Comcast-Spectacor agrees to sell Phantoms

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Comcast-Spectacor, the parent company of the Philadelphia Flyers, announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League to a group of investors from Pittsburgh.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed per company policy, but it was revealed that the buyer was the Brooks Group, owners and investors of minor hockey and baseball clubs.

With the agreement, the Phantoms will be able to operate through the end of the 2008-09 season, but their future fate is still unknown.

"This was a very difficult decision for us to make," said Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko. "When we decided to close the Spectrum we explored many alternatives for relocating the Phantoms and this really became the best scenario.

"We want to thank the thousands of fans who supported the Phantoms over the past 13 seasons," Luukko added. "We had two Calder Cup championship teams and many wonderful memories."

The Brooks Group owns the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and one-time shared affiliate of the Flyers.

"We have been involved in professional sports for many years, and this particular opportunity is very exciting to us," said Rob Brooks. "We plan on announcing the long term plans for the Phantoms in the next few weeks and look forward to continuing the team's great tradition of excitement, winning and providing great family entertainment."

The American Hockey League originally granted the Flyers their own AHL franchise back in December, 1995. The Phantoms began play in 1996-97, at the Wachovia Spectrum, the year after the Flyers vacated the venue for the what is now called the Wachovia Center. Prior to then, the club operated its main farm club in Hershey, PA from 1984-96.

The Phantoms won the AHL title in 1998 and 2005, topping the Saint John Flames and Chicago Wolves, respectively.