Last season was quite the spectacle of 50th Anniversary events and celebrations for the Flyers organization. And today is another special day in Flyers history.
Fifty years ago on this day, the Flyers played their first home game at the Spectrum. It would be nice to bring that full circle with a home game at the old barn, but it was torn down between November 2010 and May 2011.
We wouldn’t let this day go uncelebrated. This is a city filled with fans dedicated to the heritage of the Broad Street Bullies. The late founder of the Philadelphia Flyers, Ed Snider, was honored today with the bronze statue unveiling outside of the newer arena, our lovely Wells Fargo Center. The statue was created by Chad Fisher of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, and it can be found near the VIP entrance by the C lots.
Ed Snider was also honored this past May with a section of 11th Street near Pattison Avenue named “Ed Snider Way”. A banner with his name was raised to the rafters on October 20, 2016.
There’s no doubt that our hearts still bleed orange from the passing of Mr. Snider on April 11, 2016. I remember receiving the news and breaking down in public.
The organization has been doing a phenomenal job of honoring a man who is so important to every Flyers fan. We have reminders inside and out of our beloved arena of the man who gave us our passion.
