Building Memories: Missing an Old Friend, The Spectrum

The Spectrum was not just a building on South Broad St., it was many other things for 43 years.  It wasn't limited to just bricks and the steel on the inside, but served the city of Philadelphia for a few generations.  The Spectrum took on the city's blue-collar style and added another dimension to it.

The Spectrum was a place where great ghosts of Flyers and Sixers past spoke to us as we entered.  It was the place where a majority of my childhood unfolded.  As a Philadelphia fan, I experienced many good and bad times at the old Spectrum, but one thing was for sure, it was always sacred ground to me.  

On countless Friday evenings, I would enter into The Spectrum to see the Philadelphia Phantoms take on their hated rivals, the Hershey Bears.  In many of these games, brawls would ensue and who else but Frank "The Animal" Bialowas was right in the middle.   

The Wells Fargo Center is a fantastic sports venue, but it can never be The Spectrum.  The Spectrum was a Philadelphia icon and always will be.  With the Kate Smith statue standing proudly outside, we were reminded of the Flyers' rich history.  When the Rocky statue used to stand there, we recalled our greatest fictional tales of a boxer who became our patron saint.  All of this was courtesy of this fantastic building we called The Spectrum.

Julius "Dr. J" Erving cradled the basketball on the baseline and slammed one down over Michael Cooper; this was one of the greatest moments in Spectrum history.  Then, Christian Laettner became a piece of Philadelphia history despite his being from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  This speaks volumes of The Spectrum and why it was referenced as "America's Showplace."

We watched in awe as Bernie Parent, Bobby Clarke and co. literally "bullied" their way to back-to-back titles.  One decade later, another sensational foreign goalie, this one, a Swede named Pelle Lindbergh, would steal our hearts.  His sudden death remains in the minds of many Philadelphians to this day, 25 years later.  

The Spectrum just about any event you could possibly imagine.  From the circus to The Rolling Stones and everything in between, the Spectrum delivered.  Even Vince McMahon's WWF was a frequent occurrence on South Broad St. as Hulk Hogan was on top of the world.  The Spectrum saw it all and then some and now goes into its final resting place.

It hurt to see that wrecking ball get driven into the great stadium, knowing that this was the final call.  It hurt more than any disappointing loss I'd ever witnessed there.  But now, I suppose, its time has come.  The final chapter of The Spectrum has now been written and the book is about to be closed.

The last event that I ever attended there was, believe it or not, a Green Day concert with my beautiful girlfriend Christina.  We had an absolute blast there as it was a fitting way to say goodbye to an old friend.  

For me, The Spectrum was far more than just smells of stale popcorn and beer.  Just because your feet stuck to the ground, you never felt confined to one place.  I recall sneaking up into the top seats with friends and being the only ones watching from up there.  The 400 level was always blocked off for Phantoms games, unless they played Hershey, it was fun running up and down those steps.  

The Spectrum will soon be gone but never forgotten.  It was a special place that served a great purpose and for many was a staple in their lives as Philadelphia sports fanatics. Every time I go to an event, I will think of The Spectrum and smile.

Though a lot of my memories there were from when I was very young still, these will stick with me forever.  Their impact on me will be everlasting.  This was such an awesome place to watch a game and will always hold a special place in my heart.  For now, so long my old Spectrum friend, I will truly miss you.  Thank you.