Philadelphia Spectrum Roof Blowing Off

First stanley cup finals game.

Philadelphia spectrum roof blowing off.

Construction began in june of 1966 and was completed in 16 months at a cost of 7 million. March 1968 the world s biggest kite is launched at the spectrum. There was a lot of history at the spectrum from the roof blowing off in the beginning said dave howard of west deptford n j. Sadly none of the ice capades performers skating that day were killed.

Yes kids there used to be a hockey team in oakland. March 1 1968 spectrum roof was blown off forcing the nhl flyers to play the final month of the season on the road and the nba 76ers to play at the palestra and convention hall. Opened on september 30 1967 the spectrum became home to both the expansion philadelphia flyers of the nhl as well as the philadelphia 76ers of the nba. Today with the long process almost complete.

High winds ripped a huge chunk of the roof off of the spectrum shortly before an ice capades show and the crowd found themselves staring up into the sky. Showing a rather remarkable sense of humor the ice capades band began playing into the wild blue yonder. On march 1 1968 wind blew part of the covering off the spectrum s roof during a performance of the ice capades forcing the building to close for a month while mayor tate fought with then philadelphia county district attorney arlen specter over responsibility for the construction of the roof and the damage was repaired. The arena was off to a hot start but in february of 1968 the roof caved in.

All of this chaos springs from an ill wind that blew off the roof of the spectrum and ultimately whipped up a ruinous tempest involving 1 a brash and maybe bankrupt millionaire 2 a 35 year old personal feud between two old line philadelphia giants and 3 a political struggle between a desperately worried democratic mayor and an intense young republican district attorney. 20 1983 6 5 over the penguins. The roof is blowing off minutes before 11 000 spectators had heard what sounded like an approaching freight train as high winds tore off a hefty chunk of the new arena s roof and dumped it into the parking lot. The media reported it as the spectrum roof blowing off but we know the truth.

October 1994 grateful dead perform 50th show at the spectrum. Get em next time philly. The roof is blowing off on march 3 1968 the flyers played oakland in an afternoon game at madison square garden before a rangers night game. But hey it s progress i guess what are you going to.

The spectrum in philadelphia the long time home of the philadelphia flyers and philadelphia 76ers has been in demolition mode for several months now.