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Long Island's arena reluctance could lead to Brooklyn Islanders
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Jul 17, 2012, 4:07:55 AM7/17/12
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http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2012-07-16/new-york-islanders-brooklyn-nassau-coliseum-charles-wang-barclays-center
Christopher Botta SportsBusiness Journal Sporting News
With only three years left on a lease that team officials insist they
will not extend, and no deal for a new arena in sight, the New York
Islanders' best option to continue playing in New York in 2015 might
be in Brooklyn, at the soon-to-open Barclays Center.
The Islanders' lease with Nassau County to play in the Nassau Veterans
Memorial Coliseum expires in 2015. Team owner Charles Wang has
maintained that the Islanders will not play another game in the
antiquated arena, which opened in 1972, after the expiration of the
lease. The Isles are the only one of 11 major league sports franchises
in the New York metropolitan area that does not play in a new or
recently updated facility.
Asked whether his arena would welcome the Islanders when the lease in
Nassau runs out, Barclays Center developer Bruce Ratner said, "I would
hope that's possible."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, however, believes the Islanders are not
yet at the point of no return when it comes to Nassau.
"There's still time to effectuate a plan," Bettman said recently.
"It's beyond question that they need a new arena, it's beyond question
they they're not going to stay in Nassau Coliseum, so Charles will
explore the alternatives. We hope the alternatives continue to be on
Long Island so Islanders fans, who are many and loyal, can see their
team."
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano last week posted a Request for
Qualifications for a "master developer" to develop the Coliseum and
surrounding property. The chosen developer would have to negotiate
with Wang on a deal for the Islanders at the site.
A source familiar with the Islanders' desires, however, called
Mangano's plan "a nonstarter" because Wang, as a tenant, would not
have enough revenue streams for the Islanders to be profitable.
The Islanders declined to comment.
Wang, who has owned the team since April 2000, has met resistance from
local politicians on a pair of plans: one in 2010 for a renovated
Coliseum with major development of the surrounding property, the other
for a new arena built in part with public funding. Wang declared
himself a free agent last Aug. 1 after a public referendum for a new
Coliseum was rejected by Nassau County taxpayers.
In the New York area, only Brooklyn has a completed, state-of-the-art
arena that could be available for the Islanders. Barclays Center opens
in September and will be home to the NBA Nets. The Islanders are
scheduled to play the New Jersey Devils in an exhibition at the arena
on Oct. 2.
Asked last week about the possibility of the Islanders moving into his
building in 2015, Barclays Center and Nets CEO Brett Yorkmark said,
"We are interested in bringing NHL hockey to Brooklyn. We feel very
strongly about Brooklyn as a hockey market and know we can accommodate
it from a building perspective."
Yormark also said he looks forward to "continued dialogue" about the
Islanders' playing more games at Barclays Center.
But even Brooklyn is an imperfect solution for the Islanders. Barclays
Center was designed as a showcase for the Nets, with ideal sight lines
for basketball. Capacity for hockey at Barclays Center also is just
14,500, which would make it the smallest arena in the NHL.
Brooklyn does offer advantages, though. Unlike the Coliseum, fans can
reach Barclays Center via mass transit. As one of New York's five
boroughs, Brooklyn also would ignite increased Manhattan media
attention.
Wang is waiting to hear from another other local options: Queens; and
Suffolk, in eastern Long Island, which has undeveloped property
suitable for an arena. If Wang, who contends he has lost at least $20
million each season he has owned the Islanders, decides he has no
alternative but to leave New York, he will have suitors in Ontario,
Quebec City and Seattle, among other municipalities.
Bettman previously has played down Brooklyn as an alternative for the
Islanders, concerned that Brooklyn was not central to the location of
the bulk of the team's fan base, but he has softened his stance since
visiting Barclays Center last month.
Asked whether he now has an opinion on Brooklyn for the Islanders,
Bettman paused thoughtfully before answering.
"I'm not sure yet," he said. "It's something we'd have to look at."
— SportsBusiness Journal staff writer Don Muret contributed to this
report
Speculation: Barclay's Center & Brooklyn/Queens Talk Part III:
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1230049
Long Island's arena reluctance could lead to Brooklyn Islanders:
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1231465
Christopher Botta SportsBusiness Journal Sporting News
With only three years left on a lease that team officials insist they
will not extend, and no deal for a new arena in sight, the New York
Islanders' best option to continue playing in New York in 2015 might
be in Brooklyn, at the soon-to-open Barclays Center.
The Islanders' lease with Nassau County to play in the Nassau Veterans
Memorial Coliseum expires in 2015. Team owner Charles Wang has
maintained that the Islanders will not play another game in the
antiquated arena, which opened in 1972, after the expiration of the
lease. The Isles are the only one of 11 major league sports franchises
in the New York metropolitan area that does not play in a new or
recently updated facility.
Asked whether his arena would welcome the Islanders when the lease in
Nassau runs out, Barclays Center developer Bruce Ratner said, "I would
hope that's possible."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, however, believes the Islanders are not
yet at the point of no return when it comes to Nassau.
"There's still time to effectuate a plan," Bettman said recently.
"It's beyond question that they need a new arena, it's beyond question
they they're not going to stay in Nassau Coliseum, so Charles will
explore the alternatives. We hope the alternatives continue to be on
Long Island so Islanders fans, who are many and loyal, can see their
team."
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano last week posted a Request for
Qualifications for a "master developer" to develop the Coliseum and
surrounding property. The chosen developer would have to negotiate
with Wang on a deal for the Islanders at the site.
A source familiar with the Islanders' desires, however, called
Mangano's plan "a nonstarter" because Wang, as a tenant, would not
have enough revenue streams for the Islanders to be profitable.
The Islanders declined to comment.
Wang, who has owned the team since April 2000, has met resistance from
local politicians on a pair of plans: one in 2010 for a renovated
Coliseum with major development of the surrounding property, the other
for a new arena built in part with public funding. Wang declared
himself a free agent last Aug. 1 after a public referendum for a new
Coliseum was rejected by Nassau County taxpayers.
In the New York area, only Brooklyn has a completed, state-of-the-art
arena that could be available for the Islanders. Barclays Center opens
in September and will be home to the NBA Nets. The Islanders are
scheduled to play the New Jersey Devils in an exhibition at the arena
on Oct. 2.
Asked last week about the possibility of the Islanders moving into his
building in 2015, Barclays Center and Nets CEO Brett Yorkmark said,
"We are interested in bringing NHL hockey to Brooklyn. We feel very
strongly about Brooklyn as a hockey market and know we can accommodate
it from a building perspective."
Yormark also said he looks forward to "continued dialogue" about the
Islanders' playing more games at Barclays Center.
But even Brooklyn is an imperfect solution for the Islanders. Barclays
Center was designed as a showcase for the Nets, with ideal sight lines
for basketball. Capacity for hockey at Barclays Center also is just
14,500, which would make it the smallest arena in the NHL.
Brooklyn does offer advantages, though. Unlike the Coliseum, fans can
reach Barclays Center via mass transit. As one of New York's five
boroughs, Brooklyn also would ignite increased Manhattan media
attention.
Wang is waiting to hear from another other local options: Queens; and
Suffolk, in eastern Long Island, which has undeveloped property
suitable for an arena. If Wang, who contends he has lost at least $20
million each season he has owned the Islanders, decides he has no
alternative but to leave New York, he will have suitors in Ontario,
Quebec City and Seattle, among other municipalities.
Bettman previously has played down Brooklyn as an alternative for the
Islanders, concerned that Brooklyn was not central to the location of
the bulk of the team's fan base, but he has softened his stance since
visiting Barclays Center last month.
Asked whether he now has an opinion on Brooklyn for the Islanders,
Bettman paused thoughtfully before answering.
"I'm not sure yet," he said. "It's something we'd have to look at."
— SportsBusiness Journal staff writer Don Muret contributed to this
report
Speculation: Barclay's Center & Brooklyn/Queens Talk Part III:
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1230049
Long Island's arena reluctance could lead to Brooklyn Islanders:
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1231465
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