners and I got a good vibe from being in there. The show was awesome one of the best, the bathrooms being downstairs was intresting it must have led to some mayhem during games. I wish I coulda seen the Flyers play there. I mean I'm not from Philly but I always thought that some of the edge was gone when they moved to the Wach...the First Union....oh crap....I forget what it was when they moved. Is it really gonna be gone?

not too mention a cloud of cigerette smoke. Also back in the day, you could smoke on the concourse. I waited outside the Spectrum overnight twice for playoff tickets in 1996. Great times. Nowadays, you can't do things like that.

I'm going to put my fingers in my ears, hum real loud, and act like this isn't happening.

Ahh the good old days.

I'll miss it.

Being in it many times...

this sucks i hope the phantoms stay close. it was cool having both teams in the city

Even though I'm only 15, I know the history that took place in that building. I've been to a lot of Phantoms games in there, and I'm going to miss it.

its a bummer, im gonna miss that building

I'm 19, and when the Flyers left I was only 7. I was 8 when I saw my first Flyers game. But I went back and learned about it all, and went to a couple Kixx games. I'm heartbroken over this news. And might now have to go to a Phantoms game, before our beloved Spectrum is no more.

I was lucky enough to actually play a game on Spectrum ice. It was such a rush. That will always be one of my favorite memories.

Talk about a loud building, the Wac doesn't even come close. **** im even in favor of playing a whole season back in the Spectrum. I wonder where they are going to move kate smith's and Dorny's Statues?

The Spectrum should be donated to the city and made into a shrine of what hockey should be. They should apply for national monument status.

They should just build around it. How funny would that be....in the middle of all the Philly Live! mall thing is the Spectrum. It'd be so unique and granted would take a bit away from both aspects, but I think people would enjoy walking through a mall type thing to get to Spectrum.

That would be a fitting tribute.

what about turning it into or making it part of the mall?

Can it be classified as an historic site that it can't be knocked down?

I'm with you! I actually wished the Flyers still played there...

all this over a hotel and a mall. heard a couple people at some games talk about taking off the old roof and building the hotel right around the spectrum that would be cool. i did hear people talking about wilmington t would be a nice place not far from philly or jersey. they also talked about reading as they might be looking for a higher level than the echl to d a croud. lets just hope they keep them close that was part of the reason the broke away from hershey and became the phantoms. that picture of the vet spectrum and jfk bring back fond memories. i saw monsters of rock in jfk before they tore it down as well as numerous army nav games. great memories

Many of my favorite concert and Flyers experiences took place there. I'm mostly disappointed by the Phantoms moving. I live in north/central jersey and Wilmington is way too far. Camden would be the best bet from a standpoint of maintaining the current fan base. I don't know if there is building to play in there though.

lots of great concerts and flyers games,i'm going to miss it.but i have alot of good memories

I do too.

Does anyone agree with me when I say, "The Spectrum is a much better place to watch hockey"?

The spectrum is a great place to watch hockey! Unless you're sitting under one of the supports, in which case you run the risk of smacking your head when you stand up to cheer.

I was a season ticket holder for many years there. First row of the second level are some of the best seats in that house. It was a great building in it's time, but it just can't earn the revenue needed because of the lack of any luxury suites or club boxes. Times change. I love the building, but it's time to move on and improve the area around the new stadiums.

I just wonder where all the rats are going to run off to. Lol. That building has some families of rats that have been residents for MANY years.

Wait, the Spectrum is being demolished AND the Phantoms are on the way out of town?

Holy crap, talk about your all time downers...

For what it was, what it meant to the city, and all the great moments in sports history that took place in there, the Spectrum deserves better than this. People say the biggest mistake that cities make is tearing down their old ballparks, stadiums, and arenas. Can you imagine how cool it would be if Connie Mack/Shibe Park was still around and converted into some kind of hotel or something? Boston Garden should have never been torn down, and the city has somewhat regretted it since.

Ugh, too sad... too sad indeed

DelcoTimes Article

I remember all the old Flyers and Sixers games I used to go to there like they were yesterday. Not to mention the boxing matches, shows, etc.

From the moment you stepped foot into that place, it just felt like hockey. It's a feeling you don't get at the Center. The crowd was close and compact, the noise was intense, it was the best arena ever built to watch hockey (I've been to many).

It wasn't only because it had a history; it is just a perfect representation of the town it is in. A rough, bare-bones arena for a tough, hard-working town. I actually feel bad that my kids will never get to experience what I had. But they will only see the effects of greed in it's wake.

I've never seen a hockey game in the Spectrum but I have been to a concert or two there. Although I've never experienced what you have, I'm still going to be sad about it. I hope I can see a few Phantoms game this season before its torn down!

I think you nailed it, at least as far as I feel. The Wach just has zero atmosphere. Half the people there are just using corporate tix and don't care, talking through the game and leaving early.

In fact, last time I saw a Flyers game there, against the habs, I was invited by a friend who got tix through work. It was me and three other guys who wouldn't know a puck from a ring ding. The three of them left to get beer midway through the second and only one of them came back midway through the third to watch the end. I never saw the other two again.

I wonder if they will sell the seats if its torn down? Just like with the vet.

I would love to own seats from there.

that would be awesome!

I am 20 and I have had the chance to see many events in the Spectrum. I went to quite a few Flyers games there when I was young and it was just a great place to see a game. I also went to a bunch of different shows there like Disney on Ice and Sesame Live when I was little. Since the move to the big joint I have gone to a number of Phantoms games and a few Kixx games. I even had the chance to play on the Kixx field. It is something that I will never forget. I wish I could have played on the ice though. My sister worked at the haunted house there all of the years that they had it. It will be sad to see it go.

As for Shawn's idea about building around it...That would be great. I was just in Toronto with my football team and I heard that the old Maple Leaf Gardens was still standing. The only problem is that it is a grocery store. If they could keep the specrtum as a functioning arena great if not then make it a Flyers/Sixers museum.

I would agree 100% about the spectrum being better for hockey. The center in my opinion has to much of a white color amosphere while the spectrum is loud and obnoxious like flyers fans should be. I would love to have my seats from the spectrum if they sell them

I will miss the Spectrum in the same way I missed the Vet. Both of those places were what i considered the Fan's place. As far as the Flyers at the Spectrum, you could actually afford to go to multiple games, sit around fans who had the same passion, anywhere in the building, as you did, and the best part was the building was so loud throughout the entire game, you knew it wore on the opposition. While all good things eventually come to an end, I certainly will have great memories of the Spectrum.

I didn't think of it that way...so sad, but the time is overdue.

There was just something about having to go downstairs to take a leak; the old ice cream cones they had were great, and they used to sell Pepsi in something resembling a milk carton back in the day (during the Cup years).

My best memory - I went to Game 4 of the '74 Finals; I went by myself at almost 9 years of age, sitting in the old section 65, Row 1 (3rd level). My dad's boss was sitting in the same row, but my dad left me off at the entrance and asked an usher to take me to my seat (I doubt anyone would do that today). He got in at the end of the game to pick me up, and saw the last seconds of the Flyers taking a 3-1 lead on the Bruins.

I may have to come up & go to a Phantoms game this coming season to say my goodbyes.

Rumor has it that the Flyers will play a preseason game there this year, and the Sixers will play 1 or 2 regular season games. I know some people do not like this idea at all, but personally, I think it will be cool. I was pretty young when the Wachovia Center opened, and my dad was never into hockey, so he never took me to see any games at the Spectrum, so I would love to see a Flyers game there before it closes. Obviously, a preseason game will never have the hype and excitement that regular season and playoff games had there back in the day, but nonetheless I'd like to be there. Also, that article said that they will try to get a couple more big time concerts at the Spectrum this year (hopefully Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen).

That's mainly because there's much more of a white collar crowd in the building, especially in the 1st level/club boxes/luxury suites. Simply because they can afford them, and many of them are owned by corporations and used as sales/marketing tools. Far too many individuals checking their cell phones, texting, etc. instead of watching the game and cheering for the team.

It's obviously also due to the fact that the building is MUCH bigger, and harder to cause earthquakes in the building.

It's unfortunate, but it's a business.

Does anybody have any old pictures of Flyers games at the Spectrum? Google images has almost nothing haha.