Tradition is important to Philadelphia sports fans. After 100 consecutive seasons without a championship title, some are meant to be broken. But certainly not all.

That’s why Philadelphians may get sentimental over the Spectrum, the oldest and smallest sports arena in South Philadelphia that has since been overshadowed by the Wachovia Center, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park.

“This will be the final year of the Spectrum,” Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider announced this morning.

The Temple News reported in January that plans for the possible demolition of the Spectrum to make way for an entertainment complex were in talks. The talks have now materialized into reality.

The Spectrum, host to many concerts and shows, will be a lost home to its sports teams, the Philadelphia Kixx, the Phantoms and, ocassionally, the Soul, who are preparing for their championship game Saturday. They played their most recent game in front of a nearly sold-out crowd at the Spectrum.

No word on the future of the soon-to-be homeless teams. Rumors originally said the Phantoms could move to Camden or Atlantic City.

The Flyers and 76ers called the building home from 1967 to 1996 before moving to the Wachovia Center. The Flyers won their first Stanley Cup there in 1974, and the Sixers hosted many playoff and finals games inside, also.

Comcast-Spectacor said many “surprise” events are planned for the final year of the Spectrum, including Sixers and Flyers home games and returning concert players.

This will likely be the final demolition at the sports complex for at least a few years, as the oldest building, the Wachovia Center, is only 12 years old. Veterans Stadium, home to the Eagles and Phillies, was imploded in 2003.