Philly Phantoms’ New Arena

With the pending closure of Comcast-Spectacor’s Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia, rumors have begun to circulate regarding the construction of a new home for the minor-league Phantoms hockey team that plays there.

But wherever the Phantoms end up hanging their helmets, one thing’s certain – it won’t be on Comcast-Spectacor’s dime.

“We’re not looking to build an arena, but we’re looking locally at any possible situations to keep the team local.” Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko told Pollstar. “We’ve had groups approach us about the possibility of the Phantoms playing in an arena if they built one.”

The company has looked into Allentown, northwest of Philly, and Camden County, N.J., just across the Delaware River, as potential sites, Luukko said.

Officials in Camden County told the local Courier-Post the company was working with the county to “identify prospective locations,” noting that talks were “extremely preliminary.”

However, Cherry Hill Township spokesman Dan Keashen alluded to one possibility, saying the municipality is “cautiously excited to be considered a prospective location.”

Comcast-Spectacor chair Ed Snider didn’t seem to mind that idea.

“If someone built an arena [in Cherry Hill], yes, we would be interested,” he told the Courier-Post. “We would love to have them play in front of fans we already have. But beyond a shadow of a doubt, we’re not building our own arena.”

The Wachovia Spectrum is scheduled for demolition in 2009 to make room for the planned Philly Live! retail, dining and entertainment district.