[Obama]

PHILADELPHIA — Comcast-Spectacor is on the verge of announcing a plan to develop a multi-million dollar entertainment complex in South Philadelphia that could eventually lead to the demolition of the Wachovia Spectrum, the Daily Times has learned.

The Baltimore-based Cordish Company, a real estate development giant, has offered several proposals to Comcast-Spectacor that are still being considered.

The most attractive proposal would result in a complex called “Philly Live!” which would incorporate land development for such ventures as restaurants, retail shops, condominiums, small music venues, a movie theatre and other entertainment outlets in and around the stadium area.

According to one source close to the negotiations, a public announcement is expected before the end of January.

Comcast-Spectacor President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Luukko confirmed that discussions are ongoing and that several plans for the new development are being considered.

Comcast has worked through a “series of proposals” with this development project, Luukko said.

“We’ve had discussions with Cordish to look at some development proposals and they’re still ongoing,” he said.

Luukko would not comment on the possible demolition of the Spectrum, but said part of the proposal discussions did include the Spectrum site. Luukko stressed nothing had been finalized or decided with the proposals involving the Spectrum.

According to a Philadelphia business community source, one of the Cordish proposals would include the construction of an ultra-chic W hotel, owned by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Inc., which would be built where the Spectrum currently sits.

Comcast-Spectacor is mulling over that proposal while it decides whether a hotel or the 42-year-old Spectrum would be a more viable source of revenue for the company.
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That analysis would also include determining if Comcast would rather continue to house the American Hockey League’s Phantoms and the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Kixx, or find a new home for both.

Comcast-Spectacor owns the Phantoms, but does not own the Kixx. All other events would be absorbed by the Wachovia Center. The Spectrum currently averages about 125 event dates per calendar year.

The Kixx and other MISL teams have struggled to hook on as a popular sports entertainment option in various U.S. markets.

Conversely, the Phantoms, with a history of sold-out games and two Calder Cup championships on their corporate resume, could be considered an attractive commodity for several markets in the region, including Trenton, N.J., and Atlantic City, N.J.

Comcast-Spectacor officials have not indicated whether they were pursuing such options.

Nevertheless, the belief is that a development of this nature would be a boon not only to the city, but anyone who ventures into the stadium vicinity.

“With the new ballparks and the fact that there’s more housing down here, the landscape has changed,” said Luukko. “And we feel there’s a need for a project like this not only for our fans, but for the community around us with restaurants, retail and a fun place to go both day and night.”

During construction of the Wachovia Center in 1996, Comcast-Spectacor struck a deal with the City of Philadelphia for exclusive negotiating rights for corporate land development at the stadium multiplex.

The deal gave Comcast a window of 20 years to develop a 300,000-square foot parcel of land that includes the Spectrum site.

It’s believed the project has been reviewed by officials from the Phillies and Eagles, and members of the city’s political community have also been briefed, with one prominent politician apparently liking what he saw.

“He saw a brief presentation from Comcast-Spectacor and that’s been the extent of his involvement,” said Gary Tuma, a spokesman for State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo. “He said it looked nice.”

Tuma said Fumo didn’t have a “blanket opinion” about what should or shouldn’t be done with the property, but that it would depend on what the final proposal might be.

A message left with a spokesman for Philadelphia City Council chairwoman Anna Verna, who represents the district in and around the stadium complex area, was not returned.

Newly minted Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and U.S. Congressman Robert Brady also couldn’t be reached.

The Cordish Company is one of the leading development firms for this particular brand of commercial endeavor and has built similar projects in other cities, including “Power Plant Live!” in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area; “Fourth Street Live” in Louisville, Ky.; “Daytona Live!” outside Daytona Motor Speedway in Daytona, Fla. And “Paradise Live!” and the Seminole Hard Rock Café Casino in Tampa, Fla.

The company is also involved in constructing “Woodbine Live!” at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto and “Ballpark Village” in St. Louis. While the cost of these projects vary from an estimated $35 million in Baltimore to $750 million in Toronto, the Comcast-Spectacor project, with a hotel, could eclipse the $100 million plateau.

A message left for a Cordish spokeswoman went unreturned.

Cordish has also developed several other shopping-based projects that include, “The Walk” in Atlantic City, “The Boulevard at Capital Centre” in Landover, Md. and the factory outlets in Ocean City, Md.
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God - that’s disheartening to hear.

My first ever live sports events were in that building. I still have sets of tickets that date back to 1992 for games where the Flyers faced off against the Winnipeg Jets and the Hartford Whalers and the Quebec Nordiques.

To see the Spectrum fall would be seeing another part of my youth falling. Another part of my life that has meant so much. I’m only 19. Imagine how folks like my grandfather, who took me to my first season of games, are going to feel when an even larger piece of their history falls to the ground.

I was 16 when the Vet was demolished, and I had some tears in my eyes. I’m almost petrified to imagine what it’d be like to watch the Spectrum fall to the asphalt.

[Rex]

They better fucking not.

I was in favor of knocking down the Vet, and even that was hard to see go.

Not a chance. Also, moving the Phantoms to AC or Trenton? No way. There is so much space around there, no reason.

I'm sure the South Philadelphia residents around there would just LOVE it...

[Chris]

Man, I hope this isn't true.

I too saw my first hockey games there, and knocking down so much history would just be shitty.

[Drew]

There is no way this is going down. South Philly residents would never allow such a thing. Trust me on that one.

[Billy]

if they do, the hive invades the last game

k? Phantoms that is, not the kixx, they suck

[Jlg-28]

i sure hope they don't know it down, I know eventually it may need some work to preserve it but I'd rather see it stay then go

[10000marbles]

Originally Posted by Billy

if they do, the hive invades the last game

k? Phantoms that is, not the kixx, they suck

im there

[Obama]

Billy shut up.

[Ryan20]

No.

[Tocchet22]

man iw as jsut in there for the ozzy rob zombie concert last thursday. it was the first time i was in there in awhile and i was loving it

[Asha]

assholes.

[PhillyIceman]

Hey, I wouldnt mind seeing the Phantoms up here in Trenton, It would get the f-ing Devils outa here. But thats not going to happen. The big rumor (which I was told by top brass of the Trenton Devils) is that within the next 2 years, Trenton Devils are to become the AHL affiliate to NJ as they would be dropping Lowell in Mass. Great for Trenton Hockey, but Id rather watch a team I like than a team I dont. And hockey didnt work in Atlantic City either, hence the loss of the Boardwalk Bullies of the ECHL two years back. But in all respects, seeing the loss of the Spectrum would be horrifying. Especially if its going to be replaced by a damn movie theatre or "chic-hotel"

[Jlg-28]

i think we need to start an online petition to save the spectrum

[Asha]

Originally Posted by Jlg-28

i think we need to start an online petition to save the spectrum

yes we should.

savethespectrum.com

[Chris]

http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet...p.asp?ID=61081

Similar article on CSN today. It looks like Lukko is pretty set on getting this done, with or without the Spectrum.

I'd hate to see the Phantoms move.

[Asha]

this makes me wanna go to a Phantoms game.