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Isn't the Barclays Center close by the LIRR Atlantic Avenue Terminal?
My mistake didn't know that the LIRR went to that area, still 2 connections and 30 minutes and I just don't see people from Brooklyn being Islander fans. I assume Charles Wang will be out of the witness protection program by then to sell the move to Brooklyn.
...But by no means the first. In the early 1940s, there were two New York teams in the NHL (Rangers and Americans), both of whom called Madison Square Garden home, as a matter of fact. But there was no question that the Americans were the second-rate outfit. And so for the 1941-42 season, it was announced that they would be known as the Brooklyn Americans--even though they never played a game in Brooklyn.
As it happened, not even the nominal change of locale could help them, and they folded after that season.
By the way, the poster who complained that the Islanders shouldn't be called that if they play even one game in Brooklyn needs to crack open an atlas. It will probably come as a huge surprise to him, but Brooklyn happens to make up the westernmost extremity of Long Island. (I suspect everyone else already knew that).
He tried. Kate and Co. threw up the roadblocks. A new arena alone will not bring in enough money for private investment to be interested. They want more extensive development. Nassau, Hofstra, NCC and most residents were on board. ToH blocked it as usual. The Kate regime has a penchant for fenced in vacant lots.
Let's do something novel, let Wang rebuild the Coliseum using his own money like businesses do all the time, he can keep the concessions, sky boxes, and anyting else within the limits of the immediate property, except maybe the parking. No issue with the notorious IDA even donating some tax breaks and low interest loans, heck they did it for D'Amatos buddies at Roosevelt Raceway even though it was illegal, this is for a sports arena.
The communities in the area around the coliseum were definitely not on-board although Wang attempted to buy Uniondale, this was a huge giveaway for the county.
Anyone who thinks Wang is anything but a developer think again, he pruchased 160 acres in Bethpage from the outgoing Gulotta administration (sweet deal) in 1999 and owns around 100 properties in the Town of Oyster Bay.
Let me get this straight, he could purchase 160 acres in Bethpage but he can't afford to build the worklplace for his team, unless he gets the rights to a few hundred acres in a prime area?
Think about who talked Wang into buying the Islanders, then you tell me this is not a crooked deal.
I would like to see the Isles play a couple of games at the Barclays Center, but their home is Nassau. I think if Wang would have resubmitted a scaled down proposal that he would have had more traction, as the town of Hempstead seemed 100 percent agreeable to the arena, would have probably agreed to some of the development now on a scaled-down level, but not the arts and entertainment mecca Wang had in mind. Some homeowners didn't want anything done, but some are just miserable people who wouldn't be happy if the city repaved a sidewalk, but others were legitimately concerned about the county costs and the size of the project. Still, there were board members and residents on the fence. I think small steps build momentum. If he could have just got them down to a minor league stadium, an arena, a smaller shopping center and perhaps a third of the residential, he could have captured a few more votes. And then ten years from now opted to expand the Lighthouse Project with the goal something of a destination in Nassau. Would have been nice.
Now we're all holding our breath that something gets built in Uniondale. Or the Vet remains an unoccupied giant, the Isles move to wherever, and a real opportunity for smart development in Nassau lapses.
Let's do something novel, let Wang rebuild the Coliseum using his own money like businesses do all the time, he can keep the concessions, sky boxes, and anyting else within the limits of the immediate property, except maybe the parking. No issue with the notorious IDA even donating some tax breaks and low interest loans, heck they did it for D'Amatos buddies at Roosevelt Raceway even though it was illegal, this is for a sports arena.
The communities in the area around the coliseum were definitely not on-board although Wang attempted to buy Uniondale, this was a huge giveaway for the county.
Anyone who thinks Wang is anything but a developer think again, he pruchased 160 acres in Bethpage from the outgoing Gulotta administration (sweet deal) in 1999 and owns around 100 properties in the Town of Oyster Bay.
Let me get this straight, he could purchase 160 acres in Bethpage but he can't afford to build the worklplace for his team, unless he gets the rights to a few hundred acres in a prime area?
Think about who talked Wang into buying the Islanders, then you tell me this is not a crooked deal.
Good luck in Brooklyn or Kansas City.
Your points are valid and of course Wang is a developer (a mediocre one) who hitched his wagon to Rechler (a masterful one) to fashion an all or nothing deal that might have worked to the benefit of most. The days of team owners building an arena on their own dime ended years ago. It's just not done. They will not develop on land they don't own and municipalities won't give up the land but want the big tax base cash cow. Both parties want the best of both worlds and that is why public-private partnerships have been the norm. That takes compromise and an eye on the big picture. Something that cannot happen with the dense layers of govt hacks, building codes, NIMBY-ites and failed development history in Nassau.
I would like to see the Isles play a couple of games at the Barclays Center, but their home is Nassau. I think if Wang would have resubmitted a scaled down proposal that he would have had more traction, as the town of Hempstead seemed 100 percent agreeable to the arena, would have probably agreed to some of the development now on a scaled-down level, but not the arts and entertainment mecca Wang had in mind. Some homeowners didn't want anything done, but some are just miserable people who wouldn't be happy if the city repaved a sidewalk, but others were legitimately concerned about the county costs and the size of the project. Still, there were board members and residents on the fence. I think small steps build momentum. If he could have just got them down to a minor league stadium, an arena, a smaller shopping center and perhaps a third of the residential, he could have captured a few more votes. And then ten years from now opted to expand the Lighthouse Project with the goal something of a destination in Nassau. Would have been nice.
Now we're all holding our breath that something gets built in Uniondale. Or the Vet remains an unoccupied giant, the Isles move to wherever, and a real opportunity for smart development in Nassau lapses.
Very reasonable post. Again, compromise is the big word and there is just none of that in Nassau or Town of Hempstead.
I'm still reiterating that the NHL and Rangers hold big power with the league and they will not allow another franchise in NYC without a boatload of residual royalty cash. It would be cheaper and more practical to rebuild or renovate the Coliseum for a one time cost.
The Islanders moving isn't a very practical reality. There are winning teams that can't fill seats (Phoenix) and Kansas City has a lovely arena that packed in 3k people for hockey. NHL is not inclined to give them a franchise. Canada is the best possibility but no one is looking right now.
I would like to see the Isles play a couple of games at the Barclays Center, but their home is Nassau.
...For the present. Nothing is engraved in stone, you know. Although I must say, I can't see Wang throwing a hissy-fit and moving them to Brooklyn permanently just because he can't get his hands on that prime real estate.
As to the name of Kansas City, which seems to keep popping up, I would've thought that the adventure--more like a misadventure, actually--of the Kansas City Scouts might have taught the NHL a lesson.
...For the present. Nothing is engraved in stone, you know. Although I must say, I can't see Wang throwing a hissy-fit and moving them to Brooklyn permanently just because he can't get his hands on that prime real estate.
As to the name of Kansas City, which seems to keep popping up, I would've thought that the adventure--more like a misadventure, actually--of the Kansas City Scouts might have taught the NHL a lesson.
It did teach the NHL a lesson, but not the city of KC. They are clamoring for a team because they invested in a new arena. They invited those exhibitions to show the NHL they deserve a franchise and it backfired when no one showed up for the games. NHL said "don't call us, we'll call you."
The Islanders need a new arena. I went to Monster Jam last weekend and the place really is a neglected dump. It's like an old War Memorial style building built in a rust belt town in the 60's but without the character. Oh wait, that's pretty much what it is!
Looking forward to them playing at the Barclay's. Definitely will try to make it and show my support. I'm really hopeful they move out of Nassau and into one of the boroughs or Suffolk.
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