VIDEO: Eddie Vedder Tells Hilarious Story About Philadelphia’s The Spectrum

When it first opened in 1967, The Spectrum was one of the premier indoor arenas in the Northeast. This was the home arena for Philadelphia Flyers and Sixers games during the 1970s and 1980s.

Aside from being the Flyers' home arena for almost 30 years, The Spectrum also hosted numerous concerts and events over the decades. The arena also hosted the 1976 and 1981 NCAA Tournament Men's Final Four along with the famous 1992 East Regional won by Duke over Kentucky.

One of the final events hosted at The Spectrum before its demolition was the Pearl Jam: Backspacer Tour in 2009. The 44-year-old arena was closed on October 31st, 2009 and was demolished over several months from 2010 to 2011.

Eddie Vedder Shares Story about The Spectrum's Final Days

As part of their Dark Matter World Tour, Pearl Jam returned to Philadelphia and performed at the Wells Fargo Center for two shows. Saturday, September 7th, and Monday, September 9th featured lead singer Eddie Vedder and the band performed for a sold-out crowd.

One of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s, Pearl Jam has 14 singles that reach the top ten of the Mainstream Rock Music Charts. Ten of Pearl Jam's 12 studio albums have been platinum-certified.

At the Monday Night show, lead vocalist Eddie Vedder shared a story with the audience about Peal Jam being the final show to close out The Spectrum in Philadelphia:

While the story is hilarious, it does not surprise anyone who visited The Spectrum during its final years. Once the Flyers and Sixers moved into Spectrum II (today the Wells Fargo Center), the older arena became an afterthought for many people.

In the final years of Veterans Stadium, there were stories about rats wandering around that outdoor arena. So the idea of The Spectrum having rats is "on brand" for old Philadelphia Sports Arenas.

Synonymous with the Philadelphia Flyers franchise, The Spectrum gave many sports fans great memories for decades.  Here are some of the biggest sports and events hosted at The Spectrum during its 44 years: