Phil Weinberg, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Comcast Spectacor, has passed away at the age of 66.
His death was unexpected as he was reportedly recovering from hernia surgery. Weinberg was also a cancer survivor.
Weinberg provided direct oversight of all legal affairs surrounding Comcast Spectacor including the Wells Fargo Center arena and complex, as well as a portfolio of professional sports teams that includes the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, the Overwatch League’s Philadelphia Fusion, the National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings and the Maine Mariners of the ECHL.
Weinberg’s responsibilities included all aspects of litigation, employment and labor laws, financing, business acquisition and development, as well as player-related matters.
“There are a lot of people that the fans see — they obviously see the players, they see the coaches, they see the general manager, they sometimes see the owner or the chairman. These are the people that are kind of the faces of the franchise and they’re out in front, but Phil was one of those people that, behind the scenes, was always doing things to help this franchise,” longtime Flyers play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson told the media. “He was one of those people you have to have in an organization, that do a lot of the work. He didn’t get much of the praise or certainly the limelight or anything like that, but he was involved in a lot of different things.
“The one thing he did get some publicity for was the [Eric] Lindros trade, then the dispute and the hearing and all that over his acquisition, but there were many, many other things from that time forward where Phil was involved.”
Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO Dave Scott issued the following statement:
“Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of Phil Weinberg’s first day with the Flyers, and for more than three decades, Phil poured his heart and soul into this organization and all that it stands for in the city of Philadelphia,” Scott, the governor of the Flyers, said in a statement released by the team Thursday. “Phil loved the Flyers, he loved our fans, he loved this city, and he loved this organization. He was an invaluable advisor to both Ed Snider and me, he was a beloved mentor and colleague to hundreds of employees over the years and he cherished the history and tradition of this organization.
“Phil’s passing is heartbreaking for me personally and for everyone here because he exemplified the unique culture that the Flyers have built over the years, based on loyalty, determination and family. He was, and will remain, an institution within the Flyers organization, but above all, we will remember him as a kind, brilliant friend and devoted husband and father.”
