Posted: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 12:50 AM | 17 comments |
 

Flyers, minus Lindros, giving old home a proper sendoff
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To those of us who grew up attending hockey games at the Spectrum, we know it’s more than an arena.
Much more.
It’s the place where we were introduced to the sport, the place where we created memories while watching games alongside our dads, the place where we watched an amazing, blue-collar group of players become the first NHL expansion team to ever win the Stanley Cup.
So give Flyers chairman Ed Snider and his staff credit for not allowing the Spectrum to go quietly.
The Flyers, of course, play down the street at the Wachovia Center, but they will play two preseason games at the Spectrum _ which will be demolished in 2009 to make room for a much-needed entertainment complex that will include restaurants, bars and retail stores _ and will give fans a chance to pay homage to the wonderful building.
The Spectrum doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Wachovia Center, but it’s more intimate and the seats are all closer to the action. For those of us who went there during our younger years, the place just feels like home.
The Flyers will play Carolina in a preseason game at the Spectrum on Sept. 27; they will face the AHL Phantoms in the building on Oct. 7. There will be all kinds of festivities _ all the teams’ captains and players from the two Stanley Cups champs have been invited back _ and it will feel just like old times. There is even talk of bringing back the orange jerseys the club wore many moons ago.
The Phillies did things right when Veterans Stadium was closed in 2003. In a moving ceremony that was orchestrated by public-relations genius Larry Shenk, numerous players from each Vet season returned, and Tug McGraw, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt recreated their trademarks pitches or swings; Paul Owens returned to the field for one final curtain call, and it was one of the best farewells ever given to any ballpark.
It sounds like the Flyers have similar intentions.

Posted by @ 12:50 AM  Permalink | 17 comments
17
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:57 AM, 08/30/2008
    I think it is the right thing to play a farewell game at The Spectrum, but shouldn't be a game that counts. I think that it is a disgrace that it is only going to be a pre-season game. I say that if they make it in the playoffs that they should play every home game there, just for good memories and possibly win a cup at The Spectrum during its final year.
    — flyersfan91
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:39 PM, 08/31/2008
    I just bought a Phantoms 10 game plan so I can get tickets to take my son to the final regular season game at the Spectrum in which is probably the Phantoms final season in Philly.
    — BobbyD
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:08 PM, 09/01/2008
    If Lindros actually does not show up, then it is his way of 'flipping the bird' at all of us Flyers fans. To all of you Lindros-Lovers/Clarkie-bashers: REMEMBER THIS LAST CHILDISH MOMENT FROM #88 AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD RE-THINK ABOUT WHO WAS REALLY WRONG IN THIS DISPUTE. If Ron Sutter and Mel Bridgman can make it, then so can Lindros...what a punk.
    — tc083069
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:13 PM, 09/01/2008
    I'm not a Lindros lover, but I do respect him for his role in helping to turn the Flyers around. They sucked bigtime before his arrival. Now, does anyone here REALLY know what went on in the Lindros/Clarke/Flyers explosion? Was anyone here, in on the meetings, phone calls, etc that went on? Yeah, I tend to blame Lindros's parents and the different attitudes of hockey players in general from to 50's-70's to the present. But that is just MY opinion from the stuff I read in the press. We all know how true, informed and non-biased the things we read in the press, and here on talk radio are. (Yeah, right). People seem to love to bash Lindros, but where was this team before he arrived? Those 1st 4 - 5 years were great, it's a shame to allow the last few years to wipe that out. With all the crap that went on during his later years, I'm sure that all involved were equally to blame. Also, after reading these posts, would YOU walk into the Philadelphia Spectrum, a place you'd never play in, to hear the Philly fan reaction? He's got to know a lot of the fans don't want him here, why come? It's not like the Spectrum was ever his home. Thanks for the good times, #88.
    — Ryley
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:48 PM, 09/02/2008
    Peabody all we are saying is give peace a chance.
    — rockinrob
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:02 PM, 09/03/2008
    Primeau got more credit for doing little than anyone I have ever seen. That guy was an underachiever in everytown he played in, INCLUDING Philadelphia. Nice trade BOB!
    — bvl390
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:19 PM, 09/05/2008
    Lindros is/has and always will be a spoiled sport primadonna. Good riddence. This is the best sendoff the spectrum could get.....No Lindros.
    — nhlfightclub.com
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About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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