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Post by blny on Jan 30, 2017 17:44:56 GMT -5
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-30/brooklyn-s-barclays-center-said-to-be-dumping-the-islandersIslanders will be without a home again. Looks like Barclay's is dumping them. The article is not clear as to when that might happen. The title implies soon. The article quotes sources saying that the arena won't make money from the Islanders games as soon as 2018-19. They pay the Islanders $53 million a season to control all concessions, etc. With decreasing attendance in a small rink, bad press, bad ice; the future is bleak. The old Colesium in Nassau has been renovated, but it's smaller than before and doesn't have luxury boxes. It could be a short term fix, but that's it. I feel for Islanders fans.
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Post by 24in93 on Jan 30, 2017 22:19:21 GMT -5
Start the "Islanders to Quebec" bandwagon!
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Post by seventeen on Jan 31, 2017 0:01:42 GMT -5
Start the "Islanders to Quebec" bandwagon! Finally, Tavares will come to Quebec.
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Post by blny on Jan 31, 2017 7:02:44 GMT -5
I think it would be too big a loss for the league to lose the "Islanders".
First response to that statement may be a sneer or chuckle. But step back. Think about it. This is a team with 4 cups. The last team to win 4 in a row. There are seven members of that organization in the Hall: Torrey, Arbour, Bossy, Gillies, Potvin, Smith, and Trottier. It's one thing to walk away from Atlanta and the Thrashers. It's one thing to contemplate moving the Coyotes. Moving the Islanders is on a whole other level.
No one disputes it's a huge mess for the club and the league. I can think of three short term solutions. One, back to Nassau. The stadium had massive renovations, but it's a lot smaller than it used to be. Still, the ice will be a lot better. Two, the Meadowlands. A nightmare commute for fans and players alike. The Devils arena doesn't get the use that Barclay's or MSG does (and I just can't see the Rangers sharing). Three, Bridgeport Connecticut. An even longer commute than New Jersey, but their farm team plays there. It's a 10000 seat arena though.
That's the short term. The long term is finding a way to keep the team in the area and get them in a suitable building.
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Post by blny on Jan 31, 2017 7:24:25 GMT -5
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