Ed Snider

Ed Snider pledged his home as collateral for a loan to create the Philadelphia Flyers in 1966, and

then used that foundation to build one of the preeminent sports and entertainment Organizations in the world – Comcast Spectator. When the National Hockey league decided to expand in 1966, Snider convinced the league that Philadelphia should receive an expansion team. Snider then oversaw the construction of the Spectrum and later took control of it. In 1974, Snider created Spectacor to oversee the Flyers and the Spectrum. In 1996, Snider merged Spectacor with Comcast Corporation to form Comcast-Spectacor. That same year, he opened the Wachovia Center, a state-of-the-art sports/entertainment complex which now comprises the most active sports and entertainment complex in the world.  Comcast-Spectacor now encompasses the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia  Phantoms,  the  Flyers, Global  Spectrum,  Ovations  Food Services, New Era Tickets and Flyers Skate Zone. Snider’s true legacy is the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation which was started by Snider in 2005 to provide a means to reach inner city children by giving them the chance to learn to play hockey. The program also teaches necessary life skills and provides educational assistance to help children stay in school. Ed Snider’s achievements have earned him numerous awards and recognition worldwide.