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Monday, December 14, 1998
Ed Snider has been Philadelphia's leader in sports and entertainment for more than 30 years. In that time, he founded the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phantoms, developed two major arenas, created two cable television channels, started the world's largest arenamanagement company and engineered one of the largest sports mergers in the country.
In 1966, the National Hockey League expanded for the first time, adding six new teams. Snider believed that hockey would succeed in Philadelphia and fought hard to bring a new franchise to the city. When he succeeded, the Flyers were born in 1966.
With the club needing a home, he spearheaded the development of the Spectrum in 1967. By 1971, Snider had assumed control of the arena. In 1974, he created Spectacor, a management company to oversee the Flyers and the Spectrum. Under his direction, Spectacor founded new business over the years including, PRISM, a regional premium cable television channel which broadcasted home games for the Flyers, 76ers and Phillies.
Spectacor's most ambitious undertaking began in 1988 when Snider decided that the Flyers needed a new home to remain competitive in the NHL. It took eight years from conception to completion, but today the First Union Center stands as a tribute to Snider's perseverance and foresight. The $210 million facility now defines state-of-the-art for arenas.
(more)As Chairman of the Philadelphia Phantoms, Snider is no stranger to early AHL success. While Chairman of the Board for the Maine Mariners, he won a Calder Cup in each of the team's first two seasons of existence from 1977-1979. Having won a Calder Cup last season with the Phantoms, Snider has now won AHL Championships in the first three of four years with AHL expansion clubs.
Snider was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and serves on the NHL's executive committee. He is a recipient of the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States and has been elected to both the Flyers and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Barber coached the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars at the 1998 AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse, NY. He will serve as the coach of the Canadian AHL All-Stars at the 1999 First Union AHL All-Star Classic. He becomes just the fourth coach in AHL All-Star history to coach consecutive AHL All-Star games joining Hall of Fame coaches Fred "Bun" Cook, Frank Mathers and Johnny Crawford.
A member of the Flyers organization for the past 26 years, Barber served as the Flyers Director of Pro Scouting for eight seasons following an All-Star career on the ice for the Flyers. Barber began his professional hockey career with the Richmond Robins during the 1972-73 season. Barber averaged better than a point a game in the AHL prior to joining the Flyers. As a player for 13 seasons with the Flyers, Barber is the clubs all-time leading goal scorer and ranks third in assists and second in both points and games played. A three-time NHL All-Star, Barber was also a member of the Flyers back-to-back Stanley Cup Championship teams in 1973-74 and 1974-75. Barber was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1989.
The Annual All-Star Luncheon has previously recognized other honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame with ties to the American Hockey League. Last season the League honored Bill Torrey, Bryan Trottier and Harry Howell.
AHL announces Hall of Fame Honourees
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA . . .The American Hockey League announced today that the 1999 Hockey Hall of Fame AHL All-Star Luncheon will honor Hockey Hall of Famers Ed Snider and Bill Barber. Both Hall of Fame Honorees have ties to the AHL and hockey in the city of Philadelphia, PA. Snider and Barber will both be in attendance at the Luncheon scheduled for Monday, January 25, 1999 at the Philadelphia Marriott from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Philadelphia, PA as part of the 1999 First Union AHL All-Star Classic.ED SNIDER
1988 Hockey Hall of Fame InducteeEd Snider has been Philadelphia's leader in sports and entertainment for more than 30 years. In that time, he founded the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phantoms, developed two major arenas, created two cable television channels, started the world's largest arenamanagement company and engineered one of the largest sports mergers in the country.
In 1966, the National Hockey League expanded for the first time, adding six new teams. Snider believed that hockey would succeed in Philadelphia and fought hard to bring a new franchise to the city. When he succeeded, the Flyers were born in 1966.
With the club needing a home, he spearheaded the development of the Spectrum in 1967. By 1971, Snider had assumed control of the arena. In 1974, he created Spectacor, a management company to oversee the Flyers and the Spectrum. Under his direction, Spectacor founded new business over the years including, PRISM, a regional premium cable television channel which broadcasted home games for the Flyers, 76ers and Phillies.
Spectacor's most ambitious undertaking began in 1988 when Snider decided that the Flyers needed a new home to remain competitive in the NHL. It took eight years from conception to completion, but today the First Union Center stands as a tribute to Snider's perseverance and foresight. The $210 million facility now defines state-of-the-art for arenas.
(more)As Chairman of the Philadelphia Phantoms, Snider is no stranger to early AHL success. While Chairman of the Board for the Maine Mariners, he won a Calder Cup in each of the team's first two seasons of existence from 1977-1979. Having won a Calder Cup last season with the Phantoms, Snider has now won AHL Championships in the first three of four years with AHL expansion clubs.
Snider was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and serves on the NHL's executive committee. He is a recipient of the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States and has been elected to both the Flyers and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
BILL BARBER
1990 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Barber was named Head Coach of the Philadelphia Phantoms on March 14, 1996 and led the Phantoms to their first Calder Cup Championship in June of 1998. Barber has guided the Phantoms to consecutive Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophies as the AHL's regular season points champion. In winning back-to-back Mid-Atlantic Division titles, the Phantoms have compiled the highest point percentage of any team in AHL history (.678). While coaching the Phantoms during their inaugural season in 1996-97, he posted a record of 49-18-3-10 which was the best record ever by a first year AHL franchise.Barber coached the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars at the 1998 AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse, NY. He will serve as the coach of the Canadian AHL All-Stars at the 1999 First Union AHL All-Star Classic. He becomes just the fourth coach in AHL All-Star history to coach consecutive AHL All-Star games joining Hall of Fame coaches Fred "Bun" Cook, Frank Mathers and Johnny Crawford.
A member of the Flyers organization for the past 26 years, Barber served as the Flyers Director of Pro Scouting for eight seasons following an All-Star career on the ice for the Flyers. Barber began his professional hockey career with the Richmond Robins during the 1972-73 season. Barber averaged better than a point a game in the AHL prior to joining the Flyers. As a player for 13 seasons with the Flyers, Barber is the clubs all-time leading goal scorer and ranks third in assists and second in both points and games played. A three-time NHL All-Star, Barber was also a member of the Flyers back-to-back Stanley Cup Championship teams in 1973-74 and 1974-75. Barber was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1989.
The Annual All-Star Luncheon has previously recognized other honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame with ties to the American Hockey League. Last season the League honored Bill Torrey, Bryan Trottier and Harry Howell.