I am quite surprised at the lack of response and interest from the fans that I speak to, my readers on this site, as well as my fellow NYI Blog Boxers to the issue that it is a very good possibility that the Islanders days on Long Island are numbered.
Let's go back in time to the other areas around the NHL who thought they could get away without building or renovating a new arena. Who thought they could get away with having a putrid on-ice product for extended periods, and asking the fans to swallow major league ticket prices for what amounts to an overall minor league product from top to bottom.
The Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix... Phoenix? That hockey hotbed. The Winnipeg Jets franchise had a huge following in Winnipeg but wound up being the victim of the NHL playoff structure of the time.
They were in the same division as the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers franchise in their heyday, as well as the Calgary Flames. Meaning that if the Jets were going to make it to the semifinals, they had to go through BOTH of them to do so.
And my friends, that's simply not going to happen and certainly didn't, as Edmonton dispatched Winnipeg six times in the playoffs.
Winnipeg has since built a new arena for hockey, seating just over 15 thousand fans and is hoping to try and lure an NHL franchise back to Winnipeg.
The Jets ownership ran to Phoenix with the promise of American dollars. I think we have all seen that the Coyotes have not exactly lit the world on fire, on the ice or off it.
The Quebec Nordiques go to Colorado. I'm sure all of the fans of the Nords in Quebec, who tried until the last minute to prevent the franchise's move to Denver, all had a collective heart attack when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in their FIRST season after leaving Quebec City.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Here was a team that had a huge rivalry with its richer larger brothers in Montreal—you may know them as the Canadiens.
So why would a team with a built-in blood rivalry, and immense young talent, who was coming off their best season in years and had the biggest improvement in points in the history of the NHL move AFTER their team announced new uniforms and logos to the press? Money and arena.
Quebec refused to build a new arena for their beloved franchise, and the Canadian dollar at the time was so weak that it left team ownership with no other choice but to sell.
The Hartford Whalers become the Hurricanes. The Whalers troubles were simple. They needed a new arena.
Then Owner Peter Karamnos engaged in a game of chicken with then Connecticut Governor John Rowland, demanding the 45 million in losses he incurred over the time of his ownership.
A most puzzling move being that the deal for the new arena was imminent. The deal falls through and the Whalers announce they are moving. The Whalers had other problems including horrendous trades, larger market fans swamping their arena when their teams came to Hartford, and the arena issue.
Sound familiar Islander fans?
These are just three examples of teams fleeing for greener pastures. Please for one second do not think the Islanders are exempt from this. The only reason the team is still here is because of its very lucrative cable contract.
The Lighthouse project is an over-bloated project, everyone knows that. But it's not our money, and if Charles Wang wants to use the Islanders as a pawn in his chess game to get his legacy project built, then so be it.
The area is dilapidated. The Coliseum is a joke. The area does nothing but enhance the notion that the Islanders are a second-rate franchise in the shadows of the Rangers. No one of any marketability wants to play here, and no one is showing up to the games.
It all sounds like a swan song to me. For the first time I actually believe that moving the team could be a reality. Gary Bettman has even spoken in favor of getting the deal for the arena in place.
All we hear from the town of Hempstead is... nothing. The ball is in their court and it is their turn. The fans have spoken.
Can someone please give the town of Hempstead a swift kick in the ass? Because quite frankly, if this deal does not go by this summer, we can all start looking for a new NHL franchise to root for. How does the Kansas City Scouts sound? The Seattle Storm? The Winnipeg Jets? Or you can go root for the Devils or Rangers...how's that for a thought.
Don't think for a second that it cannot happen. There are some people in Winnipeg, Hartford and Quebec who can tell you what it's like to lose your franchise after mismanagement, horrid trades, expensive games of chicken, and poor facilities.
FCT
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about 1 month ago
I hate to agree but I do...I've noticed that Mr. Wang is doing all he can to just keep the team viable until the big decision comes down. If it's bad news he's outta here. I've been with them since 1972. I've seen the worst and the best. I appreciate Mr. Wang and what he's done to save our beloved franchise. The politicians should be ashamed of themselves. I've been to 4 games this season and the fans don't know how to react. There is a strong core but there is also a strong core of empty seats...heck at the exciting Montreal game I tell you there were more Canadian fans than Isles fans. Thousands of them. I'm sure Mr. Wang appreciates their business but the lack of Long Island support hurts. And it seems to erode just a little bit more each season.
We keep bringing in rookie GM's and young minor league coaches hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Why? Minimum salary demands naturally. Every time there is some big name coach or free agent available we express interest...but we never sign them. Oh we'll sign the mid-range guys near the end of their shelf lives...we'll even name them Captain. But the bottom line is the bottom line. We can't afford to compete with the big boys. That's why our goal is not another Stanley Cup. Our goal is a couple of home playoff games. I'm lucky...I still have dynasty memories. It's my daughter I feel bad about...she's hooked...she loves the sport and the team. She insists on staying until the final buzzer. I remember that passion...it's great. It's even better if there is a payoff. I'm afraid her payoff will be similar to my Brooklyn Dodger experience and that still HURTS.
about 1 month ago
I'm praying that the Islanders don't move, it's something I always worry about. They desperately need a new building. Even the announcers in NHL 09 for PS3 mention that they need a new building to rejuvinate the franchise!!! I really hope that they can get the deal to build done.
I live about fifty miles away from the Coliseum so it's hard for me to go to games, but my gf and I went to one last season without buying tickets and the game was completely sold out so I was out of luck unless I wanted to spend 300$+ on good seats.
What do you think is ultimately going to happen? Do you think they will get the new building or will we go the way of the Winnipeg Jets?
about 1 month ago
The fact that the Isles might move sickens me. I have loved this team for so long, granted I haven't logged as much mileage as others, but going to Islander games over the last decade and seeing the team have its ups and downs has had a big effect on my life and if we lose this team well then I don't know what I would do. Please Mr. Wang, Mr. Suozzi, and Mrs. Murray lets keep this team.
about 1 month ago
Frank, where has Charles Wang once said he is sellling the club much less to someone who can break the leases that run until 2014, 2015 and 2030 in terms of the cable contract, Smg lease and Nassau County agreement?
This is nothing like the other teams you discussed.
The area is no more dilapidated that the area around Msg and Newark. Msg is just as big a dump if not worse than the Coliseum with horrible sightlines with a hockey team that's just as invisible in NYC as the Islanders in the big baseball market. Hockey casts no shadow in the NY Market, other sports do which is why it's popularity is down across the board here.
People do not show up to see a team that has been to the playoffs four of the last six years because of all the overt negativity in the press. On weeknights, the Devils and Rangers (announced attendance aside) have problems getting people in the seats also and still the Isles have a strong fan turnout in both buildings.
Isles sold out twelve games and had over fifteen thousand for all the weekend games a year ago and the last three years the Islanders have signed more free agents than in their history.
What they cannot do is drop front-loaded contracts that corporate teams do. Players do not want to be bought out and lose money later so they go for big bucks upfront.
In terms of Nassau County the Isles could sellout every game and be undefeated and it would not matter. Same for NYC and the massive renovation Msg needs city approval for.
Rangers in the eighties were on the move out of town too before the city gave them tax exemptions.
about 1 month ago
NYI, I think your dismissal of this as a possibility is very misplaced. If someone is willing to actually buy the Islanders the buyout of the lease and the cable contract would have to be included in the deal. Just because the logisitics of a deal aren't perfect does not mean it cant happen. If the Town of Hempstead kills the Lighthouse project or bogs it down in red tape for an extended period how long do you expect Mr. Wang to wait? Nassau County is notorious for holding up projects of a large scale because the local politicians ALL want their own little personal stamp on the deal. They want to be able to say to potential voters "Look, I got what you wanted!"
It is now November 24th. The original date to break ground on the Coliseum was July 2009. The Town hearings were supposed to be in January. As of right now that date is shaky from what I have heard.
I am with you and I hope you are right but I think it is extremely naive to think it cannot happen. Think of it this way either hope the Islanders dont move and hope for the best, or be pro active and try to spread the word as much as possible that this is unacceptable and we will do what we can about it.
about 1 month ago
There is one thing standing in the way of the Lighthouse project. The Town of Hempstead. Nassau County approved the deal and the plans are with the Town in the middle of their ridiculously long 18 month review process. You would think that a project of this scale would take precedence over Mr and Mrs Joe Smith's deck permit but the Town hasn't done anything but preliminary investigations. I understand going through the proper channels but a project that can have the kind of positive impact on the surrounding areas should take precedence.
about 1 month ago
Frank,
If Charles Wang were to sell the club to someone else that person does not have the power to buy Smg out of it's lease that runs until 2014, if that were feasible it would have been done a decade ago where any one of our owners could have parking, concessions.
Smg under the current agreement even gets a percentage of the Isles ticket sales.
Same deal with the cable contract. There is no buyout or renegotiation of that contract that runs until 2030. If someone else decides to move the club they forfeit hundreds of million of dollars. Tthere is no team in the NHL makes that kind of money off it's TV rights.
The final year of that deal the Islanders make 31m in 2030.
The problem with the Lighthouse project is Nassau County's lease with that Isles that runs until 2015, if the project falls through that can void one the lease immediately which was one provision written into the memorandum of understanding.
Having written this Charles Wang owns the Marriottt Hotel. He spent 90m for it and closed the deal last year. Whether he sells the hockey team or not that is his which means he will have control over the property in the years ahead and can block other developers.
Bottom line Nassau County cannot pay to renovate or replace the Coliseum themselves, if they want to keep it open and generate money which they need for the taxbase this is the only way.
about 1 month ago
Saying the deal cannot be bought out is wrong and you have your facts backwards. Any contract can be bought out if both sides agree. If a new owner wants to buy out the SMG contract for the value of the deal and SMG accepts it (granted it would probably have to be greater than the value of the contract) then SMG CAN be bought out.
SMG's contract and the Islanders lease with the County runs out at the end of the 2013-2014 season. Its the cable contract that was extended during Cablevisions bid to buy the Islanders back in 1997 that extended the deal through the 2030-2031 season.
If you think Cablevision would balk at not having to support the Islanders through the cable contract anymore then you are mistaken. Cablevision would let the Islanders out of that contract in a millisecond because the TV ratings are like the attendance - in the toilet.
There are management groups in Winnipeg, Seattle, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Quebec with money ready to buy a franchise because they know that expansion is out of the question as the NHL will not go above 30 teams. That doesn't mean that they WILL buy the Islanders, it just means they CAN.
Simply dismissing the Islanders cannot move because of the SMG contract is just wrong.
FCT
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