"This has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make," he said. "The Spectrum is my baby. It's one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me, but after a lot of thinking and discussions, we all feel it is in our best interest to close the Spectrum at the conclusion of the upcoming 2008-09 Philadelphia Phantoms and Kixx seasons."

That means the last game could come next spring.

In its place Comcast-Spectactor is expected to build a new retail-and-entertainment complex that could include a hotel, restaurants, bars, and retail stores.

Plans for the project, dubbed Philly Live!, have not been announced in detail.

Construction is slated to begin next year, said Peter Luukko, president and CEO of Comcast-Spectacor.

In January, Snider promised it would be "a truly spectacular experience - a great place for shopping, dining, entertainment and gathering with friends."

Asked about the emotions about tearing down a building with steeped with so much sports and rock and roll history, Luukko said of Snider:

"Ed built this house. He's tearing his house down."

The Spectrum, which opened in 1967, was home for the Sixers and Flyers until the often-renamed center next door, now known as the Wachovia Center, opened in 1996.

The biggest game seen there was the Flyers winning their first Stanley Cup there in 1974.

The '75 Flyers and '83 Sixers also had championship seasons there, but won their titles on the road. (The Sixers also won in '67, but that was prior to playing at the Spectrum, and was on the road as well.)

The Spectrum was also long the area's top venue for concerts, circuses, ice shows and other entertainment events.

Special events are in the works as a farewell salute, Luukko said. "We are looking at the possibility of bringing a preseason Philadelphia Flyers game and a regular season 76ers game to the Spectrum this year, along with many other special surprises."

Major "musical acts and entertainers" could also return, he said, hinting that Bruce Springsteen might be approached to bring the house down - before the wrecking balls take a whack at the oval arena.

How and when the building will be demolished has not yet been determined.

Luukko said the Phantoms might be forced to find a temporary home base in another town, possibly Atlantic City or Allentown.

The minor league hockey team may play some dates at the Wachovia Center, he said, but added there weren't enough dates available for the team to play all its home games in South Philadelphia.

The future of the Kixx, the indoor soccer team that called the Spectrum home, is in question. The league recently announced it was folding and attempting to reorganize.

"They may be looking at an abbreviated schedule," Luukko said of the Kixx.

For more on Spectrum history, including an exhaustive calendar of events, go to: http://rememberthespectrum.com.

Inquirer staff writer Sam Wood contributed to this story.