Spectrum Going/"Philly Live" Coming

Post #1 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:39 am

CSN just aired a segment on SportsNite in which Peter Luukko (President/COO Comcast-Spectacor) said that there may be an announcement by the end of this month in which plans would be revealed to demolish the Spectrum and in it's place would be an "entertainment complex" that would feature bars, restaurants, stores, and possibly a hotel. Apparently the rights to develop that land were agreed upon with the city back when the Center was built ten years ago. The developers are the same company that developed the "Power Plant" down in Baltimore's Harbor and so they are looking for a similar thing here.

The problem with demolishing the Spectrum is that it would leave a lot of teams (Kixx and Phantoms) homeless and some events (the Circus) without a venue. According the Luukko, the Phantoms and Kixx would most likely be moved to other cities while the Circus would just be moved to the Center.

I consider this huge news since the Spectrum holds a lot of memories for me. On the bright side though, it would be nice to have some more places to go after the game.

76erinSJ · Post #2 » by **76erinSJ** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:43 am

I think they should build a new stadium across the river on the Camden waterfront. It would help the congestion in Philly a and would be a big hit in south jersey.

Post #3 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:45 am

I agree. If they put a stadium on the waterfront, the current fanbase could still attend the games, Camden would take another step in the right direction, and everyone wins.

Mik317 · Post #4 » by **Mik317** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:20 am

dude.........Camden NEVER wins EVAR!!!!

Post #5 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:26 am

Hey man... Camden wins the game of "Where Do I Feel Like I'll Be Killed If I Make A Wrong Turn". They win that game every single time.

StormxShadow · Post #6 » by **StormxShadow** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:27 am

I still miss the Vet. Of course, I would miss the Spectrum. That was my era of happiest memories.

There's no good way to break that news. It seems like its already a done deal.

76erinSJ · Post #7 » by **76erinSJ** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:41 am

It needs to go tho. Its out dated and old.

panacea · Post #8 » by **panacea** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:47 am

The Guilty Party wrote:I agree. If they put a stadium on the waterfront, the current fanbase could still attend the games, Camden would take another step in the right direction, and everyone wins.

Not too familiar with transportation in NJ, but is there an easy way to access Camden via public transport? I believe there's some kind of PATCO line, I'm not sure. One great thing about the current location is that it's a short ride on the subway away.

Anyway, the Spectrum holds sentimental value, but I see great upside in this new development.

Post #9 » by **dbodner** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:05 pm

76erinSJ wrote:It needs to go tho. Its out dated and old.

It's a GREAT venue to watch a basketball game in.

Salvistine24 · Post #10 » by **Salvistine24** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:06 pm

It's a GREAT venue to watch a basketball game in.

Still not as good as the palestra imo...spectrum is good but the palestra is the center of the basketball world to me

sec-106 · Post #11 » by **sec-106** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:08 pm

I'd miss the Spectrum more than the Vet.

Nofx8881 · Post #12 » by **Nofx8881** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:04 am

man. don't move the phantoms.

Post #13 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:11 pm

Well.. it's now officially official.

http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.co ... p?ID=61415

Here's an artist's rendering of what the complex will look like. It looks pretty cool to me.

arjwdotcom · Post #14 » by **arjwdotcom** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:17 pm

The Guilty Party wrote:Well.. it's now officially official.

http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.co ... p?ID=61415

Here's an artist's rendering of what the complex will look like. It looks pretty cool to me.

(picture)

Nice rendering; there's not enough parking spaces and unless the old miltary housing land is taken, residents will call foul on other land that's taken.

Glad to see something happening there; but that's a two edged sword if there ever was one. It will be weird to come back up there and not see the Spectrum. That's one of my eye-spots from 95 that's been slowly taken away.

As for a replacement stadium, Camden would be a great idea; but if anything in East Philly gets it, it will be Trenton as its "safer."

Post #15 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:27 pm

I could see Camden making a push for the Phantoms and Kixx but the problem is that this project figures to kick both of those teams out of the Spectrum after this season and so they would both need a temporary home while Camden builds a smaller arena.

It's possible but I think both of those teams will just get moved out of the region.

Post #16 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:30 pm

Also... since the shops and bars will be open every day (I assume), I guess people will have to now pay to shop down there. Then again, perhaps they will only charge parking fees on game nights.

freshie2 · Post #17 » by **freshie2** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:53 pm

Thanks for the link...I was just going to look for this. Hate to see the Spectrum go, but it does make sense for the city and from a business perspective....still need to work on getting into and out of the city though...Philly is awful in that perspective.