The Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League on Thursday hosted the first-ever Phish Night at the Flyers. While the home team was felled by the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs in a thrilling overtime finish, fans in Gritty-themed commemorative Phish shirts still danced their way out of Xfinity Mobile Arena when the game was over.
The inaugural Phish Night at the Flyers—the latest in a line of artist-themed nights including events for the Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, and Jimmy Buffett—both started and ended with sold-out concerts from local Phish cover band Rift at Stateside Live! down the block from the arena, where they played from a high balcony to a sea of fans in orange and black, many of whom were already dressed in niche lot merch celebrating their fandom of both Phish and the Flyers fandom before the evening’s official commemorative t-shirts were distributed during the game.
In the arena, fans were treated to the sounds of Phish songs like “Harry Hood”, “Farmhouse”, “Wilson”, “Chalk Dust Torture,” and “First Tube” as transition music between plays. After the first period, they watched on the jumbotron as a Phish fan wearing his new Gritty x Phish collab t-shirt answered a series of Phish trivia questions (nailed them three-for-three, of course) and won a signed vinyl copy of Undermind for his efforts.
Meanwhile, Rift filled the East Food Hall with live music during intermissions as fans snapped pictures at a Phish-themed photo booth and grabbed “Split Open & Melt Cheesesteaks” and “Scent of a Mule” cocktails from concessions stands. Later, a “Phish Night Federal Donuts Lucky Row” all won gift cards to the Philly-based bakery whose creations were a foundational element of Phish’s 2017 Baker’s Dozen residency in New York.
Adding to the excitement of the night, nearly $10,000 in donations from ticket sales will go towards WaterWheel Foundation, the organization founded by Phish in 1997 to harness the kindness of the Phish fan community to create positive change.
A decades-long connection exists between Phish and the Flyers. Before performing at the Flyers’ original home, The Spectrum, for the first time on December 15th, 1995, the seminal jam band visited the team’s training center to meet various players. Prior to the show that evening, guitarist and vocalist Trey Anastasio wore a Flyers #10 John LeClair jersey, much to the delight of the fans in attendance. Two of Phish’s historic performances at The Spectrum are available on the live album The Spectrum ’97, which captures the band at the classic venue during its storied fall ’97 tour
Phish also has history at Xfinity Mobile Arena, where the band—comprised of Anastasio, drummer Jon Fishman , bassist Mike Gordon, and keyboardist Page McConnell—twice performed the national anthem before Flyers games (1997, 1999) and later played back-to-back shows over Thanksgiving weekend 2009.
Phish – Set Two – The Spectrum – Philadelphia, PA – 12/15/25
[Video: The Pharchive]
Ike Richman of Ike Richman Communications, who worked for the Philly hockey franchise for 30 years and has been fostering a connection between the team and the beloved jam band for nearly as long, orchestrated the evening in collaboration with the Flyers and Phish. “This is really the celebration of a unique 30-year relationship between the band and the team,” said Richman. “There are many Flyers fans who are Phish fans and Phish fans who are Flyers fans and this is a beautiful night that brings us all together to enjoy a game and our love for the team and our love for the band.”
[Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Flyers – (from left): Trey Anastasio, Gritty, Ike Richman celebrate Phish Night at the Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena]
Phish recently rounded out 2025 with a four-night New Year’s Eve run at New York’s Madison Square Garden culminating in an ice cream-themed New Year’s gag. Read Live For Live Music‘s full breakdown of Phish’s “It’s Ice Cream” New Year’s show here. Find tickets to upcoming Phish concerts here.