Flyers Founder Ed Snider Passes Away At 83

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Ed Snider, the owner and founder of the Philadelphia Flyers, has passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 83, the Flyers announced on Monday morning.

“This is a very sad day for Ed’s family, the Flyers, Comcast Spectacor and his many fans in Philadelphia," said Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts in a statement. "Our business partnership lasted more than 20 years, which seemed improbable at the time, and ultimately transcended into a cherished and special friendship. We are so sad but relish the many accomplishments Ed achieved during his amazing lifetime. He was completely unique, incredibly passionate and will be terribly missed.”

Snider was crucial in turning Philadelphia into a four sport, hockey city, bringing the Flyers to town in 1966 and helping Spectrum out of bankruptcy in 1972.

Snider's Flyers became the first expansion team to ever win the Stanley Cup, in 1974. They repeated the feat in 1975.

Through his company, Spectacor, and in partnership with Aramark Corporation and the Pritzger Family, Snider created Spectacor Management Group, which experienced significant growth and earned national acclaim for its impact in the industry, a remembrance released by the Flyers states.

Under Snider’s guidance, Spectacor also developed and acquired nearly a dozen related lines of business including PRISM, the country’s then fastest growing regional paid sports cable network, and WIP, one of the nation’s first all-sports radio stations.

In 1996, when Comcast Corporation acquired the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers, Snider formed a joint venture between Spectacor and Comcast and combined the 76ers, the Flyers and the arena to form Comcast Spectacor, according to the remembrance.

“Today, the Philadelphia Flyers, the city of Philadelphia and the National Hockey League have lost a true icon. Mr. Snider is the face of the Flyers franchise," said Flyers President Paul Holmgren. "He is revered and loved by all of his current and former players and has the utmost respect of the entire hockey world. Mr. Snider’s passion and drive to be the best has made the Flyers brand one of the most recognizable in all of sports."

The Flyers have been honoring Snider in the past week by qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. They will face off against the Washington Capitals in the first round of action this week.

The Flyers changed their home page to a memorium to Snider, pictured below:

Images courtesy Philadelphia Flyers.