Like an inmate awaiting his death sentence, the Wachovia Spectrum sits idly where it has for the past 41 years at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia.

Come autumn, however, it will be alive and as vibrant as ever. That's because the building will celebrate its 42nd birthday in grand style, with a year-long honorarium as fans and players alike will pay tribute to what was once known as "America's Showplace."

That's quite appropriate, since it won't live to see birthday No. 43.

The Daily Times learned Friday that the Spectrum's end would come sometime next summer.

As first reported in these pages, the Spectrum will be imploded to build a chic hotel as part of a significant entertainment initiative known as "Philly Live!"

It will be a destination location for sports fans and party denizens, one set to be built in the parking lot currently located between the Spectrum and the Wachovia Center.

Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider and president and chief operating officer Peter Luukko originally tried to do some fancy downplaying on the building implosion.
Although they admitted that "Philly Live!" was going to be a reality, they also tried to push the notion that the demolition of the Spectrum was not, well, an obit written in stone.

There was chatter that they might try to save the Spectrum and build a hotel in a different part of the stadium complex. But really, the best alternative all along was to use the hotel as an anchor for the new development project, with it dropped right where the Spectrum sits now and has sat for more than 40 years.
So the kaboom will come.

Comcast executives aren't saying anything publicly, but they aren't denying the demolition is coming, either. Nor are they currently offering up alternative ideas to save the Spectrum.

"We probably will know something definitive in the next couple of weeks," is all Luukko would offer Thursday.
The thing is, The Cordish Co., the developer hired by Comcast to build "Philly Live!" is in the final process of securing all of the permits necessary from the Philadelphia city officials to begin the construction of the project. Some of those permits pertain to blowing up the Spectrum.

Therefore, demolition is inevitable, and as big a Philadelphia sports fan as Ed Rendell is, there will be no telephone call from the governor to stay this execution.
Unlike the emotionless leaders of the Eagles, who very publicly paid Veterans Stadium a "Good Riddance," Snider and Luukko are savvy enough to know they need to throw a heck of a going away party for the building, even if the 76ers and the Flyers have not played a game there in a dozen years.

That's because in Philadelphia, there is an emotional attachment to sports venues that is hard to explain.
Maybe it's because some people grew up in these venues. Anybody between the ages of 25 and 54 spent a majority of their lives cheering for their favorite hockey and basketball teams in the Spectrum.

That's why Comcast is planning to give those fans one last chance to relive the past.

They wanted to move a 76ers game to the Spectrum last March, but backed out because too much planning was needed to get the game moved to a new venue in such a short period of time.

Not now. The team has plenty of time, and it's all but guaranteed a regular season Sixers game will take place at the Spectrum next season.

Here's one vote for it to be against the World Champion Boston Celtics.

(Don't you love to hear those four dirty words, Sixers fans?)

As for the Flyers, they have too many season ticketholders to squeeze a regular season game into the old barn. But in all likelihood, the Flyers will move a preseason game there for fans to wax nostalgic.

Expect more fun and festivities to be in the works soon.
The Spectrum salute will come off in grand fashion. Certainly the Phantoms will mark their 13-year existence in that home before shipping off to parts unknown.

And don't be surprised if a concert or two will be played there instead of the Center, especially if it's someone like Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen, who rocked the Spectrum for many years before the Center was even a twinkle in Snider's eye.

While that's all good, what will become of those Phantoms, and the KIXX, of indoor soccer fame?

Well, the KIXX are without a league right now. The MISL disbanded earlier this month, although owners remain optimistic they will form a new league.

So whatever teams they can line up for games, the KIXX will only get to play those games for one more season in the Spectrum before seeking a new home elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Phantoms are probably ticketed for Atlantic City for a few years while plans for a new arena are developed for the Allentown area.

While the Phantoms will likely be based in A.C., they will probably play a handful of games in Philadelphia on the few open dates available at the Wachovia Center.

But all of that's a full calendar year away. For now, it's time to prepare to send the building off into the sunset. The right people are in charge to assure that grand goodbye takes place in style.

To contact Anthony J. SanFilippo, e-mail asanfilippo@delcotimes.com