Bob Weir

“The Spectrum? Oh yeah, that joint always jumps...”

Weir and his band, the Grateful Dead, performed more shows than any other artist in the history of the Spectrum (53). The Spectrum is also the ONLY venue in which the Grateful Dead have performed in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Weir and Grateful Dead co-founders Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kruetzman reunited as the Dead and performed at the Spectrum on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2. The Spectrum closed in the fall of 2009 to make way for Philly Live, a retail, restaurant and entertainment complex.

Vince McMahon - Chairman - World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

"Since the inception of our company, World Wrestling Entertainment has had a rich and storied history in the city of Philadelphia. Some of our most memorable moments took place in the historic Wachovia Spectrum. From our various live events throughout the 1980s and 1990s, to SummerSlam in 1990 and the King of the Ring in 1995, the Wachovia Spectrum was host to some of the greatest events in the history of the WWE. We are proud and honored to be a part of this venue’s rich tradition and we will always remember and cherish its place in the history of the WWE."

Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Ron Wilson

Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Ron Wilson has not so fond memories of coming to Philadelphia as a player when the Spectrum was one of the most intimidating buildings in the league. So the Leafs coach won't be sorry to see the old building blown up. The original home to the Flyers and 76ers began demolition in the fall of 2010.

"I don't think any player who didn't play for the Flyers won't be saying: 'Good riddance,'" Wilson said after the Leafs practiced at the Spectrum on Friday. "It was the team you were playing. It was just the thought of the team you were playing. You could sense (the intimidation). A lot of people who (played here) can relate to those kinds of stories."

Mark Howe

"I was fortunate to play 22 years of pro hockey. My ten years with the Flyers were some of the happiest times of my life. I always associate good times with winning teams, and we did a lot of winning in Philadelphia and had a quality group of guys off the ice."

In terms of Spectrum memories, to be honest, I don't really have very many of the place itself. What the arena really represents to me are the people I saw there.

It was the place where my team played some good hockey and the core group stayed intact for a number of years. The Flyers had - and still have - great fans, so the Spectrum was a loud building. Most of all, I can remember seeing my kids, Travis, Azia and Nolan at different ages after games. So you could say the Spectrum's meaning to me is as a place I shared with family and friends, and where my team played some good hockey.

Former Philadelphia Flyers Forward Brian Propp: Click to read.

Former Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman Joe Watson: Click to read.

Musician Trey Anastasio of Phish:

"I grew up in central NJ and Philadelphia was my home-away-from-home. I have vivid memories of the Spectrum and will miss it deeply. I saw my first arena rock and roll show there – (Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon) and saw my first Stanley Cup game there (Flyers/Sabres). I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to perform there a dozen or so times as a member of Phish. Those shows were as exciting and memorable for me as any I ever performed. I just loved everything about the place. The folks who own the Spectrum extended numerous invitations for us to play in the Wachovia Center, but I said I didn’t want to leave the Spectrum until the Flyers won the Cup again. I guess now I’ll have to reconsider – assuming, of course, that I’m ever invited back! Rest in Peace, Spectrum."

 Musician and Philadelphia-area native Trey Anastasio remembers the Spectrum.  Click Here!

Musician Jon Bon Jovi:

"It's a dark day in Philadelphia," Jon Bon Jovi said. "It's a great piece of history. Some of my favorite (memories), some of my greatest, both as the owner of the (Philadelphia) Soul, as a performer, and even as a concert goer (were there)."

Philadelphia 76ers Former Coach Maurice Cheeks:

"It was a great place to play. Those were my years. I still think about the Spectrum when I drive to the Wachovia Center. It was a great place to play and I’m really, really going to miss it.

There was an energy there, a passion that came from the fans and spilled over into the how the players played. That was what that building was all about, almost like it had a pulse itself."

Former Philadelphia 76er Charles Barkley:

"I have great memories of that place, because I played my first game there in ’84. And the locker room was so small that I would have Paul over here and Stan over here, and if I moved too quickly Moses’ (bleep) would hit me on the cheekbone. The locker was so small I had to really be careful when I was doing interviews, because if you turned your head Doc’s cheek was right here and Moses’ cheek was right here, it was rough because you had to take your stuff out after every game, because we shared locker rooms, the locker room was just too small, and there were a lot of good memories. I want to push the button (to blow it up)."

What is your fondest memory in the Spectrum?

"Probably the night they retired my jersey was the most special night for me, it was awesome. As a player, there is no single moment better then when an organization retires your jersey."

Former Philadelphia Flyer Kelly:

Former Flyer Bob "Hound" Kelly sounded sentimental when talking earlier this week about plans to tear down the Spectrum.

"We won two Stanley Cups and went to four finals," he said of his tenure with the team from 1970 to 1980. "We beat the Russians there and had a 35-game unbeaten streak. It was a big part of so many of our lives because a lot of us played there for a lot of years."

Kelly paused.

"I know one thing: Schultzy will probably want the penalty box."

He was referring to Dave Schultz, the Flyers' enforcer from 1971 to 1976 and a man who made the penalty box his second home. He even recorded a hit song about it.

Actor David Boreanaz:

"From the legion of doom storming up and down broad street wreaking havoc on the opposition, to Dr. J slicing through the air on his way to a majestic dunk; for me the spectrum is the greatest arena in sports history. To top it all off, I saw the Dead there and that like the spectrum, will not fade away."

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia:

Was dismayed to learn from reporters that the Spectrum will be demolished next year.

Scioscia, who graduated from Springfield (Delco) in 1976 and was a hardcore Flyers fan during two successful Stanley Cup runs, told the Associated Press with a smile that he would chain himself to the arena to keep it from being torn down.

Former Philadelphia 76er Franklin Edwards:

"The thought of the Spectrum gone is a sad, yet happy memory for me. Sad for all the incredible memories there; happy for the fact that the organization has one of the best arenas in the country now. All good things must come to an end."

Philadelphia native and former NBA and College head coach Paul Westhead:

“I have many fond memories of the Spectrum, many fond memories. Clearly the most significant one for me is when we won a World Championship there, when I coached the Lakers (1980). It was s a really tough place to play. When I coached LaSalle we had great memories playing there (The Spectrum) and playing Big-5 games there. It was a big-time arena, but there was a real mystique to it. The Spectrum pretty much covered it all when you think of basketball and big games. I hate to see it go but ill never forget it.”

Former NBA Player Patrick Ewing:

"I have a lot of fond memories of the Spectrum, not only from the pro's, but also from college, when we played Villanova. I'll always remember playing here against the Sixers; against Moses [Malone], [Charles] Barkley and Dr. J., that whole crew. It was a great arena, a special arena, for basketball and Philly is a great city for basketball. But like anything, all good things must come to an end. And that's what is happening with the Spectrum"