United Spinal Association’s Third Consecutive Kids Sports Spectacular Takes Over Wachovia Complex on August 4
Philadelphia, PA––Children with disabilities and their families will gather for the third annual Kids Sports Spectacular at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA, on Saturday, August 4 from 9 am to 3 pm. Comcast-Spectacor, the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm, is providing the use of the Wachovia Center to United Spinal as a host site.
United Spinal is a national disability rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). The partnership, which also includes Shriners Hospitals for Children, is part of United Spinal’s Sports and Recreation Department’s nationwide initiative to encourage children with SCI/D to learn more about the wide variety of adaptive sports.
“The Kids Sports Spectacular is a terrific opportunity for patrons with disabilities to gather and share in fun and entertaining experiences,” said Global Spectrum Chief Operating Officer John Page. “In addition, it’s a very educational experience for us on the arena-operating side as these types of events help us further learn how to better service the disability community.” Comcast-Spectacor hopes to bring similar Kids Sports Spectacular events to its other Global Spectrum-managed public assembly facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada.
This year’s Kids Sports Spectacular also marks the third year of United Spinal’s partnership with Shriners Hospital for Children of Philadelphia. Shriners in Philadelphia specialize in the health care needs of children with SCI/D.
Participating kids will take part in wheelchair softball, basketball, tennis and handcycling—many for the first time. This year’s event will also feature a Power Soccer Demo conducted by the Sports & Recreation Department of Philadelphia’s Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.
“This is a tremendous step forward in the effort to bring United Spinal’s adaptive sports programs to other regions of the country,” said Bill Hannigan, Director of United Spinal’s Sports and Recreation Department.
To find out more about Kids Sports Spectacular or United Spinal’s adaptive sports program, please visit www.unitedspinal.org or call Bill Hannigan at 800-404-2898, ext. 268.
ABOUT COMCAST-SPECTACOR
Comcast-Spectacor (comcast-spectacor.com) is the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), the two arenas in which their teams play, the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, four Flyers Skate Zone community ice skating and hockey rinks and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. In addition, Comcast-Spectacor is also the principal owner of Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field with more than 70 facilities throughout the United States and Canada; Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage service provider; New Era Tickets, a ticketing and marketing company for public assembly facilities; Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company; and 3601 Creative Group, a full-service in-house advertising agency. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure skating spectaculars on NBC.
ABOUT UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION
United Spinal is committed to providing expertise, creating access to resources and strengthening hope, thereby enabling people with spinal cord injuries and disorders to fulfill their potential as active members of their communities. Guided by the belief that the benefits of athletic competition are no different for athletes with disabilities than without disabilities, the Association sponsors a wide variety of wheelchair recreational and adaptive sports programs. For more information about the organization and its programs, please visit www.unitedspinal.org or call our toll-free number, 800-404-2898.