PHILADELPHIA – Ed Snider, the Philadelphia Flyers founder whose "Broad Street Bullies" became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, has died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 83.
His family issued a statement that said Snider "was loved and admired for his big heart, generosity of spirit, and dedication to his family."
Snider was arguably the most influential executive in Philadelphia sports history. He was chairman of the 76ers, was once a part-owner of the Eagles and had a hand in founding both Comcast's local sports channel and the city's largest sport-talk radio station.
Upon hearing that the National Hockey League was going to expand from its original six teams to 12, Snider petitioned the league and was awarded an expansion club in 1966.