The New York Islanders are being pressured by Mikhail Prokhorov—owner of the Isles’ current home the Barclays Center—to play more games at Nassau Coliseum, reports Josh Kosman of the New York Post. The Islanders moved from Nassau Coliseum to the Barclays Center after the 2014-15 season.
The reason for the pressure is that the previous owner of Nassau Coliseum promised local officials that a hockey team would play in the arena. Despite new ownership, the town of Uniondale, N.Y. could hold Nassau Coliseum in default of its obligations.
When the Islanders left Nassau Coliseum the arena only held around 13,000 people, and it is doubtful whether it has significantly increased capacity. The Islanders do have a pre-season game in the arena this year, but nothing else is scheduled so far.
Complicating matters is that the Islanders are in negotiations with Prokhorov over its tenancy at the Barclays Center. Prokhorov wants to reduce the amount he pays the team for its games, and the team wants more flexibility to opt out of any contract.
Barclays just doesn’t seem like a good place to have an NHL team. It’s really dark in there and the fans seem so far away from the ice compared to other arenas
So much for all the “rock the barn” farwells. Isles are coming back long island!
Before the 2015 renovations, the Nassau Coliseum could hold a capacity of 16,170 for hockey. Now, the Coliseum can only hold 13,000. That isn’t big enough to be a long-term solution for the Islanders.
Move to Seattle and take on the Whalers moniker
I like the part where John Tavares keeps pretending he might resign there.
It’s gotta be tough for him.
Barclays Center is terrible for hockey games based on the fact folks a few rows into in the second level behind the net can’t see any action. Arena wasn’t built for hockey. Returning to Long Island, while great for avid fans, isn’t sensible. Looks like a no win situation all around.