Misplaced Pages

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "South Philadelphia Sports Complex" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

South Philadelphia Sports Complex

The South Philadelphia Sports Complex as it existed in 2003–2004. Clockwise from top right: Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center (formerly the site of John F. Kennedy Stadium), the Spectrum (razed in 2011), and Veterans Stadium (imploded in 2004). Interstate 95, which passes the complex, can be seen at the bottom right corner of the photo.
South Philadelphia Sports Complex
Address	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States
Coordinates	39°54′14″N 75°10′08″W / 39.904°N 75.169°W / 39.904; -75.169
Facilities	Wells Fargo Center Lincoln Financial Field Citizens Bank Park Xfinity Live!

The South Philadelphia Sports Complex is the home of four major Philadelphia professional sports teams. The complex is located in South Philadelphia and is the site of Wells Fargo Center, home arena for the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers, Lincoln Financial Field, home field for the Philadelphia Eagles, Citizens Bank Park, home field for the Philadelphia Phillies, and Xfinity Live!, a sports retail and entertainment center.

History

The South Philadelphia Sports Complex was also once home to three iconic and since demolished stadiums: John F. Kennedy Stadium (1926–1992), Veterans Stadium (1971–2004), and the Spectrum (1967–2011). Prior to its development, the region that now is the South Philadelphia Sports Complex was a shanty town known as "The Neck" of the undeveloped League Island area, formerly Passyunk Township. Oregon Avenue was the southern border end of the city up to the 1920s.

As early as April 1914, "a plot of ground on Broad Street near the Navy Yard was also considered" as a location on which to erect a stadium for the Army–Navy Game with a capacity greater than Franklin Field and Shibe Park, both of which had not yet been expanded in 1914.

In 1926 the City selected the area south of Oregon Avenue for the 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition and developed the large river delta land south of Oregon Avenue. South Broad Street was a grand European-styled boulevard surrounded by massive exhibit buildings and structures that were to be a testament to American science, culture, and progress for the future. Following the close of the celebration of these 150 years of American Independence on the Avenue of the Colonies of South Broad Street came quick total demolition except of the stadium.

Prior to building Veterans Stadium across Packer Avenue north of JFK Stadium was family entertainment of a bowling alley, and a drive-in theater that was a venue created by Camden, New Jersey, chemical company magnate Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., whose family owned and operated the R.M. Hollingshead Corporation chemical plant in Camden and that peaked in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.

Current facilities

• Citizens Bank Park: This stadium opened in 2004 and is home to MLB's Philadelphia Phillies.
• Lincoln Financial Field: Sometimes referred to as The Linc, Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003 and is home to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and the Temple Owls football team (NCAA).
• Wells Fargo Center: The Wells Fargo Center opened in 1996 and is home to the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), and the Philadelphia Wings (National Lacrosse League). The Villanova Wildcats (NCAA basketball) play select games at the Wells Fargo Center.
• Xfinity Live!: A retail and entertainment center built just east of the site of the since demolished Spectrum at 11th Street.

Former facilities

• John F. Kennedy Stadium: JFK Stadium opened in 1926 as Sesquicentennial Stadium for the Sesquicentennial Exposition, and was renamed Philadelphia Municipal Stadium following the exposition. The name was again changed in 1964 in honor of President John F. Kennedy, who had been assassinated on November 22, 1963. JFK Stadium was condemned in 1989 and demolished in 1992. JFK was home to the Eagles, the Philadelphia Quakers of the first American Football League, the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League, and 42 Army–Navy Games. It was also one of the host sites for the original Live Aid concert in 1985, and the Jacksons Victory Tour in September 1984.
• The Spectrum: The Spectrum (also known as the CoreStates Spectrum, First Union Spectrum, and Wachovia Spectrum during its history) opened in 1967 and was the home of the Flyers, 76ers and Philadelphia Wings until 1996. From 1996 to 2009 the Spectrum was the home of the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), Philadelphia KiXX (NISL), and served as an alternate home for the Soul. The Spectrum hosted six Stanley Cup Finals, four NBA Finals, two NHL All-Star Games, two NBA All-Star Games and two NCAA Final Fours. The Spectrum closed on October 31, 2009, following Pearl Jam's performance at the last show of a four-night concert set. Demolition of the Spectrum began in November 2010 and was completed in April 2011.
• Veterans Stadium: also known as "The Vet", opened in 1971, closed in 2003, and was imploded on March 21, 2004. The Vet was home of the Eagles and the Phillies. The Vet also hosted three World Series (1980, 1983 and 1993), two Major League Baseball All-Star Games (1976 and 1996) and 17 Army–Navy Games.
• Aquarama Aquarium Theater of the Sea: existed between 1962 and 1969. It was located at 3200 South Broad Street bordering the Packer Park residential neighborhood in South Philadelphia. It was the successor to the Philadelphia Aquarium, established in the City of Philadelphia and built in 1911 along the Schuylkill River northwest of the Parkway's Art Museum in Center City. The relocated aquarium was augmented by elements of family fun exhibits and aquatic shows. The new public spaces hosted popular teen dances, and became an identifiable part of South Philadelphia's pop culture scene during the 1950s and 1960s with disc jockeys like Ed Hurst, Jerry Blavat and Dick Clark of American Bandstand garnering significant attention. After its demolition, movie theater and fast-food hamburger chain, the "Steer-in", were built on the site, which would be demolished in the 1990s to make way for new residential and commercial development.

Transportation

NRG station on SEPTA's Broad Street Line is within walking distance of the three venues in the area. It was once known as Pattison Station until it was renamed AT&T Station under a naming rights agreement in 2010; the naming rights passed to NRG in 2018. NRG station is served by local trains along with special Sports Express trains making limited stops along the line before and after events at the Sports Complex. SEPTA City Bus routes 4 and 17 provide service to the Sports Complex.

Sports Complex Special Services District

Sports Complex Special Services District

Formation	2002
Type	501(c)(3)
Headquarters	3300 South 7th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Region served	South Philadelphia Sports Complex
Website	http://www.scssd.org/

The Sports Complex Special Services District (SCSSD)is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Philadelphia that was established in the year 2002 to minimize the impact of concentrating major sporting and entertainment facilities in a geographic area adjacent to established Philadelphia residential neighborhoods of South Philadelphia.

The mission is to protect community interests, improve neighborhood quality of life, and promote efficient operation within the neighborhood(s) of adjacent sports venues of the Citizen's Ball Park, Lincoln Financial Field, multi-event Wachovia Center and the former Spectrum Arena(demolished 2010). The mission is fulfilled by providing support and special services to the residential neighborhood(s) in close proximity to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.

Primary areas of supportive improvements include attention to traffic calming, directional signage, and orderly traffic patterns and flows, removal of an abundance of excess curbside street and sidewalk trash and debris with dedicated cleaning teams (other than normal City provided services), street tree care for over a thousand trees, landscape beautification of several public medial areas and walkways, recreational facility upgrades, upgrades to street lighting and traffic light enhancements, public safety initiatives, conducts special community events, attends public and civil meetings, circulates a calendar and newsletters, and provides announcements of high traffic events scheduled at the Complex so neighbors can plan family events and travel with knowledge of conditions in advance.

The boundary of the Special District is bounded by Oregon Avenue to the north, 7th Street to the east, I-95 to the south, and 20th Street to the west. It includes the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Packer Park and Marconi Plaza that are represented on the board by four neighborhood districts.

The Special District does not include the "Xfinity Live!" dining entertainment built on the former site of the Spectrum Arena. The impact of traffic and patrons have raised concerns by the adjacent neighborhood community and the parkland of FDR Park seeking to have a mechanism to deal with it in an organized structure, similar to the SCSSD.

References

1. "Army-Navy Game Will Be Played Here Or Not At All, Navy Is Quoted". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. April 1, 1914. p. 14.
2. "Broad Street Line Sports Express". SEPTA. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
3. SEPTA Official Philadelphia Transit & Street Map (PDF) (Map). SEPTA. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
4. "ABOUT SCSSD". www.scssd.org. Sports Complex Special Services District. 2009.

External links

• Morley, Christopher (1920). "Stonehouse Lane and the Neck". Travels in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: David McKay Company, Publishers. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
• Shpigel, Ben (2009-11-01). "In Gritty South Philly, a Piece of Sacred Ground". New York Times.
• Sports Complex Special Services District

v t e Philadelphia Phillies
Established in 1883 Formerly the Philadelphia Quakers and the Philadelphia Blue Jays Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Franchise	History Seasons Records Players Owners and executives Managers Broadcasters Opening Day starting pitchers First-round picks No-hitters Award winners and league leaders
Ballparks	Recreation Park Baker Bowl Shibe Park Veterans Stadium Citizens Bank Park Spring training Cape May Athletic Park The Ballpark (Gainesville) Latta Park Baseball Field Broad Street Park Bolton Street Park Southern Pines Country Club Rickwood Field Fogel Field Sunset Ball Park Coffee Pot Park Wearn Field Fleming Field Cooke Field Ninth Street Park Denison Field Biloxi Stadium Landa Park Flamingo Field Wilmington Park Clearwater Athletic Field Jack Russell Stadium Carpenter Complex/BayCare Ballpark
Culture	Ashburn Alley Baseball Wall of Fame By Saam Curse of Billy Penn Dan Baker Franchise awards "High Hopes" Hot Pants Patrol "Kashmir" Maje McDonnell Pattison station Paul Richardson Philadelphia Phillies (NFL) Phillie Phanatic (David Raymond) Phillies Turn Back the Clock Sports Hall of Fame The Winning Team Summer Catch "The Sound of Philadelphia" "Dancing on My Own" "A-O-K" South Philadelphia Sports Complex Tony Lucadello
Lore	1993 World Series Game 6 2018 MLB Little League Classic Bedlam at the Bank Black Friday Black Saturday The Cardiac Kids Chase Utley's throw home Dick Sisler's home run The Four Aces Macho Row Perfect games Jim Bunning Roy Halladay Pete Rose catch The Phold Roy Halladay's postseason no-hitter Whiz Kids Wheeze Kids
Rivalries	New York Mets Philadelphia Athletics (City Series) Pittsburgh Pirates Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos (former)
Retired numbers	1 14 15 20 32 34 36 42 P P
Key personnel	Owner: Limited partnership (John S. Middleton, Jim & Pete Buck, Stanley Middleman, Estate of David Montgomery, & Pat Gillick) President: David Dombrowski General Manager: Preston Mattingly Manager: Rob Thomson
World Series championships (2)	1980 2008
NL pennants (8)	1915 1950 1980 1983 1993 2008 2009 2022
Division championships (12)	1976 1977 1978 1980 1983 1993 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2024
Wild Card titles (2)	2022 2023
Minor league affiliates	Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs Double-A Reading Fightin Phils High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws Single-A Clearwater Threshers Rookie FCL Phillies DSL Phillies Red DSL Phillies White Rosters Minor league rosters
Broadcasting	Television NBC Sports Philadelphia WCAU Radio 94 WIP (English flagship station) El Pasaporte (Spanish flagship station) Phillies radio network affiliates Broadcasters Tom McCarthy John Kruk Ben Davis Mike Schmidt Rubén Amaro Jr. Scott Franzke Larry Andersen Kevin Stocker
Seasons (143) 1880s 1880 · 1881 · 1882 · 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890s 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020s 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Category

• Broad Street (Philadelphia)
• Neighborhoods in Philadelphia
• South Philadelphia
• Sports complexes in the United States
• Sports in Philadelphia