There have been too many good times and too many moments that the Flyers chairman will never forget in the building he built in South Philadelphia as a home for the hockey team he started.

But that doesn't really matter to Snider, because you can tear down a building but you can't erase the memories.

"I just keep telling myself that it's not the physical building that counts, it's the memories,'' Snider said yesterday. "I'm going to keep them with me forever.''

And tomorrow afternoon, Snider will add another when the Flyers play Carolina in a preseason game that will kick off the Spectrum's final season.

It will be the last time two NHL teams will play in the building, which opened when the Flyers entered the league in 1967. The day will be highlighted by a ceremony, including the return of 11 of the team's 15 former captains.

Fans are being encouraged to arrive early for a free block party, featuring live entertainment and interactive games, beginning at 11 a.m.

The Flyers also will play the Phantoms at the Spectrum on Oct. 7.

"This will be one unbelievable way to celebrate the Spectrum,'' said Shawn Tilger, Flyers senior vice president of business operations. "The fan response to our games at the Wachovia Spectrum this preseason has been incredible. Ed Snider and [Comcast-Spectacor president] Peter Luukko really want this to be a tribute to our fans who, with their dedication, loyalty and enthusiasm, made the Spectrum a great place for Flyers hockey and a tough place for our opponents.''

For Snider it will be another special moment, but nothing like the ones that came before - like the Sunday afternoon in May 1974 the Flyers won the Stanley Cup by finishing off the favored Boston Bruins.

"I will never forget the afternoon we won the Stanley Cup in there,'' he said. "It will be etched in my mind forever.''

And there were the countless concerts, the artists who have appeared there.

"There are too many to mention,'' Snider said. "We had Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel. There were just so many.''

To see the Spectrum enter its final season is not something Snider wanted to happen. But reality is something that just can't be ignored. The building is old and maintaining it was getting expensive.

"We're the only city that built a brand new arena and continued to operate [the old one],'' he said. "This is our 13th year [of the Spectrum since the Wachovia Center was built] and it's getting expensive to operate it properly.''

When the Spectrum comes down and the area is finally cleared, there will be development of retail shopping, a hotel and restaurants that will complement the Wachovia Center and the two stadiums near it, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park.

"We've kept it open as long as we could, but it's time,'' Snider said.

"It took us 16 months [from] idea to opening [of the Spectrum],'' he said. "It was only 11 months in construction. That was my baby. It's going to be very emotional for me when we tear it down.

"I'm not even sure I can be there. But I will always have those memories.'' *