Spectrum: Another box bites the dust

So Ed Snider plans to blow up the Spectrum at the end of the 2008-2009 season, soon to join the ghosts of sports venues past. This is getting to be a tradition down there on South Broad.

"This has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make," Snider said today.  "The Spectrum is my baby. It's one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me..."

If true, then Snider's life isn't nearly as exciting as we thought.

The new venue, currently named Philly Live!, will be an entertainment and game complex that could feature a hotel, restaurants, bars, stores and more.

If Snider manages to wrangle state and/or city funding for this project, public screaming should commence immediately.

Then again, Snider is one of the major names in the stalled Foxwoods Casino project on the riverfront. Plans for the new entertainment complex are not detailed but there are plans for major enterainerment while relocating the sports teams that now play at the Spectrum.

All of this has the distinct smell of.....slots.