The Spectrum (Philadelphia)
| "America's Showplace" "Broad Street" |
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| Former names | Spectrum (1967–1994) CoreStates Spectrum (1994–1998) First Union Spectrum (1998–2003) Wachovia Spectrum (2003–2009) |
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| Location | 3601 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 USA |
| Coordinates | 39°54′15″N 75°10′16″W / 39.90417°N 75.17111°WCoordinates: 39°54′15″N 75°10′16″W / 39.90417°N 75.17111°W |
| Owner | Comcast Spectacor, L.P. |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Capacity | Concerts: *End stage: 18,369 *Center stage: 19,456 *Theater: 5,000–8,000 Basketball: 18,168 Ice Hockey: 17,380 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 1, 1966 |
| Opened | September 30, 1967 |
| Renovated | 1986 |
| Closed | October 31, 2009 |
| Demolished | November 23, 2010 - May 2011 |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill |
| General contractor | McCloskey & Company, Inc. |
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Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) (1967–1996) Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) (1967–1996) Philadelphia Wings (NLL I) (Original franchise 1974–75) and II (Current franchise 1987–1996) Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) (1996–2009) Philadelphia KiXX (NPSL/MISL/NISL) (1996–2009) La Salle Explorers (NCAA) (1996–1998) Philadelphia Soul (AFL) (2004–2008) (selected home games) Philadelphia Freedoms (WTT) (1974) Philadelphia Bulldogs (RHI) (1994–1996) Philadelphia Fever (MISL) (1978–1981) |
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The Spectrum (later known as CoreStates Spectrum, First Union Spectrum and Wachovia Spectrum) was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opened in the fall of 1967 as part of what is now known as the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, after several expansions of its seating capacity it accommodated 18,168 for basketball and 17,380 for ice hockey, arena football, indoor soccer, and indoor lacrosse.
The Spectrum was demolished between November 2010 and May 2011, a little more than a year after the arena's final event (a Pearl Jam concert) took place on October 31, 2009.
Opened as the Spectrum in fall 1967, Philadelphia's first modern indoor sports arena was built to be the home of the expansion Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, and also to accommodate the existing Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. The building was the second major sports facility built at the south end of Broad Street in an area previously known as East League Island Park and now referred to simply as the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Ground was broken on the arena on June 1, 1966, by Jerry Wolman and then-Philadelphia Mayor James Tate as the home of the NHL's expansion Philadelphia Flyers. The first event at the arena was the Quaker City Jazz Festival on September 30, 1967, produced by Larry Magid. The NBA 76ers also moved there from Convention Hall as a second major league sports tenant. Lou Scheinfeld, former President of the Spectrum, explained that the name "Spectrum" was selected to evoke the broad range of events to be held there. "The 'SP' for 'sports' and 'South Philadelphia,' 'E' for 'entertainment,' 'C' for 'circuses,' 'T' for 'theatricals,' 'R' for 'recreation,' and 'UM' as 'um, what a nice building!" Scheinfeld also said that a seat in the city's first superbox initially cost $1,000 a year: "For every Flyers game, Sixers game, circus, you name it, you got 250 events for $1,000." The Flyers won their first ever home game in this arena by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins, 1-0. Bill Sutherland scored the arena's first goal.
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