Flyers Chair ED SNIDER, who co-founded the team and "displayed more passion than many fans sitting in the nosebleed seats," died today at 83 after a "long battle with bladder cancer," according to Sam Carchidi of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Snider was "known as one of the most enthusiastic sports owners in Philadelphia history." He served as Chair of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor, and was named to the Hockey HOF in '88. The Flyers "were his baby," and nothing "made him more proud." He was "there for their birth, and he watched them grow into one of the NHL's most respected franchises." Just before the current season started, Snider said that his cancer "had returned and that he had to undergo more treatment." But he "did not want it publicized." He "wanted the focus to be on the team, not his health issues." Snider was Treasurer & VP of the Eagles when he and late team Owner JERRY WOLMAN "helped bring" an expansion NHL team to the city for the '67-68 season. Earlier this season, there were signs that Snider's health "was getting worse." He "missed the home opener for the first time in recent memory." But he "still kept close tabs on the team." Snider had said that "one of his proudest accomplishments was the creation of the Ed Snider Youth Foundation, which provides youngsters from urban neighborhoods in Philadelphia and Camden with the opportunity to learn and play hockey." He was "honored for his charity work by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association" in '12, when the annual Ed Snider Humanitarian award "was created" (PHILLY.com, 4/11).
BLEEDING ORANGE AND BLACK: In Philadelphia, Sam Donnellon writes Snider leaves a legacy that "can not be summarized and will never be duplicated in this town." He "maintained an unfeigned loyalty to anyone and everyone involved" with the Flyers (PHILLY.com, 4/11). SI's Allan Muir writes Snider is remembered in the hockey world "for his passion for the game and his efforts to make the Flyers a larger part of the Philadelphia community" (SI.com, 4/11). In New Jersey, Randy Miller notes Snider was "hands on with his club to the point that the media and public sometimes criticized him for meddling too much," but he always maintained he let his GMs "do their job" (NJ.com, 4/11). USA TODAY's Kevin Allen notes Snider "fueled his team with the proper blend of money and passion." He was "highly involved, meddlesome some would say, in both his team and his league." However, there was "never any doubt that his priority was always to make the Flyers the best organization he could" (USATODAY.com, 4/11). Former NHLer DANIEL BRIERE, who played six seasons with the Flyers, said, "One of the reasons why I wanted to come here was the reputation that Mr. Snider was the best owner in sports to play for." Hockey HOFer BOBBY CLARKE: "He is the organization. The standards ... he set them and they were really high" (COURIERPOSTONLINE.com, 4/11).
IMPORTANT LEAGUE FIGURE: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ryan Kennedy noted Snider was one of the "most powerful men in hockey for years, often appearing on THN’s People of Power list in a high slot." He was a "trusted voice" for NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN on the league's BOG, and he was part of the "influential executive committee and the competition committee, which spearheads rule changes" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 4/11). In New Jersey, Wayne Fish notes Snider "helped engineer" the NHL's merger with the World Hockey Association when the two leagues were "threatening to tear each other apart." He also helped "restructure the game financially after the 2004-05 NHL lockout" (BURLINGTONCOUNTYTIMES.com, 4/11).
FULFILLING HIS VISION: CSNPHILLY.com's Tim Panaccio writes Snider "did his job with the kind of efficiency others only dreamed about as he established nearly a dozen companies under the corporate umbrella of Spectacor that spanned into every avenue of arena and stadium management, entertainment, and food services." He also "assisted in the formation of Comcast SportsNet and Spectra." The Spectrum "became known as 'America’s Showplace,' and was quickly copied." That "led to Snider’s creation of Spectacor Management Group" in '80. Five years later, Snider hired PETER LUUKKO as President & CEO, who was "overseeing arena properties" in New England. The two "would create six new companies in the decades ahead, in addition to developing and acquiring other companies that would define the Spectacor brand and later facilitate the Comcast Spectacor merger" of '96. It "remains to be seen how the Flyers and Comcast Spectacor move forward without Snider" (CSNPHILLY.com, 4/11).
TWITTER REAX: Tributes and condolences have been pouring in on Twitter. The Hockey News' Adam Proteau tweeted, "Ed Snider loved hockey as ferociously as his Flyers played the game. R.I.P." WIP-FM's Angelo Cataldi: "RIP, Ed Snider, the best owner in Philadelphia sports history." Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss: "Rest in peace Ed Snider. You were a leader in the sports world & great competitor. #Respect #Philadelphia #Flyers #76ers" SBJ's Daniel Kaplan: "RIP Ed Snider, a true trailblazer in the business of sports." TSN Radio's Moe Khan: "Ed Snider was a hard nosed, cool owner. He wasn't afraid to say his piece and make his team better. A huge loss for the world." CSN Philadelphia's Tom Dougherty: "Today is a sad day for Flyers but also city of Philadelphia. Ed Snider brought hockey to city and did great work in city. RIP Mr. Snider." WPEN-FM's John Barchard: "One of Ed Snider's traits was making us all hockey fans. There was no BS behind his passion. And his youth leagues will continue to do so." Philadelphia Daily News' Les Bowen: "In recent years, Ed Snider took grief for being impatient & shortsighted, but that impatience came from an honorable place. He hated losing. … I don’t think any owner ever understood Philly fans better than Ed Snider. In his prime, he got in fights w/Rangers fans. Not Twitter fights."
