Philadelphia

zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

Today the demolition of the Spectrum became official; the Phantoms will have to move somewhere in 2009. Hell, technically, I suppose the Stars could buy them, but that won't happen (they'll stay in the tri-state area and get a new building themselves eventually; my hometown of the Lehigh Valley appears to be the frontrunner).

Thing is, in one of the stories the president of Comcast Spectacor says that the team doesn't make money. And this is one of the AHL's more successful teams (in the stands and on the ice).

That, I'm sure, is only true on paper. They lose money because they pay a large affiliation fee to their NHL parent - which is part of the same company. They lose money because they pay rent to the arena manager - which is part of the same company. They lose money because they probably don't have a great concession or parking deal - but the parking and concession companies are part of the same company. It's a very comfortable and stable set-up when you are owned by your NHL affiliate and control or share in lots of revenue from a building.

bk · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1055

Maybe SirRisky can chip in enough dough to get the Phantoms to come play at ChapIce for a year.
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SirRisky · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

At one point in the discussions, Ed Snider was actually quote as saying that the team "makes money", so they would have to "look at the situation closely". Snider always understands the real bottom line!

My peeps tell me a year or two in AC while the Lehigh Valley builds. When the dust settles, the Hershey-Wilkes-Barre-Phantoms Triangle will be intact. Since I still keep a house in Danville (45 minutes from WB, 90 minutes from Hershey and the Lehigh Valley), I am looking forward to the continued rivalries. Say what you want about AHL hockey, when these three teams play each other in any combination, it is as good as it gets. . . Even goalies turn into 'energy players'.

So, I'll be a Texas Stars fan here but if the Stars and the Phantoms play - I'll be clad in purple and black. And ready to Booooooooooooo!
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SirRisky · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

Remind me to start crashing at your house on Penn State football Fridays.

Batdog · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

icebatfan · Two for roughing Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 197

If the Lehigh Valley arena is as nice as the Phillies AAA baseball teams new stadium, it will be something. Taught a course in Stroudsburg, PA a few wees ago and caught a Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs game.
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