Ed Snider
Ed Snider (1933-2016) was a Philadelphia sports and entertainment executive who founded the Philadelphia Flyers, built the Spectrum and Wells Fargo Center, and created Comcast Spectacor into one of America's largest sports and entertainment companies. His transformation of Philadelphia's sports landscape—bringing the NHL to the city, building venues that hosted generations of events, and developing the business model that linked arenas with the teams that played in them—established practices that other cities would replicate. Snider's Philadelphia commitment, maintained across five decades, made him one of the most significant figures in the city's sports history.[1]
Building the Flyers
[edit | edit source]Edward Malcolm Snider was born on January 6, 1933, in Washington, D.C., his business career including work with Edge Records and the Philadelphia Eagles before his sports ownership began. His 1966 acquisition of an NHL expansion franchise, granted for $2 million, brought professional hockey to Philadelphia and created the organization that would become the city's most successful sports franchise. His insistence on competitive excellence, and his willingness to spend what success required, established standards that other Philadelphia teams would sometimes fail to match.[2]
His construction of the Spectrum in 1967, completed in just sixteen months to meet the NHL's deadline, created the arena that would host Philadelphia sports and entertainment for nearly four decades. The building's design, its sightlines, and its atmosphere made it beloved by fans who mourned its eventual demolition. His understanding that arenas required year-round programming beyond sports games led to booking practices that made the Spectrum profitable even when teams struggled.[1]
The Flyers' success under his ownership—two Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975, consistent playoff appearances across decades—validated his approach to sports management. His hiring of Fred Shero as coach and his assembly of the "Broad Street Bullies" teams created the era that established Philadelphia hockey's identity. The orange and black colors, the Kate Smith recording of "God Bless America," and the blue-collar playing style all became associated with the city that his franchise represented.[2]
Comcast Spectacor
[edit | edit source]Snider's 1996 merger with Comcast Corporation created Comcast Spectacor, the sports and entertainment company that combined his arena and team holdings with Comcast's resources. The partnership enabled construction of what became the Wells Fargo Center, the arena that replaced the Spectrum and now hosts the Flyers, 76ers, and major events. His continued leadership of the sports division, despite Comcast's majority ownership, maintained the personal involvement that his career had demonstrated.[1]
His expansion beyond the Flyers to include the 76ers, arena management companies, and entertainment ventures created the integrated model that linked venue ownership with team operation and event programming. His investment in Comcast SportsNet (now NBC Sports Philadelphia) extended his influence to broadcast while his business model influenced how other cities structured sports and entertainment enterprises. His Philadelphia commitment, despite opportunities to relocate or sell to out-of-town interests, kept his operations rooted in the city.[2]
His Snider Hockey program, which provides free ice hockey opportunities to youth in underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods, extended his involvement beyond professional sports to community development. The program's growth, serving thousands of children at multiple facilities, demonstrated commitment to Philadelphia that his business success enabled. His philanthropic activities, including major donations to educational and cultural institutions, distributed resources that his enterprises had generated.[1]
Legacy
[edit | edit source]Ed Snider died on April 11, 2016, his Flyers hosting a memorial at the Wells Fargo Center that demonstrated the affection Philadelphia fans held for their owner. His legacy includes the franchise he built, the venues he constructed, and the business model he pioneered for integrating sports and entertainment operations. His Philadelphia commitment, maintained across fifty years of ownership, made him one of the city's most significant sports figures. Snider represents what sports entrepreneurship could achieve when combined with genuine commitment to competitive excellence and community engagement.[2]