Other Philly pro teams react to Ed Snider's death
Philadelphia's other pro teams reacted to the death of Flyers' chairman and co-founder Ed Snider with statements or, in the case of the Phillies, held a news conference with chairman David Montgomery.
Phillies:
Staff writer Marc Narducci writes that Montgomery paid tribute to Snider by citing the tremendous contribution Snider made to all of Philadelphia sports.
"I can't imagine over the last half century, anybody on the Philadelphia sports scene having more impact than Ed Snider did," Montgomery said during a press conference before Monday's Phillies home opener against the San Diego Padres.
Mr. Snider was involved in several businesses, but he was most known as the co-founder of the Flyers.
"He clearly was a pioneer," Montgomery said.
Montgomery mentioned how the Phillies and Flyers partnered together in several ventures, including the Winter Classic, which was hosted at Ciizens Bank Park in 2012.
"We weren't social friends, but we were professional friends," Montgomery said.
The Phillies chairman talked about having Mr. Snider come watch a few World Series games in 2008 with him.
"I was invited to watch hockey with him but knew better than to do that," Montgomery said, drawing laughter while referring to Snider's intensity. "…He came with such a passion for sports."
76ers:
The following is a statement on behalf of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils from Managing General Partner Josh Harris:
"It is with a great deal of sadness that we mourn the loss of one of Philadelphia's greatest ambassadors and humanitarians, Ed Snider.
"Ed continually poured his heart into making a difference in the lives of those around him and he stopped at nothing to make the city of Philadelphia a better place for everyone. He leaves behind a legacy of civic pride, charitable acts and philanthropy that is truly unmatched.
"Ed's impact on the sporting landscape needs no words. His vision, drive and relentless pursuit of excellence brought multiple championships - as well as appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals and NBA Finals - to the city and its fans.
"On behalf of the Sixers and Devils, we send our thoughts and prayers to the entire Snider family during this difficult time."
Eagles:
Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie offered his thoughts on Snider's impact in Philadelphia.
"Ed was a true visionary and a pioneer who did tremendous things for our city and for the sport of hockey. He was driven by a relentless pursuit of winning and his passion for the sport was genuine. That's one of the reasons I think he was so loved and respected by the fans of our city and by his players and staff. They knew he cared just as much as they did," Lurie said.
"Under Ed's guidance, the Flyers became one of the most consistently successful franchises in the NHL, and he used his leadership to help foster a classy organization across the board. But perhaps more than anything, I think the legacy that Ed will leave behind is his commitment to helping young people in our city succeed in life through his youth hockey foundation. Our thoughts are with his family and the entire Flyers organization during this difficult time."
The Union:
Philadelphia Union chairman Jay Sugarman said in statement:
"Today, we mourn the tragic loss of one of our city's great ambassadors, Ed Snider. Ed built one of the premier organizations in both the city of Philadelphia and the entire National Hockey League and his legacy will live on forever.
"Along with his unwavering civic support, Ed's commitment to everything he worked for is truly something to be cherished. In competition, his teams showcased remarkable skill and heart, leading to exceptionally consistent success that has been rarely duplicated in any sport. But off the ice, the organization displayed the epitome of class. Ed built something that set a very high standard for how professional sports organizations should carry themselves and we truly strive to emulate it on a daily basis.
"We want to extend our deepest condolences to the entire Flyers organization and will keep the Snider family in our thoughts and prayers."
