The founder and owner of the Philadelphia Flyers National Hockey League team has died at his Santa Barbara County home.
Ed Snider had been battling bladder cancer. Snider’s family owned a grocer story chain, and when they sold it, he used some of the money to become partners with a group which bought the Philadelphia Eagles football team.
The team was sold a few years later, but when he learned the NHL was considering expansion to Philadelphia, he made plans to build an arena, and was awarded the hockey franchise, which began play in 1967.
Snider also served as chairman of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team, and had a hand in founding a local cable sports network and the city's largest sport-talk radio station. His Flyers are currently headed to the NHL playoffs.
Snider died today at his Montecito home. He was 83 years old.