The Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has gone by many names since it was officially opened in 1967. It has been called the Spectrum, Core States Spectrum, and the First Union Spectrum. Wachovia did buy the naming rights for a couple of years, but the bank is now defunct. Wells Fargo had to purchase Wachovia due to the recent financial troubles the bank had. It could no longer sustain itself without becoming a subsidiary of the larger bank.
The Spectrum can seat up to 18,000 visitors for basketball, 17,300 for hockey and other sports. At the moment the center is home to the Philadelphia Phantoms and Philadelphia KiXX. Over the forty plus years the facility has been open there have been other teams that called the arena home. The Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Wings, Philadelphia Soul, Philadelphia Freedoms, Philadelphia Bulldogs, and Philadelphia Fever used to call the arena home.
Comcast Spectacor is the owner of the facility with Global Spectrum running the place. The construction costs were $7 million. Despite the teams calling the arena home they are soon to be into a new home. On October 31, 2009 the center will be closed. This is after a four day Pearl Jam Concert. The center is to be closed and razed. The proposal is to build a new hotel as part of the Philly Live! Complex.
In the early years the sports complex was used for the NHL team and as an Ice Capades facility. In 1968 during one of the ice shows the roof collapsed and the center had to be closed. There was a small battle to get the roof replaced while the Mayor fought with DA Arlen Specter about who should fix the roof. Several All Star Games also made their way to the facility. The Stanley Cup was won at the arena in the 70's. College Basketball Tournaments such as the Big Five games, eight Atlantic Ten Conference Tournaments, and the Final Fours were held at the facility.
Wachovia Spectrum had some wrestling tournaments with the WWF and WWE. Many of the performances were live telecasts for the public to enjoy like the Summer Slam, King of the Ring, and Hulk Hogan tournaments. Also, the WCW was promoted at the arena. By far the most prolific of events has been musical artists holding concerts at the arena.
The Doors, Greatful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Animals in the Flesh, Roger Waters, Us and Them, and Queen have visited the complex. The Who, Guns N' Roses, We Can't Dance, Phil Collins, Genesis, Use Your Illusion Tour, Dio, Kiss, Phish, and Unforgettable Five Tour were other events. The announcement to close the Spectrum Arena came in July 2008. Chairman Ed Snider announced that the land was going to be needed for the Philly Live! Complex which would offer a larger building for the hockey and soccer events. To commemorate the Spectrum the teams were given one more year to play against US teams along with several concert performances
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