The Coliseum To Be Developed By ....

After Charles Wang and Nassau County struggled to agree on a plan to redevelop the NVMC HUB over several years and after Millions of dollars were spent in planning research, there was little hope the Isles would remain tied to the Coliseum in any way.  Things would get even more strange when the rival Rangers only got a 10 year lease extension after a pricey renovation of MSG and the floundering Devils apparent bankruptcy looming before being sold along with the Prudential Center today to Josh Harris and company, The Islanders finally found a home at Brooklyn's state-of-the-art Barclays Center for a long time to come.  But Nassau County and their crumbling Coliseum would remain without any real plans of resurrection, until today.

 

Nassau County has announced Forest City Ratner, Barclays Center has won the right to redevelop Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.  That meant James Dolan and MSG were out maneuvered and out worked in an attempt to land the HUB project.  This came as a great relief to most Isles fans who weren't too excited about shrines of MSG in the hallowed halls where their Islanders celebrated the achievements of bringing four straight Stanley Cups to Long Island.  Isles Fans-1, Dolan and MSG-0.

 

Kevin Schultz of IPB notes, "I think a lot of people underestimated the Wang-Ratner-Mangano connection. All three have worked with each other on various phases."

 

Per Laura Figueroa, "Ed Mangano says he will join NEC (Forest City Ratner) officials at Nassau Coliseum Friday at 11a to announce plans for programming."  In addition, "Mangano said there has been "no talk" about Isles breaking Aug 1 2015 lease to play at coliseum. NEC plan would bring team for 6 games."  Figueroa mentioned, "Mangano said Bruce Ratner proposal offered $1.4M more annually in revenue than MSG."

 

Another scenario to keep in mind would be for the Islanders Organization to relocate the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Isles top affiliate (AHL) to a renovated Coliseum. Per Murphy Siegel, "Every single Isles fan needs to hold their horses. Sound Tigers' lease in CT doesn't terminate until 2021. Nassau will have to wait."

 

I was just as thrilled as everyone else when I heard the news this morning, but fans need to be realistic.  They need to understand although this move "may" enable the Isles to get out of their lease and start playing in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center a year early, it WONT mean the Isles could return to the Coliseum.  That is a long term deal and a business venture by all involved.  The Islanders will improve in Brooklyn.

 

Per Chris Botta, " MSG statement on Coliseum (excerpts): MSG still feels it has best "and most realistic" plan for Nassau ... So MSG will put up a fight, Mangano decision has to go to Legislature, and there's an election in November. Coliseum saga not quite over."

Raised in a Barn T-Shirt available from Tri-State CO-OP.

 

Per Brett Yormark, "Next up nassau. Really excited to bring the best to long island. Work starts now."