Phantoms leaving Philadelphia?

PHILADELPHIA PA- With the closing and subsequent demolition of the Wachovia Spectrum, it was a foregone conclusion that Phantoms fans would have to deal with travel if they wanted to see their team play. Trenton, Atlantic City and Allentown were all rumored to be the short term home of the club for at least one season. The hope, at least among the fans, was that an arrangement would be made to keep the club local. All that changed on Christmas Eve when it was announced by Philadelphia Flyers President, Peter Luuko that, “we have several options at this point, we could move the team, we could sell them, we could find another affiliate. We’re still working on it” Luuko stated. With the state of the economy local investors are having a difficult time arranging funds to have a minor league hockey building built in either Allentown, PA or Camden County, New Jersey. That apparently leaves one option. The club will be sold and the new ownership will move the franchise. Flyers management has publically said that a buyer is interested. The scenario would then shift to moving the franchise to another AHL city that has its contract with an NHL club about to expire. One such situation would be Springfield, Massachusettes where the Springfield Falcons will have their affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers expire at the conclusion of this season. The next closest city for Philadelphia to deal with is Hershey, but that door is closed due to the Washington Capitals being signed on for another season after this one. There is a project on the horizon, Bellmawr, New Jersey has a proposal for a new waterfront project which would include a smaller sized stadium. That project, like so many others, is awaiting more funding. Comcast-Spectacor has stated that they will not build the arena by themselves, they will seek backers on it. Luuko also stated that Trenton, New Jersey is not a viable option. The same was said about the Wachovia Center. An additional question would be, Where is the funding for the PhillyLive project coming from?  Comcast-Spectacor has already committed to razing the Wachovia Spectrum and erecting a luxury hotel as well as a host of other businesses. So, what happened? In September, then COO of the Phantoms, Frank Micelli stated at a public forum, ‘They are looking at six sites in New Jersey.” The facts clearly are not all in as yet. Is that a ploy by Comcast-Spectacor to garner attention and then, investors? Do the Phantoms actually figure prominantly in the daily stock reports of the Comcast-Spectacor bean counters? Would the Flyers perpetuate a Springfield deal? Granted it is a very nic eluxury to have your major affiliate located across the parking lot, but is Springfield that far away? Springfield Phantoms…..not quite the same ring.  This is playing out as a high-stakes poker game. It would seem that the only losers will be the Phantoms fans.  Hockey as well as the World economy is changing. Fans will rant and rave about the Phantoms leaving, the new PhillyLive being built, but, bottom line, if and when PhillyLive opens, it will jammed pack with anxious Philadelphians and South Jerseyans who can’t wait to see what awaits and more importantly, fork out their hard earned dollars. The Phantoms have brought too much entertainment to simply being marketed and sold like yesterday’s bread…..but, the same can be said for the Philadelphia Soul and in the past, the Philadelphia Blazers, Firebirds and Stars….. Contact the author at Kevin.Neibauer@prohockeynews.com.

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