Top 10 Spectrum Moments

As the city of Philadelphia gets set to demolish the Spectrum, it is time to take one final look back at some of the top events in its storied existence. After opening on September 30, 1967, the Spectrum enjoyed many incredible moments over its 43-year career. While there are so many memories to chose from, here are the top 10 moments in Spectrum history.

#10 (tie): February 2, 1968: Wilt Chamberlain’s Double Triple-Double and
May 16, 1980: Magic Johnson plays every position.
Wilt Chamberlain accomplished some incredible feats in his storied career. During the 1967-1968 season, the Big Dipper did something that no one has come close to achieving. In one game against the Detroit Pistons, Chamberlain finished with 22 points, 25 rebounds, and 21 assists. No one has accomplished a double triple-double since.

In Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, Magic Johnson started at Center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson would go on to play all five position on the floor and finished with 40 points to clinch the 1980 championship for the Los Angeles Lakers. It is considered by many to be the greatest performance of his career.

#9. October 11, 1973: Kate Smith performs “God Bless America”
At the start of the Philadelphia Flyers 1973-1974 season, Kate Smith appeared live at the Spectrum for the first time to perform “God Bless America”. Smith became a good luck charm for the Flyers as the team had tremendous success in games she performed.

A statue of Smith stands outside of the Spectrum to this day. The Flyers still play the song before important games as Smith participates in a virtual duet with Lauren Hart, the daughter of long-time announcer Gene Hart.

#8. December 9, 1980: The Boss pays tribute to a legend.
While the Spectrum was home to many incredible sporting events it was also an outstanding venue for music. Elvis Presley. Billy Joel. Pearl Jam. The Rolling Stones. The Grateful Dead. However one of the most storied acts in the history of the Spectrum was the Boss, Bruce Springteen.

The night after John Lennon was assassinated, Springsteen and the E Street Band put on an emotional concert in front of the Spectrum faithful. The Boss opened the night by addressing the crowd and stating, “It’s a hard world that asks you to live with a lot of things that are unlivable. And it’s hard to come out here and play tonight, but there’s nothing else to do.”

The Boss and his band put on a 3.5 hour, 34-song marathon that ended with a cover of the Beatles classic “Twist and Shout”.

#7. December 8, 1987: Ron Hextall makes history.
Ron Hextall had a long, outstanding career as a goaltender. He was both a Vezina and Conn Smythe award winner.

However, in December of 1987 Hextall made history in another way. With the opposing goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, Hextall took control of the puck and shot it down to the other end of the ice on net. He became the first goalie in NHL history to score a goal. Hextall would add another goal to his credit during the 1989 playoffs.

#6. March 29, 1976: Indiana completes perfect season.
Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers came into the 1976 Final Four at the Spectrum looking to complete a perfect season and win the National Championship. The Hoosiers took on Big Ten rival Michigan in the title game in the first finals matchup between two teams from the same conference.

Indiana won the game and finished the 1975-1976 with a perfect 32-0 record. It is the last time in college basketball that a team finished a season with a perfect record and won the national championship. Coach Knight won a second national championship at the Spectrum in 1981 as PG Isiah Thomas led the way for the Hoosiers.

#5. May 28, 1987: JJ Daigneault wins Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
It has been argued that Daigneault’s game winning goal was the loudest moment in the history of the Spectrum. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers were strong favorites against the Flyers in the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals.

After trailing 2-0 in Game 6 at home, Brian Propp scored to tie the game and Daigneault gave the Orange and Black the lead with 5:32 remaining. The Flyers forced a Game 7 in Edmonton where the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup. Ron Hextall was named the MVP of the series in a losing effort.

#4. January 5, 1983: Dr. J’s windmill dunk.
It will forever be remembered as one of the highlight plays of Julius Erving’s career. “Dr. J” stole the ball at mid-court and glided towards the rim to “rock the baby to sleep”. The dunk over Michael Cooper sent the Spectrum crowd into a frenzy and was a precursor for the Sixers championship victory over the Lakers later in the season.

#3. January 11, 1976: The Flyers defeat the Soviet Red Army.
Four years before the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid, the Philadelphia Flyers took on the Soviet All-Star team in an exhibition at the Spectrum. The Soviets had won all of their match ups against NHL teams to that point. However, the Flyers beat them both physically and on the scoreboard.

The Flyers were so dominant that the Soviets left the ice during the game and refused to come back until NHL Commissioner Clarence Campbell and Flyers owner Ed Snider told them they wouldn’t be paid. The Soviets returned to the ice and the Flyers won the matchup 4-1.

#2. March 28, 1992: The shot heard around the world.
It is one of the signature plays in the history of college basketball. With a spot in the Final Four on the line, Christian Laettner and Duke University took on Jamaal Mashburn and the Kentucky Wildcats in an all-time classic.

With two seconds remaining Kentucky’s Sean Wood hit a bank shot to give the Wildcats a 103-102 lead. After a timeout, Duke’s Grant Hill flung the inbounds pass 80-feet down court to the opposing foul line where Laettner made the catch. The Senior took a dribble, faked to his right, turned left and hit a 15-foot jumper as time expired. The shot shocked the Spectrum and the entire college basketball world as Duke went on to win the 1992 National Championship.

#1. May 19, 1974: The Flyers win the Stanley Cup!
The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins 1-0 to win their first championship in franchise history. Rick McLeish scored the game winning goal and Bernie Parent posted a shutout as the Orange and Black won the first of back-to-back Stanley Cups.

It is the only professional championship won by a Philadelphia team at the Spectrum.