Phantoms To Honor The Past For Opening Night

Published on October 9, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phantoms will open the season at the Wachovia Spectrum for one final time this Friday night when they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:05 PM. The 42nd and final Opening Night at the historic building will feature much of the glamour that usually comes with a Phantoms opener, but will also have a significant nod to the first opening night of the building.

The first 10,000 fans arriving at the game on Friday night will receive the 2008-09 Phantoms magnet schedule, courtesy of Toyota. From 6-7 PM, Flyers legends Bernie Parent and Joe Watson, who were both on hand for the first Opening Night of the Spectrum on October 19, 1967, will be signing autographs for fans on the concourse.

The pregame ceremonies will include a player-by-player introduction of the Phantoms roster for the evening. After the players are introduced, the Phantoms will welcome two guests for a very special ceremonial puck drop. Back at that first Flyers opener on October 19, 1967 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Flyers captain Lou Angotti and Penguins captain Ab McDonald came to center ice to take the first puck drop in the building's history. Both men are returning to the Spectrum on Friday, and will re-enact that same puck drop at center ice to open the building's final hockey season. Parent will handle the honors of dropping the puck.

The Phantoms will be making available a special commemorative print of this event. The print will feature the photo of the 1967 puck drop alongside that of the 2008 puck drop. This print, courtesy of the CoCo Key Water Resort, will be available to the first 2,000 fans who purchase a ticket for either the October 17 game vs. Hershey or the October 18 game vs. Binghamton. The tickets will be available at the advance ticket window behind Section 216 until the end of the second intermission, and the prints will be available for pickup following the game at the Customer Service Booth behind Section 201.

Throughout the game, there will be tons of the great family entertainment the Phantoms are known for. There will be a circus atmosphere on the concourse with jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, and Bullies will feature a live band. The ever-popular Chuck-A-Puck returns for every Friday night game this season, beginning this week.

Also on Friday night, the Phantoms will be helping to raise awareness of breast cancer and its prevention. There will be tables and events on the concourse relating to the fight of this disease.

Comcast-Spectacor announced this summer that the Wachovia Spectrum will close after the Phantoms conclude their 2008-09 season. The Spectrum opened on September 30, 1967 with the Quaker City Jazz Festival. After nearly 30 seasons of Philadelphia Flyers hockey and Philadelphia 76ers basketball, the Spectrum gave way to the Wachovia Center in 1996.

The best way for fans to secure a ticket for the final game on April 12, 2009 is to purchase either a game plan package or season tickets. Packages are available now in convenient blocks of 6, 10, 16, 20 and 40 games. Receiving an impressive list of exclusive benefits, discount prices and the same seat for each game begins at just $60!

For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com

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American Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2008


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