LIGHTHOUSE PROSPECTS DIM: Stalling for a year, Hempstead will let Wang’s October deadline pass
Point Blank on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nyipointblank
Barring a dramatic turn of events, Charles Wang’s October 3 deadline for approvals on the Lighthouse Project is almost certain to come and go with little action from the Town of Hempstead. And when it does, the Islanders owner will have no other choice but to open conversations with other municipalities interested in Long Island’s National Hockey League franchise.
Community leaders in Queens, start preparing your pitches. Bruce Ratner and the people of Brooklyn, if you want an NHL team to join the Nets, the Islanders are mostly-unrestricted free agents in just over four months. If you have a plan and land in Suffolk, County Executive Steve Levy, here’s a chance to maintain the heritage of the Island’s only major professional franchise.
Kansas City, Mr. Balsillie - opportunity knocks.
And if you have a few hundred million to spare and want to commit to keeping the Islanders in Nassau County under this lease and without a development deal, here’s a chance to get yourself on the front page of Newsday. Declare that you have real money and a sincere desire to want to save the Islanders.
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On January 23, Charles Wang visited the offices of Kate Murray, the Town of Hempstead Supervisor. The rhetoric was starting to get a little nasty behind the scenes, in the media and on the blogs. Wang sat down with Murray and called for a spirit of bi-partisan cooperation. The Islanders owner urged Murray to make time for meetings “so we can talk about process.” The developers of the Lighthouse Project came away more encouraged than they had in a long time.
That was four months ago. Wang has not heard from Murray since.
(Murray did not even make it to her own Town Hall)
The Town Supervisor has skipped all meetings related to the development of the Coliseum property, including a recent summit with union leaders she had committed to. Seven planned meetings, no Murray. No discussion of process. Aren’t elected officials supposed to lead?
In mid-April, the project developers were confident they had addressed all issues in the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS). Their feelings were confirmed in a positive letter from Town attorney Joseph Ra. Suddenly on April 24, after a 45-day deadline for revisions had passed, the Lighthouse Development Corporation was contacted by the Town’s planning consultant. A whole new list of issues to address was presented by F.P. Clark & Associates. The letter arrived late on a Friday night.
When one business wants to send another business a chilling message that there will be no spirit of cooperation, they send over work post-deadline on a Friday night.
On May 8, Clark & Associates wrote another letter detailing additional issues with the DGEIS and warning that more letters were coming. There has been no correspondence since.
“The Town wants nothing to do with this,” one major player told Point Blank. “They wish it would all go away so they can go back to whatever it is they do over there. It’s sad.”
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(Note year on jersey: 02)
And so it goes with the Town of Hempstead and the Lighthouse Project, the development of Tom Suozzi’s HUB that Nassau County has tried for decades to get off the ground. So it goes for the revitalization of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as set forth by a Request For Proposals by Nassau County and approved by a 16-2 margain.
Wang, who is said to be completely satisfied by the stewardship of the proposal by Suozzi and the County, has set a October 3 deadline for Town approvals for obvious reasons. The Islanders lease expires in 2015. A “transformed” Coliseum would take four off-seasons to complete. The math is simple. Wang has to decide if he’s finally done losing at least $20 million a year with no development deal in sight.
There’s an election in November for the Town of Hempstead Supervisor, with Murray’s opponent expected to be named very soon. Even if Murray is defeated - in reality, she enters a heavy favorite - there is no guarantee Lighthouse approvals will be fast-tracked. Like all of us, Wang has been promised plenty by politicians before. As a businessman, he is left with no other options but to explore another site for his team.
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What should Islanders fans do? Continue to let your community leaders know how important this is to you. Call Kate Murray. Call Hempstead attorney Joe Ra, an Islanders season ticketholder. When election season arrives, let the politicans know how you feel with your vote.
Revel in the drafting of future star goal scorer John Tavares (you deserve the No. 1 pick after enduring last season). Support the franchise in any way you can. If the Islanders are a big part of your life and/or you’re one of the fortunate in New York to have some disposable income, buy a ticket package for the 2009-10 season and even the one after that. The Islanders will play those seasons at the Coliseum, at the very least.
Hope for the best. Hope that the Town of Hempstead wakes up. Hope that Wang, after 9 years of waiting in Nassau, first looks locally for an alternative. It would be consistent with his actions so far.
Comments.
231 Responses to “LIGHTHOUSE PROSPECTS DIM: Stalling for a year, Hempstead will let Wang’s October deadline pass”
Please Wait
great post. i dont think its a long shot that kate murrary gets voted out in october. theres a LOT of people angry with her on both sides of the aisle if you ask me. theres an october deadline, but if murray’s voted out in november dont think that wangs october date gets pushed back..
i definitely got the impression that kate murrays plan all along was to just do nothing and drag her feet as long as her chubby ankles could last so that she doesn’t have to do anything on this project.
i hope she’s been working on her resume, i hear the job market is tough!!
its so sad! thats all i can say! RIP NYI’s!
i really don’t think they will leave the area. the surprise victory for ratner in brooklyn is huge for us. i’ve had enough of the town of hempstead. let them lose this franchise. it will be their loss. it’s time to take the nyi to brooklyn, queens, or western suffolk.
well that started my day on a high note
Looking forward to catching a game at Citi Arena in Willets Point.
After all of this I hope Kate Murray gets voted out and gets blamed for loosing the Islanders to Queens. I hope all this ends her political career. The town doesnt deserve the Islanders anymore and I am in favor of them moving anywhere as long as its still on long island (including queens and Brooklyn), anywhere but in this cows town.
If the deadline passes with no resolution,can the Islanders leave before the lease ends in 2015?
I’m really starting to hate Long Island and it’s politicians. I’m done with this place. I myself will look for relocation options.
At this point I really WISH Mr.Wang finds a new home NOT in Nassau County.
somebody or something needs to straight up break that machine, it’s only hanging on by a thread these days anyway. i’d rather see the islanders in brooklyn. i say let the NIMBY’s rot in their pathetic wasteland.
Darren, In Nassau’s defense they did approve the project 16-2 or whatever. Its very surprising but Nassau overwhelmingly supports the project, their inability to influence the TOH is another issue completely.
I do remember about 4-5 years ago when the Islanders had the same problem with the Hub that Suffolk county Exec Levy said he would welcome the Islanders and have a spot for them.
What Happened to Suffolk and Levy?
Moving this team to Southern Ontario would be much easier for the League. They would still be in the east and it would not cause a travel/confrence location nightmare like the Yotes would.
Why October 3rd. If he waited this long why not give it another month and see if the election changes anything.
Darren
I left Long island 20 yrs ago in part because of the corrupt and incompetent politicians.As Yogi was want to say “Its Deja Vue all over again”
And if they join up with Ratner then its “what goes around comes around”. A multi sport arena must make for greater financial sense for the developer.
And would not disenfranchise the fan base.
ITS WANGS FAULT!!!He doesnt really care about the Isles staying.All he wants is his name on a huge project so he can look like a hero. He could have built a new arena 5x over. But no.He wants to build a f***ing city.I hate the TOH just as much as the next fan, but we also have to look at the big picture. All we really need is a new arena, not a city.
Why doesn’t Newsday (or another media outlet) interview Murray, so that she can articulate ToH concerns and explain her apparent refusal to engage in the process (not the silly comments from Ra)?
What i’m not grasping fully is why bother creating a deadline? Just bust out that rolodex and start making and taking calls…action in gov’t is almost always reactionary so lets see how they react - if they react, when there possibility of the team moving out of nvmc is REAL
Someone please explain to me how the County can approve something but the Town of Katestead can have the upper hand???
I moved to Jersey 10 years ago….this is just sad….Wang…wait until the elections….if this monster is voted out….moved forward….if she is still in office in November….do what you think is right.
I have been saying that the Islanders should have relocated to Queens since the early 1990’s when they started looking for a new building. The time has now come….
Any owner who just builds a arena here will still lose massive amounts of money……the lease with SMG is the problem…the owner doesnt get anything from the arena…SMG gets alot of it…thats the problem and over time with the money he has lost the only way for him to make it up is the so called CITY…it will never happen so get ready for a bumpy ride with our future Islanders or whatever they will be called
Mind-boggling.
Can this team make money with the current Cable Deal/Attendance after the SMG lease expires?
Greg, I hear ya! It’s not so much Nassau. It’s the whole “Long Island political corruption” that I’m fed up with. I used to think my father was crazy when he complained about it 25 years ago. I now realize he was one of the smartest people I know!
Like Peter stated…
“Its Deja Vue all over again”
Dead.
100% dead.
Think of how dead Thomas Jefferson is by now.
That’s how dead the Lighthouse is.
I’m thinking Wang & Co. shoul’ve bought out SMG years ago. Redeveloping the building and getting the profit from it would’ve helped the rest of the project. At least, I think so.
Coulda
Woulda
Shoulda
Maybe if Charles Wang and the Islanders draft Tavares and make some deals to bring this team back to the Playoffs for the next couple of years, They might make a big impact on people who are not fans but yet want to be a part of a Winning tradition.
Maybe they need to make more News on being a Hockey Team and Winning games and more of winning Long islanders over.
I remember back in the 80’s the Islanders were everywhere billboards, magizines, softball events at almost every park on LI. Promotions and almost every LongIsland radio station you heard somthing about the Islanders, about winning games, Scorring Goals, Names Like Bossy, Gillies, Trottier were HouseHold Names.
Now all we here about is the LightHouse and Now the first round pick.
They need to Win over the Hearts of ALL or Most of LongIslanders for Winning and tradition with Public relations. I know they do it to some extent however they need to step it up alot.My Opinion!
move them to the Jersey Shore
I live three hours from Kansas City, Missouri. I have for my entire life despised teams that relocate (see the Baltimore Colts) because of how a team can be inextricably linked to the fans of the community where it is located. Moves are acrimonious, and for all the joy there is in a team’s destination city, there is a corresponding amount of sadness (or more) in the city left behind.
That being said, I will root for the Kansas City Blades (or whatever they’re called) if need be, wearing my Islanders jersey. A move to Queens or Brooklyn would be ok, but a move of any kind diminishes the heritage of the franchise.
Just like kids are the victims of divorce, fans are the victims when businessmen and politicians don’t try to peacefully co-exist in the world of professional sports.
See you in KC in September! Pre-season is only 4 months away……
This is such a sad day. I can’t understand the TOH stand on this and why they would choose to slight their residents with jobs, revenues and opportunities that just aren’t readily available now. Forget the fact that the Islanders are involved for a minute. Forget the fact that this is related to TOH residents. Where else on LI, not Nassau County only, do we have to go to see Concerts, Shows, Conventions? The people of Hempstead shouldn’t be ashamed of voting in Kate Murray since they were not aware that she would grossly neglect her constituents. Rather, they should be ashamed that more of them haven’t spoken up and have her removed from this important seat on their Town Board.
IT was stated by Julissa Fereras - politician in Queens that Willets Point Development might not happen for a few years now - Brooklyn is your best bet I think - and its going to be another owner - Wang will sell!
To paraphrase a Sex Pistols song:
Nooo future
Noooo future!
Nooooo future for the Lighthouse!!!
it’s over. as long as they stay in the area and wear the same logo, i don’t care what borough or county they play in.
kate murray is a disgrace.
CB, the problem here is that outside of a few thousand die-hard islander fans, nobody cares! Even worse, nobody is even really aware of the situation. There is zero press coverage! This is an issue that should be front page Newsday every day! Murray knows this. She isn’t afraid of political backlash because there isn’t enough upset TOH voters to move her out! I am sick to my stomach over this!! Wang needs to call their bluff! Why wait till Oct 3? He should buy a full page in Newsday advertising that the Isles need a home! Who wants them?? TOH can afford to play hardball because of that ironclad lease. Murray figures by the time that lease is expiring, she will be long gone and it will be someone else’s problem. An absolute disgrace! The failure to meet or negotiate really irks me. God forbid Long island have a future vision! Robert Moses had a vision for a great place to live and was able to act on it. Unfortunately visionaries like him no longer need to apply> Ever wonder why you only pay a toll on the Verazzano leaving LI/NY! Because that’s the only direction the future of LI is going. Everybody is leaving this future wasteland!
Very, very sad. There seems to be no way around this entire situation. I think Suffolk would be the way to go, as there are a large number of Islander fans out east on Long Island who don’t go because the Coliseum is simply an hour away. By moving the Coliseum fifteen minutes east, say to the Pilgrim State Park area, I think the Isles could incorporate a lot of fans from out east, while still maintaining all their fans from the more western parts of the island.
As for Kate Murray, you would think a republican would want big business to flourish in the area, and you would think she would want to provide 10,000 jobs for those struggling. Something just doesn’t make sense at all. I wonder what past agreement she made is holding her back…
It ain’t going to happen. Wang should talk with Brooklyn and Queens and whichever one makes the best deal is where he should go with the Isles. TOH is just playing a stalling game and don’t deserve a professional sports team. Would love to know who is behind Murray making these bad decisions.
Here’s the latest letter I have written to that awful person Ms. Murray.
Good morning,
I have decided to take the time to write this email this morning knowing that you probably wont read this, but I figured I would give it a shot because when you were running for Town Clerk I helped work on that campaign and truly felt fortunate to help someone who was so passionate about govt.
Lets fast forward to today, come November I will not be helping in the upcoming campaign instead I will be doing everything I can to make sure everyone I come across votes against you.
I am also from Levittown, but that no longer is enough for me to vote for you. The NY Islanders are an institution here on LI, I remember being 7yrs old on Hempstead Tpke watching the Stanley Cup Parade.
If you don’t believe in the Lighthouse Project that truly is your prerogative, but as a public servant it really doesn’t matter what your own thoughts on the project are, try listening to the voters.
It is not all about you Ms. Murray and I pray to all that is good and holy that you are not reelected, if you are I can guarantee I will not be purchasing a house in the TOH when the time comes. I don’t want to be associated with anything that you a say in.
Sincerely,
Timothy Tripp
Chris,
Can you answer tc’s question (#18)? 10 years ago, when the swine owned the team, the problem was the lease, specifically, SMG’s take. The lease is done in 5 years. SMG will either be out of the picture or still in the picture with a much more favorable deal for the team. I would like to know how profitable (or not) the team could be with a more favorable lease.
They wish it would just all go away? not a chance! not this season. The fight is just going to become more intense and the proponents of the project louder. Ms. Murray can count on that.
wanger should call super mario.
Oh, poor Wang. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
revive “STIC” (Save the Islanders Coalition)…go door to door, every block in the TOH, before Election Day and ask for support in ousting Murray
Bring them to the IZOD Center in NJ so I can get a full season ticket plan. Seriously though, it seems more and more likely that the team will move. I’m surprised that Wang is even waiting until October. If I were him I’d be looking into my other local options to at least try and keep the team in the immediate area. He is going in circles while trudging through mud trying to get anything done with the hub. I don’t blame him one bit for cutting his losses and moving on. Who would want to keep losing $20 mil a year? It’s ridiculous. Even renovating the arena won’t help him. People forget that SMG has the Islanders buy the nuts. It’s exasperating enough following this without having a monetary stake in anything so just imagine how Wang feels after all these years of trying to get this off the ground. These politicians do not care about the Isles or the county. These politicians look out for themselves and the next election.
This years draft party will be one of the biggest and surely get a lot of press coverage from all over North America. I think it needs to be combined with a ” Save our Islanders” rally! Let the world know how dire the situation is and how little support we are getting from local Gov’t. Time to mobilize!
The development means NEW residences, new residences in a place like this means young democrats. The town is scared, all politics, enough said.
CB..
You should link to that Let there be Light(house) site on your sidebar.
what I cant understand is the fact that this would be built on top of a parking lot, not a nature preserve, in the middle of strip mall capital USA. There will be no Piping Plover nests to worry about when they put a shovel in the ground!I still havent heard one good reason not to build it.
The time has come to officially pull the Lighthouse Project off the table and tell the TOH to GO TO HELL!!!!!!! Enough of this crap. Wang & co should go directly to Suffolk or Queens and get this going.
Obviously they should do this after the draft
Honestly, I love the Islanders…have loved them since I was 8. Now I am listening to all this talk about them relocating if we don’t get the LH done and you know what? I don’t really want the LH built, I really don’t. I am far more concerned about my taxes, the corruption in government, illegal immigrants taking over the entitlement programs than whether or not the Islanders move. I’ll be sad, hell I’ll probably be depressed for a good while. But I can’t stand here and cry about it and I refuse to worry about Kate Murray and Charles Wang having a pissing contest. I agree, Kate Murray is a lackie for Mondello, but that’s politics. Just as Acorn did Obama’s dirty work during the election, she’s doing the dirty work for the TOH. Charles Wang? I commend you for trying, you are a brave soul and a true visionary. But seriously, we don’t need a mini-city in Uniondale - we just don’t. I dunno, I have a hard time getting that mad over this, and I know that I’ll get ripped for it, but I don’t get paid by the Islanders and I suspect most people on here don’t either - save for Chris Botta. I am not losing money OR sleep over this, I won’t allow it.
Its sad really. Just as this team begins to return to some glory its going to be moved far enough for my family to stop buying season tickets. And thats after 25+ years. All those years I may have lived on the opposite end of the Island, but the amount of money Ive poured into Hempstead from taxes and dinners/spending on game nights is unmeasureable.
I dont think these clowns/pigs running things in Hempstead are taking any of these things into consideration. If they lose the Islanders, they lose alot more then just 40 hockey games a year. There’s tons of revenue thats generated indirectly to the local business’s in ToH due to people coming in for hockey games. Whether it be families traveling from the Hamptons or larger groups of opposing fans coming in from Canada to spend a weekend on the island for an upcoming game.
Suozzi playing puppet to Wang. Who is paying for a % of this project TAX PAYER’S. Can Suozzi garantee NO TAX hikes?
The highest taxed states in the union are: NY, NJ, CAL. the businesses are leaving those states. Ask Rush Limbaugh and the Owner of the Buffio Sabres…
Lets get bail out $$ from the NHL like Greskey’s team……
Wang can get this thing done?
(516) 489-6000 call Kate Murry and leave her your message, of disgust!
STIC is dead and they’d be as helpless as anyone else in this matter.
The Hooples of Hempstead deserve what they get should Charles Wang move the team or sell—an empty building with no tenants.
Murray has run the town into the ground—and not just on this issue. I have heard many complaints toward her.
What the the town needs is a grassroots effort—a la Obama to get people to the polls. We have to hope that Suozzi and the County Dems can help Heampstead Dems financially and on the street to get new blood into the town.
I know people don’t like discussing Democrat vs. Republican on this board. And I prefer to keep it to hockey. But there will not be much hockey in Nassau County unless the Democratic Candidate defeats the Republican candidate in the TOH elections come Novemeber.
I am a graphic artist. If anyone knows who is running in the TOH on the Democrats ticket—I will do some design work for FREE to help them get elected. Time to put up or shut up!
This doesn’t speak well for Suozzi that he doesn’t have the clout to get this moving…..anyway, I think we’re better off in Queens anyway - Brooklyn wouldn’t be bad either!
I think it is time to move the team. I am sorry, but the TOH has proven they could care less about the Islanders and their fans. I hope the Islanders can find another location in the NY area so that the Islanders can remain the “New York Islanders.” I am grown up watching the Islanders from a distance. I was born in update NY and now I live in NY. I will be ok if the Islanders move to another location, but I will be devestated for my father, who grew up watching the Islanders at the NVMC. My dad will be heart broken. Thanks TOH! I wish will all my heart that I could vote against Ms. Murray in November. If and when the Democrats name a candidate, I for one will be making a contribution.
I say Wanger drops the hammer and scraps the LHP. Move the team to Brooklyn, Queens, or any where in the NY metropoplitan area. Lets seal the cows legacy of losing the Islanders. The NVMC will be like a big symbol of the ineptitude and corruption of Long Island politics.
WOW!!! all I can say is wow…
How sad… how very sad.
DOC
Kate Murray is a MORON. The Islanders create jobs and she wants to kick them out? How did she get elected in the first place?
CB, thanks for the wake up call this morning. The situation is dire. I am outraged and saddened that the future of our beloved Islanders rests in the hands of a few corrupt, pig-headed politicians.
Hyedray hit the nail on the head. I know some of you do not like to talk partisan politics here, but this is now a partisan issue. Our only hope for keeping the Isles in Nassau is to try to get a Democrat elected to Murray’s seat in November. We need a swing of 18K votes to make it happen, which will be very difficult but not impossible. A grassroots organizing strategy can work, but the door knocking needs to start early this summer. The Democratic party needs to throw its weight into this by providing voter lists and other infrastructure for an organizing effort. If you want the Democratic Party to go hard after Murray, call them at (516) 294-3366. Tell them you will contribute and volunteer if they provide party resources to go after that seat.
i just wanted to share something with yall that i remember from a very long time ago…when i was a kid, joe ra actually came to my elementary school in elmont to speak to the kids on a rainy day or something. it had to be like 92 or 93 at the latest. anyway the only thing i specifically remember from his speech was that he explicitly referred to the crooked political bigwigs in the town that he did not like as “muckymucks”, and that was over 15 years ago, yet is he still powerless working underneath the same pack of crooks. every time i’ve seen his name mentioned in response to this whole debacle, i always thought of that time so long ago and wonder if he really meant it or not…
I SAY WE RESTART A SAVE THE ISLANDERS COALITION, AND DO EVERYTHING CB SAID AND MORE LI NEEDS THE ISLES, AND THE BELONG HERE!!! I’LL DO WHATEVER I CAN, AND WE SHOULD ALL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE!!!
Months ago when Someone said their Legislator was against it as well i decided to write my Legislator Joseph Scannell that serves Rockville Centre. He he is in support of it.
I really dont get how someone can say its Wangs Fault.
They have held about 10 meetings and Kate Murray has been a no show to all of them. I guess after he puts in her punchcard at 4pm she goes home for the night.
She its said that our beloved teams fate is doing decide by an incompetent moron like Kate Murray.
yes its great she wont be re-elected but who cares, Isles will be long gone.
1) CB A QUESTION: Is there a ‘buy out’ provision in the lease where the team can get out of the remaining years(for a cost)?
2) Seem to recall discussions of that a few years ago when SMG was the perceived villain and options were written about such a move being advantageous.
3) If that is possible it could mean the team could be going into its final season on LI?
Will Wang give up that Cablevision contract and sell the team ?
Anyone want to start something on Facebook?
Why does Newsday not seem to care about this? I suspect Kate Murray will not budge until the Democrats have a viable candidate to run against her and an advertising blitz against her begins.
“…the Islanders are mostly-unrestricted free agents in just over four months.” Really CB? The truth is they have an iron clad non-cancelleable lease through 2015 requiring them to stay put where they are. More effort should be made to objectively report the actual facts and not simply repeat the false propaganda dished to you by your benefactor Charles Wang.
You know once they move to (I hope Queens or BK). The roosevelt mall people will be breaking ground in 3 months on a shopping center / movie theater.
If Mr Balsillie wants to move the team to Kitchener, it would sure be ironic having the Kitchener Rangers and Kitchener Islanders…
This article sent a chill down my spine. I too, hope that if need be, the Islanders can relocate to Queens or Brooklyn. I don’t know what I would do if the Isles were no more. What is Murray and TOH protecting? The last time I drove down Hempstead Tpke., there was nothing of value nearby other than Hofstra. If the Islanders move, look forward to Uniondale/Hempstead becoming a full-fledged dump that you wouldn’t want to be caught dead in after dark. Thanks TOH!
Wang should just call Ratner in Brooklyn and cut a deal and quit screwing with TOH. If Wang continues with TOH, then he’s got no one to blame but himself. Call Ratner and get a deal done NOW.
The team can`t move until 2015..end of story. Oct 3rd means nothing, maybe wang will put team up for sale, but they can`t move. Don`t forget they sat on this for 5 yrs before it went to the TOH.
if Wang cares about the Islanders, why keep using the franchise as leverage to build the lighthouse. why not just remake the coliseum and keep pushing to build lighthouse around it afterwards.? kate murray should grow up too, but Wang could remake the coliseum especially with Tavares, and then push over time for the lighthouse. No? any thoughts?
At this point I want this issue resolved either way. If they are not going to get the new arena deal than LEAVE. I am sick of always rooting for the worst team in the league. And they are always the worst team in the league for the same reason. The ARENA. This has been an issue for 15 years now. This needs to end. If the franchise will thrive in another city such as Kansas City, then I hope they move there. I can’t stand this anymore. Once again we will not be able to field a competitive team next year because no star players will sign here, again, for the same reason: the ARENA, AGAIN. This needs to stop.
RIP Lighthouse Project. Please move to Queens.
Let’s Go Islanders! (New York Islanders)
To absolve Wang of any blame is crazy. He ran the team into the ground under Milbury, and it became a laughingstock with the whole Neil Smith fiasco. During his tenure, many fans have been lost. There is no real radio station for the fans to follow the team on. If the team was run well and had more success there would have been more excitement and a bigger push for a new arena. As it is now, the organization is like the CIA. How many teams do not give out the coaches contract information? They rarely give any information to the fans regarding injuries,etc. I do not trust politicians either, but I would bet Murray wins re-election, which would validate her position, whether you agree with her or not. Politicians only care about re-election and there are not enough Islander fans to boot her out of office. I love the Islanders but I never trust sports owners or politicians. The results on the ice during Wang’s tenure have been a disaster.
this is the year to fill up the coliseum every night, show your support.
I gotta say this news is rather anti-clmactic. The LH HAS been dead for close to 2 years at least that’s what I’ve been hearing via the ‘net.
Willets Point here we come! God, the joy of seeing ‘my’ Islanders march up the Canyon of Heros with Lord Stanley in tow? Man, can my dream really be coming true? Wow.
Here’s a hunch I have. Not sure how known it is on this site, but Wilpon is very eager to get an MLS team in queens. There is a group called the Boro Boys who have had meetings with Wilpon and MLS brass. NYC will get a franchise in Queens…and the hot rumor is that it will be on the site of what is now Shea. Wouldn’t a soccer stadium and hockey arena look great there?! I can absolutely see Wang teaming up with Wilpon for something in Queens. Soccer will do great there and having a hockey team, baseball team and soccer team in that area seems like a great way to build it up and take advantage of great mass transit and nearby Flushing Park. Just my hunch…
It is sad to see this happening to the Islanders and Long Island. I thought with the economy in the dumps, it would help get this project going since for the most part it would be a privately funded project. I work for a large commercial general contractor and the construction industry is terrible right now since most owners either don’t have the money or can’t get the funding to build right now. To see a project of this size get held up because of politicians is just pathetic. Most cities and towns would line up for a project like this in today’s economy.
Dave,
Why should Wang pay his own money to rebuild the coliseum and hope that the rest gets approved. Once the coliseum is redone there is no incentive for TOH to approve anything. So Wang spends his money to refurbish an arena he does not own and is still stuck with the crappy lease untill 2015. Will this finally answer al those who say why doesn’t he just do the arena question. He’s losing 20mil per season Sure go spend another 400mill or so to refurbish arena and still lose money. That’s why the whole project was approved by the county.
Dave #61, I have a house I want you to rent but before you do I want you to totally rebuild it for me, OK?
I guess we won’t really know if there is serious interest in keeping the Islanders in NY until Wang puts them on the “Market”. Why wait until October.
Get ‘er done!
Some questions:
Does he really want to own a team that isn’t located in WangWorld?
Can BKLYN or QUEENS really this happen? Can they find another owner who will keep them in NY?
Between what Bettman has done to the NHL and Milbury (and his bosses) have done to the Islanders I bet I could make a serious offer by getting the change from under my couch cushions.
Seriously, all you guys assigning Wang all the blame are either ignoring the facts or need to read up on this a little more. Jeff (#70) is dead right - if you’re renting an apartment, and something goes wrong, the LANDLORD is responsible for fixing it. It’s the same situation here - Charles Wang does not own the building and the County won’t provide any of our tax dollars for a new building (and I think they shouldn’t). Therefore, this idea came about as a way to save the team….All you guys arguing over where to move are not helping. We need to demand more from our elected leaders and make them pay attention to this. Also, there are many out there who just want a winning team and think these are separate issues. They’re not. Get on board or get out of the way.
Looks like Murray is just waiting for the offer of a lifetime supply of pork rinds and Starbucks Frappuccinos. Can’t anyone else see this?!
I just finished writing a scathing letter to Kate Murray. My name, address and phone number to contact me
they didnt call me back last time, not sure why it would be any different this time.
Im not asking for much. just an explanation. No response to me means you dont have anything good to say.
Please Kate, Tell me your side of story.
Is the team free to leave the building before 2014 if there is no agreement in place on the Lighthouse by a certain date. I have read about this but do not understand it. If so, a move to either Bklyn or Queens would be ideal. From a building perspective, the fans and players get a completely new arena as opposed to a remake. Either facility would essentially render the coliseum irrelevant for not only hockey but any other significant event for the LI market. Don’t the politicians at the TOH understand what the loss of any meaningful use of the facility would cause by way of financial impact? The stonewalling really makes no sense that I can see.
Be like Tom Golisano and move out of New York. I will when (if) I retire. Make it seven, Mr Wang!
Suggestion to people untop of calling Kate Murray….Start calling politicians in Queens also…Anthony Weiner who is looking to run against bloomberg has been a supporter of the idea moving the team to willets point….I have met him on the street in previous years and he seems like a stand up guy…Most New Yorkers are probably sick of all the cost cutting by Bloomberg and considering he might not be able to run for a third term it may not be a bad idea to voice our opinions
just move. Queens, Brooklyn, who cares. As long as they are still called the NY Islanders. (with the SAME LOGO!)
I first want to say I think the NY Islander’s should stay on Long Island, preferrably in Nassau Coliseum. Secondly, I also support the Lighthouse Project, where ever on Long Island, with the NY Islander’s, it’s developed. Long Island is, the “Home of the NY Islander’s”, Long Islander’s and all NY Islander’s Fan’s should fight this together. You talk about lack of coverage, lets be serious, to the most part, since 1993, the Proud NY Islander’s, have had very little to admire about. Back out the great series with Toronto, and Al Arbour’s 1500th Win! And bringing back, “The Uniform’s”, and deciding to let those rediculous mains they where today, go away for good. What else trully, was there to write about. Now, if the NY Islander’s, continued to be managed, like they were from 1972 through 1993, this Project, in my opinion would have allready been approved. As far as lack of fan support and lack of fan’s going to the games, I would love to see, any team in Professional Sports, where the fan’s of that team were put through, what the Great Fan’s of the Proud NY Islander’s have been, for pretty much the last 15 Plus years, would do in the way of, Attendence at games. The percentage’s would be no where near what the NY Islander’s attendence figures have been. My point, the NY Islander’s fan base is Unreal, there are a Ton of Loyal NY Islander’s fan’s, that Love their NY Islander’s. Years ago you could’t get a seat, for a NY Islander’s game. Always, Always SOLD OUT! I want to make one more point, Mr.Charles Wang, George Steinbrenner, could have built his 1.5 Billion Dallar Stadium, any place he wanted, he chose, not to leave the Bronx, in NY. I would say you absolutely have to comment Mr. Steinbrenner on that decision. The New York Yankees reside in the Bronx, they are and always will be the “Bronx Bombers” their home is Yankee Stadium, in Bronx, NY. The NY Islander’s reside in Long Island, NY, and their Home is, and should always be Nassau Colisium. Chris again, great article, Mark N/J Go NY Islander’s
its SMG that is killing the isles,,,,and why they werent bought out already I dont know.
CB–why the sudden doom and gloom? Can you give us a little more from your
source(s) and why you are writing this now and not in September, given all the excitement about the upcoming draft? In other words, why the buzz kill right now?
Also–if the LH does fail, what’s your personal take on which direction Wang goes: 1) maintain ownership and relocate in the NY metro area, 2) maintain ownership and relocate to a city like KC, 3) sell the team with caveats for them to stay local, or 4) sell the team with no regard for where they end up?
This is a multi-faceted problem. First, we have an owner who has an all-or-nothing attitude. He’s a real estate guy first. Second, we have a stranglehold of a lease which was negotiated by Alphonse D’Amato, who eventually got himself a seat on the SMG board.(talk about a bonus!)Next, we have a town super who is obviously taking orders from above (read Joseph Mondello) to try and scuttle Tom Suozzi so the Republicans can win back the county. Throw in the possibility of other special interests against (Roosevelt Field?) and you have a standoff where we all lose. Maybe someday it will all come out. Don’t fool yourself. This is about power, money and ego. On both sides…….
IF YOU CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND JOBS. IF YOU CARE ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE. IF YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE ISLANDERS, POSTING ON AN INTERNET SITE IS COOL, but it’s also cool to let your voice be heard. Call Kate Murray’s office or send an e-mail to the TOH’s web site. Organize and let your voice be heard in masses. To protest as long as it is done legally and without harm is a constitutional right in America. If you’re an Islanders Fan, read the end of post 27. For Islander fans and Long Islanders, we are approaching OUR 7TH GAME !!!
The scary thing is no investor has stepped up to keep them in NY - WANG is going to sell - BK or Queens you still have 3 or 4 years to get an arena and another gruelling process - although BK is further along.
Anyhow - I seriously doubt he wants to continue to lose money and while i dont blame him - he is a business man - “I wouldnt do it again” - dont you see - he regrets this - he is going to sell and the only investors are in KC and Canada! Sorry to be debbie downer here. Unless I see an investor step up and say hey - ill keep them here.
IF WANG really wanted to keep the team in NY he would have played his cards using Queens to help the lighthouse along - has he talked to them? Dont blame him - btu hes a businessman who just put a lot of money into a losing cause!
I agree, d-money(78) and Im not sure what specifically provoked this, either.
I know this isnt easy… and the Town of Hempstead is making everything that much more difficult. But I am not going to throw my hands up in the air because of it, Im going to keep fighting for what we want. I dont see the point in stopping now.
Honestly it’s really just sad …
I’ll echo the sentiments of most others …I hope Wang and his people are being proactive about this and talking to the people in Queens (whom have already expressed interest) and Brooklyn.
The Islanders need to stay local …
This is a sad day …
On her website, they say that Murray: commences each workday by asking herself a question that guides her actions throughout the year . . . “How can I improve the lives of the people I serve?”
#12,I am sure that one of the reasons for setting the October 3rd deadline is to give the voters an opportunity to react at the polls. If Wang says he is leaving in early October, it increases the likelihood that Murray is voted out. If she is, Wang will have a new administration to deal with that hopefully, will be more than happy to announce that it has saved the Islanders. So, while there is a deadline, I would be very surprised if it is a “drop dead date.” In fact, I think it’s fairly shrewd on Wang’s part to set an artificial deadline in the hope that it impacts the election. Now the Democrats need to get their act together and name a candidate.
CB,
I’m sure you’re already working on finding this out but -
What’s Wang’s response to this? Has he given up hope on getting it done here? Has he already begun some dialogue with Queens/Brooklyn? Or is he just going to sell …
Thanks in advance
hey #14 would you pay to rebuild someone else’s house because Wang don’t own the Arena why would he rebuild it.
Nick Isles–I know this might sound naive, but it remains to be seen if anyone would step up to try and keep the team in NY. It’s not as if the “for sale” sign is up, and look what has happened in places like Nashville and now Phoenix when it has gone up. And those places have no tradition whatsoever compared to the Isles.
The investors may be there waiting, and given this team may have finally hit rock bottom and could be starting a (potentially long) climb back to respectability on the ice, I’d like to hope things aren’t so dire just yet.
Huh?
Pablo #24 is right read his post. I believe the team will be sold. Ratner is the obvious candidate. Wang will get a payout some cash and perhaps a piece of the realestate pie in Bklyn. But as pablo says a winning team next season is a must. That means trades plus ufas. Sure we would love to stock up on Piks for the future but we want it here and not in KC Ratner can make money on the Isles but probably does not have say 180M as loose bucks to pay Wang. The cap floor needs to go down to support the 6 or 7 teams that are said to be in trouble. Oddly the Isles are not seen by the league as being in dire straits.
chris,
I think somehting is wrong with the site. AZS’s name and e-mail address are popping up on my screen and I am not him/her.
CB please give us more info…do you know something we don`t????
Keep calling (516) 489-6000 and your message will be heard
call 516-489-6000 ask for charles kovatch, he works with Ra…he will complain about traffic, and how the LHG held the plan for 5 yrs….
Chris, maybe Charles Wang should get in touch with one of his very good friends, Donald Trump, and sell Mr. Trump one half of the NY Islander’s. Donald Trump is a Real Estate Genious, I’m sure he could help get this done. And keeping the Islander’s, a New York Team. There’s nothing more valuable, than having a Professional Team from New York. Thanks Chris Mark N/J
It’s just sickening at this point. To hear one negative update after another. In a way, I wish the Islanders could move tomorrow because that’s what it looks like will be happening anyway. I’m a die hard Islanders fan and I love that they are on Long Island(even though I live in NJ) but whether they move or not, I wish it would just happen already. The worst part of this is having our owner and fans in limbo as to where this team will be playing in a few years. Will fans buy season tickets to a team that may not be on Long Island(or even in the US) in a few years?
Even though they finished last in the standings, the Isles have a lot of hope on-ice. More than I’ve seen in a while on this team. Whoever buys us, wherever we move to, it’ll be a good investment for that buyer.
Metro hockey just won’t be the same if the Isles weren’t involved. It’s always been the Isles, Devils, and Rangers with many good rivalry games mixed in there.
Thank you for the update CB and thank you for being honest with the fans and not trying to sugar-coat the situation that this team is in.
Chris,
What has happened in the last 24 hours that led to you posting this now…that the Lighthouse is dead? Has anything really changed from where we were 4 weeks ago? If Wang really wants this to get done he needs to start advertising in Newsday bigtime. Take out full page ads with pics of the lighthouse. Explain the benefits of the lighthouse. Start talking to Murray’s competition for the November election and throw his money behind them with advertising to get Murray unseated. Once I see Wang doing this advertising blitz, then I will be worried about this getting done. For now I still think it is just the slow pace of government with Murray putting in roadblocks, but without the project totally derailed yet.
I have been a season ticket holder for 7 years. I have signed up for the next 3 years. I want them to stay in Nassau but would not be opposed to them moving to Queens especially since I work in the City. I want to get more involved but I don’t have the time. I don’t understand how Nassau County doesn’t not want the tax dollars from this developed land. It would be huge for the County.
Teams in worse fincial shape than the Isles are Phx, Col, Buf, Fla, Tb, Atl. Col, Source a recent Berger blog.
To Joe C #79:
On what facts do you base your comment that Wang has an “all or nothing attitude”?
Fact - He has already made considerable concessions scaling it down. Look it up.
Fact - He has stated that he knows its a negotiation, and has asked the TOH for feedback.
Fact - Kate Murry has not responded.
I have heard this all or nothing accusation many times over the last few months - it’s just not true.
I can only conclude the accusers are either uninformed or have some other reason for opposing the project.
It’s your right to oppose the project if you want, but don’t make false accusations.
(55) Newsday doesn’t care because they are owned by the same company that owns the RAG$
Just putting the tin foil hat on for a second, but I’m sure Newsday would be covering this story in more detail if they weren’t owned by Cablevision. We’ve already seen the Dolans kill one development project because they didn’t want the competition to their precious Madison Square Garden. If the Isles move, the Rangers benefit the most. Don’t for a second think the Dolans wouldn’t throw a party if the Isles left LI.
If anyone thinks that Ms. Murray will be defeated, they are mistaken. Just take a look at the TOH demographics, and compare them to the issues that she promotes. Unfortunate as it is, this is simply old fashioned politics.
no sleep til’ BROOKLYN!
Perfect for all you LI’rs as there is an LIRR stop RIGHT THERE.
anyhow, any chance the Rangers have anything to say about the Islanders relocating within NYC borders (BKLYN or QUEENS)? Can they block - would we have to pay them anything? just curious.
who is this Frederick P. Clark Associates, the “planning consultants” who help bankroll Murray’s political campaigns and who are serving as her “hammer” in making us lose our team? I think it’s high time they occupy the same hot seat as Murray
Dan (96): Nassau County DOES want the tax dollars from the developed land. They know it would be huge for the County. The problem is not with Nassau county, it is with the Town of Hempstead.
Anybody have Tony Soprano’s number?
No but you can find him at the Bada Bing.
ajax #98 and others: I think it’s ridiculous to say Newsday doesn’t care. There has been a ton of coverage in there, even when they had to acknowledge they got beat by the bloggers (e.g., the Kate Murray-Frederick Clark ties). The fact is that there is nothing happening, and that’s the town’s choice. They’re not going to write day-after-day “nothing’s happening.” In the last 2-3 months alone, there have been numerous stories on this. You may not have liked all of them, but the idea that this is being ignored is just wrong. “Dark days for the Lighthouse” was one recent headline.
Now the other problem is that there are still a tremendous number of people on Long Island who don’t know about the project, don’t know about the town’s stance…I even know one guy whose brother owns the deli across the street (and stands to benefit tremendously) who thought it was dead!
If people choose to stay uninformed, there isn’t much you can do about that. But it’s not because Newsday hasn’t given them the opportunity to learn about it. (And you can always just search on the term “Lighthouse” on newsday.com, and see everything that has been written).
Kate Murray is needs to be stopped! Lets get her out of office starting now this summer if we want to keep our Islanders here in Nassau County. Those of you who think the islanders have a chance in Suffolk are nuts!! Completely insane. I Know you live in suffolk and the islanders have a lot of fans there, but to move even further away from the city is ridiculous. People from Long Island do work in the city and the Coliseum is close enough where you can make the trip out, but moving the team an extra half hour or so away from the city is ridiculous. It does not make any sense for any owner.
Brooklyn is a potential gold mine for this team. If they market it right and the economy is improved by the time the arena is ready (if isn’t none of this will matter anyway), the surrounding area will adopt this franchise with open arms. I live right near the AY site. I think tons of people, including lots of new and young hockey fans, will walk to the games. It could be awesome.
No way Bettman let’s a NY team leave when a brand new arena will exist in Brooklyn & NYC looks to bend over backwards to have an Arena in Willets Point.
Thank God for Iron-clad leases though. It’s killed the Isles for many years, but when it’s all said done, this Iron-clad lease will give the time that’s needed to Save Islander hockey. Irony.
Mike #97–I’ll concede that point, as I haven’t seen it. I’ll take your word. I don’t oppose LH. I fully support it. However, I stick by the statement that power, money and ego on both sides flavors the issue. I see LH as a win-win for both sides. They see just see the need to win, and it may cost us the team.
Can someone clarify whether Wang can get out of the lease if the TOH rejects the plan? I thought Wang had this ability.
Isles should stay on long Island and join forces with the Nets in Brooklyn. Still technically a part of Long Island. They partnered once in the 70’s and now they should do the same again. Ranger fans trek in the LIRR to MSG so why can’t we get off at Jamiaca and trek to Brooklyn.
Never understood why Suffolk County never had a team? Why not move to Suffolk and build there. Too much political crap!
At this point I’m really hoping that Queens steps up and make a push. Brooklyn would be a 2nd choice.
Hard to beleive someone who wants to bring more business to town is getting shut out. What is going to happen to the Source Mall without fortunoffs? Seems like town revenues and jobs will dry up and Kate Murray will be to blame-passing on the gift solution being offered.
Are there any potential sites in Western Suffolk that could support a new arena?
Queens and Brooklyn are nothing more than pipe dreams in themselves and would be years more in the making the way things go for this team.
The Lighthouse is the best option and is far from dead. The Democrats are close to naming an opponent to Murray. It has been suggested that they already have one. Why the wait? My guess is that they are waiting for the June draft timeframe to maximize media buzz. This gives me hope that the candidate will be very pro-Lighthouse and Islander friendly. Hopefully this candiate can expose Murray’s hypocrisy on this subject and force her to show her true colours. How can she campain against something she won’t comment on? Will she just not “show up” for the election and all of the questions leading up to it? Impossible. I wouldn’t call the project dead at this point. It has been “dim” for awhile now but a big spotlight will soon be pointed. How could it not be? It’s an election year.
There were reports a few years back that Suffolk County wanted to build a 8,000 to 10,000 seat arena to lure a AHL/ECHL team not sure whats happening with that. Those leagues would work quite well on Long Island. Just look at the LI Ducks baseball team. Family affordable.
CB,
Am I missing something? Did someone besides the “major player” come out and say “we’re going to let the deadline pass” or is this just speculation?
I would be interested to know how many Isles fans reside in the voting area. I for one, live in Suffolk and I read a lot of people here say the same.
Good point Ajax, its The NY Islanders, not the Hempstead Islanders.
how sad….
I think it’s time for TOH residents that support the Light House to put heavy duty political pressure on Murray … I’m not talking about phone calls that only make Islander fans as annoying as bill collectors tying up the town’s phone lines … I’m talking about pressuring her political enemies … Go for the juggular … what is the life blood of politicians? Money … not voters … because you can’t have voters without money … Money is the plasma … and the voters are the blood cells … Let her donors know you will boycott them if they donate to Murray … call them out if there are conflicts of interest … we have some very savvy Islander fans that participate on this blog that know how to dig things up … it’s very easy to get the donor list … Go Get ‘em Isles fans … All I can do from afar is to keep calling their office … but I have no political clout in TOH to really put a scare in them.
The only way the Lighthouse gets built is if Murray and the current TOH politicans are voted out of power in November and new leadership, receptive to the Lighthouse, are voted in. If that doesn’t happen, the Lighthouse is dead. The Isles in Nassau County are dead. And quite possibly, the Islanders in New York are dead.
I am not a TOH or Nassau County resident, so there is little I can do, but for those of you who read this site and live in the TOH need to step up for all of us in November. Get the word out. Let your voices be heard. Vote Kate Murray and her minions out of office and send a message that a group of short-sighted, self-interested politicans aren’t going to be the downfall of the Islanders on Long Island.
If Murray isn’t voted out of office, Wang will sell the team and they will be moved off of Long Island. That’s the reality of the situation.
Correction above … Should read … *** I’m talking about pressuring her political allies… and empowering her enemies …
i dont think anything in the SMG arrangment can prevent the islanders from moving. The SMG lease is strickly that if islanders play at the nassau coloseum, they get all food, drinks and parking revenues. Thats why TOH is not moving on it. they get paid from SMG and SMG takes all the lost dollars the islanders could be getting from parking and concessions.
I forgot if it was D’Amato that did it. He signed it, probaby got paid nicely under the table like the politicans on LI always do. and he signed a 30 yr lease.
Thats Why, Wang wants to build new arena. Its the only way to get out of Lease since SMG has no interest in breaking it. What do they care. They get paid for time being.
If I were Jim Balsille, I’d stop pissing around with Phoenix and start calling Charles Wang ASAP.
Wang is going to sell — soon. Sad to say, the Lighthouse Project is dead, and since Bettman has already noted that there’s no local buyer (he told the world that the Isles wouldn’t be on LI without Wang), he’s either going to have to allow the move or be shown up as either incompetent or a liar.
What Balsille has to do it make sure he’s not poaching on Buffalo’s territory. A second Ontario team won’t hurt the Leafs’ cash machine, but the NHL won’t let him damage Buffalo.
Balsille can buy out the NVMC lease out of pocket change and move the team.
And lets cut through this B.S. that Wang is to blame for this. That’s ridiculous. This guy has had this proposal tabled for years. For months, the TOH has had all the paperwork they need to either reject or approve the project. The politicans in the TOH are to blame for this. They are not going to vote on a controversial project for fear of backlash from their constituents and those who pour money into their campaigns. They are deliberately stalling and tabling this project to avoid having it become an election issue in November. That’s sad. These idiots are elected officials who are voted into office to make tough decisions and to look out for the best interests of their constituents. The TOH politicans aren’t doing either right now. This stall (and the eventual Isles move) is on the TOH.
I just had this very ominous and rare encounter: I work in an office building right by the coliseum. Who do I get temporarily stuck in the elevator with? Al Damato. So I asked Al if he thought his friend would get the Lighthouse deal. His response: “There’s so much f****** s*** going on with that mess. Even if they OK’d it, he won’t be able to get the financing.” Thought you all might find this interesting, considering Damato’s history with Wang.
memorial day vacation just got ruined. i feel like throwing up….
Rather then echo the sentiments that have already been expressed numerous times above (and I whole heartedly agree). I’ll voice a new regret- I was looking forward to the brand new sports-medicine, training facility, and extra ice rinks. Not only for the jobs, but the extra ice rinks would have been home to several new Long Island hockey leagues. It would have been a great way to further grow the sport (and interest in the Islanders). I don’t care if you are an Islander or a Ranger fan, as a Long Island hockey fan, those facilities would have been great. At least there’s Skatesafe and Rinx for now
this has nothing to do with SMG aside from the fact that they have a killer lease in place. TOH only gets 200k from the lease (set in stone, not a percentage of take) and since this was signed over 30 years ago, i guarantee that TOH would get much much more in payment from any deal made after SMG.
and for all those folks that keep asking why SMG hasnt been bought out after all these years or previously its because SMG doesnt WANT a buyout. why would they…. they have a killer deal in place. the isles tried it several times in the past 20 years, once with the NHL behind them and working with them in the negotiations but SMG doesnt bend and wont. you are stuck with them until the lease expires.
There is no way Wang is to blame for this. But, I think he is as guilty as TOH for putting us, the fans, in the middle of this drama. If Wang were to take the proposal from TOH and renovate the arena starting now it would be done in 4 years, right when his crippling management deal is over with SMG. He could then collect a MUCH higher percentage of revenues from concessions, parking etc while still benefiting from one of the most lucrative TV deals in sports and also from the revenues that all of the new luxury boxes would bring in. Meanwhile, Wangs deal with the county could remain in place, affording him and Rechler time to deal with TOH to get the rest of the scope approved. this could also work in Wangs favor b/c he would not need the financing all at once in such a bad economy.
re 96
Art , you can add Dallas Stars to the list too
re 106
PTA, Isles can only get out of the lease if TOH approves the plans. Once the plans are approved they go back to Nassau County so they can finalize and execute the lease. If the county does not execute the lease within x amount of days Wang is free and clear. But, since this is being held up by TOH and not Nassau County there is no relief for Wang from his lease obligations.
The question I have for Kate Murry and the TOH if it’s not the Lighthouse Project. Then what is the plan for the Nassau Coliseum after the team’s lease is done within 5 years? I’m sure TOH should have a plan/idea themselves for the site. Will the town pay (as Kate said with Obama money) for a revamping or upgrade of the Coliseum. Build a new one on the site themselves or SMG maybe? Tear it down and build offices/low income housing/schools/shopping mall? What then? Will it take 10 years to get passed? I don’t think so!!!
I’ve been an Isles fan all my life and recently moved to NJ 2 years now. It’s a long drive to Nassau Coliseum for me now and Brooklyn or Queens would make it shorter. I will follow them wherever they might go. Brooklyn, Queens, hell they can play at the Meadowlands until ether arenas are build. I don’t really care if the lighthouse is build anymore, without the Islanders they might as well turn the site into the town dump. If the TOH can’t see it being a good thing for all the people of LI not just hockey fans. Let’s them tell us what better idea they have for the site, and then put it to a vote. If’s Wangs’ plan won’t go passed then theirs should be voted against by Nassau residents who believed Wangs’ plan should have. Brooklyn or Queens for me… F the TOH!!!
Nystrom 23……..There is not a snow balls chance in hell Bloomberg loses the election. Cutting costs is not such a bad thing right now.
Hamilton Islanders. hmm does have a ring to it..
Yes, I am serious. Was your encounter more promising??
It’s not so simple for that firm to keep sending back questions. Wang will have legal action against ToH and the firm they have hired if he feels they are not acting in good faith. They can’t just stonewall him forever and give him nitpicky issues to make sure the DGEIS doesn’t go through. I’m like 90% sure it doesn’t work that way.
CB, excellent website by the way. Forget about this Lighthouse Project it should have been approved years ago and we would be going to it’s first season at the Lighthouse this year. The Islanders have established a winning tradition that few teams in professional sports have accomplished. 19 straight playoff wins the NHL’s unbreakable record. I know it hasn’t been recently but a team with a storied history as the Islanders should not move anywhere. It would be a huge loss to the league to have a storied franchise leave. Long Island is one the richest places to live and people could support a pro sports team. If not for the Islanders youth hockey would not exist on the Island. Their the reason I having been playing ice hockey my whole life. I could see Phoenix leaving because they haven’t even won a playoff series in their 12 year history. The Devils have a recent history in winning, 3 Cups in 9 seasons which is why they have the Prudential Center. The Rangers are lucky they play in the heart of the city with a corporate fan base, otherwise they would be long gone, 1 Cup in 68 years they don’t have a history of winning. The Islanders aren’t moving unless Wang sells the team to a Balsille or investor who wants a team in Canada or elsewhere. Does Kansas City have a rich hockey history? The Scouts played only 4 seasons there, that city had its chance. They would last 3 seasons in Kansas City unless they win the Cup. Thanks to Bettman, Winnipeg and Quebec City still should have NHL cities but fell to the free-agency era. This should not be a big deal this summer with the draft upcoming. The Isles can immediately become a great team again next year. Look at the Flyers 2 seasons ago. It’s funny cause next season the Isles could have a great year maybe making the playoffs and having a run like the Cardiac Canes are having. All we need is a completely new arena forget the Lighthouse add ons, that would only be a bonus to Long Islanders. This project is down the tubes. Garth better not screw up this draft like Milbury in 2000 and 2001. We had Luongo, and he should have drafted Heatley or Gaborik. In 2001, he traded the 2nd overall pick (Spezza) to Ottawa for Yashin. If only Milbury was patient with our players who are now superstars, I could only imagine how many more Cups we would have won and the new arena would have been established already.
Re: Dan (95)… “I don’t understand how Nassau County doesn’t not want the tax dollars from this developed land. It would be huge for the County.”
For the zillionth time, it’s not Nassau County that doesn’t want this. They overwhelmingly approved it. Problem here is with the idiots in the Town of Hempstead government.
But Dan’s statement speaks volumes to me. If even those in favor of the LHP don’t fully understand the issues, what hope does it really have? Someone - and who else to look at here besides Wang/Rechler & Co - is doing a horrific job of getting information out to the public. How are people supposed to be concerned enough about this project - as in concerned enough to do things like putting pressure on the TOH and voting out Kate Murray - if they don’t know enough about it?
This needs to change but quick.
Queens Islanders
Them playing in one of the 5 boroughs can only help the Isles
I think people will take them a little more seriously
Playing in the Big city and We want the team.
If TOH doesnt we will take them and give them a new arena with a profitable lease.
RC, the Isles could easily move to Brooklyn or Queens, the rag$ have no say in it…Islanders paid the territorial fee a long time ago.
My heart just broke. Although im not from long ısland (nj), I’ve been a loyal fan all my lıfe and if thıs was any other team ın the nhl i think they wouldve moved a long tıme ago. They should fıght to the end to stay on long island. İf they move out of NY, İ dont think i could be fan. CB gıve us some directıon. There’s enough fans reading this blog alone to make a difference. İ for one wıll do whatever it takes.
122 - Skate Safe is amazing even though its roller. At this point I find it more fun than Ice due to the scoring plus its like 60% cheaper. I Live in Florida now and man the rink I play at is nice. It’s no wher near what Skate Safe is…
SAVE THE ISLES STAY IN NY
CB why post this today? this is old news…do you know something new we don`t????
the two biggest failures here are the people who keep the empty suits of the world in office, and the local print media. sadly, it seems newsday would like to spend more ink commenting on the product on the ice, rather then the reasons why the product around the ice is pitiful. i guess the topic wheel they spin in melville has 4 choices
teachers,
cops,
firemen and
the bleed and lead
results only.
i have no issue with quivering kate being opposed to lighthouse, none at all. but take a position, and stand by your position. sadly, her tactics should work unless ownership feels losing $20 million/year isnt a big deal. her position is merely shapeless, spineless and useless. the modern day politician.
it should be fun hearing the ToH explain al lthe wonderful uses they have for an empty shell of a 40 year old public arena. im thinking somebody connect gets to tear down for a $40 million, and Hofstra gets the land to expand.
Isn’t there some way her opposition can oust her based on the fact she is obviously avoiding any and all meetings concerning this issue? That’s not representing the people. That is incompetence.
I cannot stand Long Island anyway and this is never going to happen. Move to Queens already.
There’s a ton of criticism here directed at Wang, Milbury, etc., much of it valid in terms of the performance of the hockey team.
But then the logical leap is being made that if the team were good all these years, there wouldn’t be opposition to the Lighthouse.
This is nonsense.
The Republicans running the TOH do not want this because they fear that the residences are going to be filled with Democrats. They view the TOH as something they must defend at all costs. They are not going to let people on to that property. And if that means the Islanders leave; it that means the place hosts a few pathetic concerts and Sesame Street live; or if it means it gets torn down when the county doesn’t have the money to support it anymore…well, so be it. They view this the way the Japanese viewed Iwo Jima during WWII: we’ll all die before we give up the land. That might be a little extreme, but you get the idea.
And a successful team the last few years would not have changed that one friggin’ bit.
To all those who think that there is no way that Kate Murray can lose. I would like to point out that this is an off year in the elections, as such there is usually a much smaller voter turnout. If TOH Isle fans unite, and call Kate Murray @ 489-600 and adv that you support the Light House; and call your Representative @ 489-5000×3200 and tell them that you support the Light House. And if you dont hear back, let them hear hear you in November.
-41- This is it. THE DRAFT PARTY, people. We can make our case WIDELY known on that VERSUS show. We have the #1 pick overall and with that pick comes media coverage. We HAVE TO MAKE THIS ABOUT THE LIGHTHOUSE as well as the #1 pick. That’s how we get the word out. It might very well be the last chance we will get to make our voices heard.
If the Isles DID move/get sold/whatever, doesn’t Kate Murray realize the repurcussions she might face from beyond enraged, slightly insane, Islander fans?
All politicians SUCK! Just another reason to move out of NY.
I’m sick over this, but what is there to be done. I got out of there in 1995 (for Nevada), and I really hope the Isles move to Queens or Brooklyn. I just hope to still have the “Islanders” wherever they are.
It is simply unbelievable that in economic times such as these, A project that will provide jobs and tax revenues is being stalled by society’s most worthless members. No, not Rangers fans, but politicians. While everyone reading this site cares deeply for the Isles, as someone with a substantial investment in Long Island, my home, I am outraged at the inability to get this project off the ground. If this project doesn’t get approved, and the Isles move, it is not just Islanders fans that will suffer, but all Long Islanders.
what time is that draft party starting at? i’m definitely coming out for that…i was literally conceived as a direct result of stanley cup victory on the evening of may 17, 1983 and i would very much like to be a part of that very important day in any facet possible…ps: i wonder if there is anyone else who can claim to be a direct product of stanley cup victory. if so, we are straight up living proof that this team should never ever move.
This makes me wish I was a Suffolk County resident. Darth Vader could be running against Kate Murray and I would vote for him instead of her. Sad isn’t the word- pathetic is more like it. When are politicians going to wake up and realize that turning a blind eye will not work in the new world.
Lastly, if the Islanders are not in Suffolk County. My vote is:
Queens - keep the Islanders Logo
Brooklyn - I say keep the Islanders logo, Brooklyn is technically an Island right?
Connecticut- This is from left field, but I miss the Whale. Could the Islanders do some kid of harken to the past the way the Mets did (Dodger Blue and Giant Orange?) Maybe they could be a new franchise with Islander Blue, Whaler Green and white? Ugh-never mind. Queens, Brooklyn or bust.
Paul in Canada - The Dems are naming their candidate next week.
Brendan - Interesting. However, D’Amato should be well aware that the financing argument is ridiculous. No one reasonably expects that projects of this size will secure 100% of financing up-front. That’s why the LH would be built in stages, over a ten-year period. Financing would be obtained for each stage as the project progresses.
#163: Islanders fans represent only a small amount of voters in the TOH. Do not gauge voters by this list, if there were a poll by CB, I would bet the farm that only about 1/3rd of the Isles fans here actually live in the TOH. Most of the people in the TOH worry more about ‘Quality of Life’ issues & there are many unanswered concerns that this LH project created & until all the studies that are now in progress are completed, expect her silence to continue. That is just the right thing to do.. Much grief has been thrust upon Ms. Murray’s non-responses here; people should realize that she cannot make ANY comment either for or against the LH because, she must make an impartial decision on this. Oh, for the record, I am NOT a town of Hempstead Employee or resident.
So, CB, you have nothing new to write about, so why not get reader response up a bit; just a few lines of old news on Kate Murray, a photo of her thrown in, & no new insightful facts to speak of, yeah, that will get more clicks for your web-ad sponsors! Shame, shame, shame!!
geeze what other sports franchise has had to endure so many depressing turns of events. Can someone please tell me!
NYI FAN (174,175) - the real shame is that you wholeheartedly buy Murray’s bogus talking points. If Murray cannot make any comments for or against the lighthouse, then please explain petition-gate. Why did she spend tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to send a petition supporting an improper and likely illegal use of federal stimulus funds? Why does she keep proposing that Wang stop the development and just renovate a building he does not own? Her statements and actions have demonstrated a bias against the project and and inability to act in good faith.
#163 is a plant. There is corruption and seedyness going on here. Murray’s refusal to even attend meetings and her bogus mailer and her father I mean please….
Hey CB I here there is a job opening with the Islanders……….
Mikey you right, not only does Wang not own it… he makes NO money from it!!!! and to top it… loses 20 mil a year. I think she crazy just for asking
unfortunately “quality of life” really just means old time bigotry and the intolerance of any type of change which simply keeps up with modern times. personally, enclaves like that are what lead me to perceive democracy and voting as a big joke. the weak links will always set us back as long as they are included. whoever kate’s successor is better build a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge nursing home with all the bells and whistles for that “QoL” crowd, because that’s definitely the natural direction.
honestly though NYI FAN, this entry really just confirmed the suspicion many of us had for a while. everyone knows this whole region is run by a bunch of despicable criminals and nothing done right has ever been easy, if possible at all. lot of frustrated voices in here, yours included. now is the appropriate time to voice displeasure, disappointment, and other such frustrations.
i don’t see now as a time to really argue or nitpick about anything. the islanders must stay, regardless of details or whatever. that is no longer a given. my bad for the long entry, brevity has never been my strong point.
NYI FAN - There is only one reason Murray won’t speak out on this one way or the other. She is waiting until after the election (which hopefully she will lose). Giving her a benefit of the doubt….After the votes are in I suspect this will get approved. She probably doesn’t want backlash from the NIMBY crowd before the election if she approves it. If this isn’t her view then she is just an idiot, a puppet and a crook.
CB…. i get the feeling that something big must have just happened behind the scenes for you to publish this article! There has been little news of the Lighthouse in any of the other blogs and news outlets, and this sort of seems kinda out of the blue (besides the fact that this was something all of us dreaded in the back of our mind) .
The entire debacle goes back to the 30-years of slavery Pickett sold us into with SMG. The horrible lease is iron clad, challenged dozens of times. There’s 3 ways out:
#1 - Fold the franchise
#2 - NVMC is destroyed/condemned; a route which Milstein tried to convince people of
#3 - Wait til 2015
“Wang’s only after the land” is accurate. But acceptable. No sane person is buying a money-losing entity with no potential. With the lease locked in, the only hope is that newly elected politicians mean an opportunity for land development. That hope alone is the only thing that makes any potential owner interested in the team.
Wang was willing to sink $379 million into going after that land so that #1 didn’t happen and we moved closer to #3.
Blaming Wang is like blaming your prison cellmate while waiting out a 30-year sentence.
The biggest questions to me are: “why can’t there be a solution for that land that helps everyone?”
Why can’t the land be given to Wang to develop with the TOH/NC getting a slice of the revenue, easing taxpayer burden?
Why can’t the $400 million TOH/NC has offered for upgrades be put towards buying out SMG? Why can’t the TOH/NC sell 25 acres to Wang to build an arena scheduled to open the year after the NVMC lease expires?
and why didn’t Wang (or someone) buy the Islanders AND SMG, so they get all the revenue generated from the team presence in NVMC?
^5 Mikey … NYI FAN … Mikey is correct … although Murray is well within her right to keep her opinion to herself in order to “act” … as an “impartial” judge on the SEQRA’s / DGEIS’s as a representitive of the TOH as Lead Agency… However, Kate Murray has proactively communicated her disapproval of the project with her “concern” about the project’s impact on the “Suburban” way of life and it’s inevitable impact on traffic. So she’s already burned the bridge of silence and she cannot cross back over it since she’s used it.
It’s not just Kate Murray blocking this. ONE person cannot, by herself, and herself only, block a project of this magnitude. There must be strong behind-the-scenes opposition to this that we’re not hearing about. I can’t imagine the payoffs going on behind the scenes from the Roosevelt Field mall, Source mall, etc. These clowns are interested in their pockets, and their pockets ONLY.
And someone pointed out about the lack of media coverage, they’re right too. Why no Newsday? Because Charles Dolan owns it . This is the same guy who blocked the Westside Stadium for the Jets because he didn’t want “competition for MSG”. Do you really think he wants the Islanders here taking market share? He’d LOVE to see them leave, regardless what he may say in public… make no mistake about it… SAD
#184 Well said and I agree. Newday’s relative silence is deafening. With such a controvercial issue the lack of significant coverage for something of this magnitude is really strange.
this is y everyone hates politics. politicians do things based on there own interest not based on what the community or nation wants. i.e. george bush and war in iraq
what a depressing turn of events. and this, the anniversary of the 2nd cup clinching. well, its appropriate that this is memorial day weekend, since this might bury any hope of them not moving
I think that those of us who support the LH need to rephrase the arguement for why building the updated NVMC as a stand alone project with possible subsequent approval of the LHP at a later date is a bad idea so I am going to construct a scenario:
Suppose that each of you who supports the idea of a stand alone coliseum update/ rebuild is the owner of a house and I am your tenant. The house you own is run down - it needs landscaping and a new lawn, the siding is dilapidated and the roof leaks, the electrical service is inadequate and there are plumbing problems that need fixing. Hell even the kitchen needs to be modernized. The problem is, because of the state of the economy, you don’t have the necessary cash on hand and can’t take out the loans needed to get all of these problems fixed.
So you offer me a handshake deal (not a written and binding contract) that if I fix the dump up and agree to live in it as a tenant for 5 more years that you will then sell it to me for the lets say $100,000 that this eyesore is worth as a fixer upper.
I agree and pay out of my own pocket for a new roof, have the house resided, put in sod and have the property landscaped so that it has some serious curb appeal, I pay an electrician to modernize the electric service and a plumber to take care of any plumbing issues. I even have the entire kitchen redone. Now the house you own is no longer an eyesore worth a fixer uppers price but instead its cherry and worth three times as much. Would you really still sell it to me for $100,000? Or would you suddenly decide to sell it out from under me?
To everyone who suggests that CW should just buy out the SMG people ask yourselves what percentage of your projected income would you take in order to walk away from the golden goose that you have at the NVMC? Do you want 50%, 60%, 75% or even more? Also how do you calculate how much that projected income is and how long would you drag out the negotiations to maximize your cut? Also after the buyout is concluded now its up to Islanders management to either hire a new company to run the facility or up to the Islanders themselves to do so and so now you incur these costs on top of the price of the buyout and your still in a dilapidated building that you are paying to keep up even though your only a tennant. Get real.
I think Wang should try to move to either Brooklyn or Queens, NOW.
Kate Murray is gorgeous!!
Really? REALLY!? There are still ignorant people out there asking why Wang doesn’t just rebuild the coliseum alone?! I really wish CB would’ve lifted the rules regarding respecting peoples opinions for this thread. Excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall for a while.
Everyone here including CB is just blindly in favor of the lighthouse because they see it as the only way to keep our team. A brand new, beautiful area with a COMPEDITIVE team in it can do fine. We all know islanders attendence is pathetic because the on ice product just is not worth paying for. Look at Pittsburgh. The city has no jobs and almost defaulted on its bonds but the pens are doing fine. Just turn on VS. They are getting a new arena not a 3b $ project. Wanger, build a new state of the art arena and put a good product on the ice that sells tickets and you will make money. Everyone on this blog is right about 1 thing though. Murray is a complete idiot. But for not calling Wangs bluff. The new World Trade Center in Manhattan cannot get finacing. Do you really think Wang can?? NO CHANCE. Wang stop using the islanders for leverage in order to get your pipe dream project done.
Oliver - I crunched some numbers on my blog about the same thing. It basically proved that Charles Wang would have no way of making the money back with “just the Coliseum.” I know that “businessman” is a pejorative lately, but the man isn’t Santa Claus.
Otherwise, your tenant analogy is dead-on.
is it illegal to put signs of kate murray all over telephone poles in the town of hempstead saying how she sucks?
I remember a ways back that there was another way for the Isles to get out of NVMC lease. It was something to the effect of “if a draft for the land was approved by the county and was not approved by the TOH within 90-120 days”, the Isles could in fact break their existing lease. I know this is not exact. Does someone remember these specific details?
#194 - the language says that the County has 120 days to work out a lease agreement for the site after the TOH approves the re-zoning application. If that can’t be done, then the lease no longer exists.
so we always hear how its a ”bad lease” but we never hear about how nhl salaries have increased to the point where it makes it impossible to turn a profit for a good chunk of nhl teams
maybe start blaming the ridiculous salaries sometimes instead of a lease that probably made sense when initially signed back when salaries were sensible
Can Charles Wang sell the team before the lease expires?
I understand that if the County does not re write the lease 120 days once the TOH approves the lease becomes null and void, but what if the TOH NEVER approves it? What then? Can Wang just simply sell the team? Does he really need to wait until 2015?
If it does not work out, we’ll hope for Queens. If not, Balsille has a 200 plus million dollar cheque for Wang right now.
Isles72, the league average salary has gone up at the same percentage as league total revenues.
The problem is the Islanders revenues haven’t grown at the same rate as the rest of the league, because of the lease.
The teams that are losing money left and right are losing it because of bad markets for hockey. Atlanta, Phoenix and Nashville all have new arenas, horrible attendances and are losing money.
If someone was trying to buy the Islanders and move them to KC, and we had a rally to save them, how many people would show up? The Save The Coyotes rally had about 500 people.
If anyone would like to find kate she will launching her re-election campaign tomorrow at 1pm at Levittown memorial park according to the LIBN.
thanks eden for that info…. i think we need a few our our ppl to go over there and voice our feelings toward ( thats putting it nicely) Make it known to her right off the bat that we are a good portion of the voters!
CB,
Saw your post today about the 10/3 deadline to TOH from Wang. I also saw on NHL.COM that the 2 senators from New York drafted a letter to the NHL regarding a possible move of the Yotes to Hamilton and how it would hurt the viability of the Sabres. Why do we not hear anything from them or others in power in New York state with regard to the lighthouse project. You keep saying we should flood Murray’s office, but that seems useless at this point. What do you think can be done at a higher level?
Thanks,
David R.
Suffolk will not happen. The traffic flow will be an issue. Queens i would love, but i can’t see it happen. Our best bet is brooklyn, or TOH needs to vote this moron murray out. I love this team, she is ruining this and taking this team from us. i wish i lived in toh so i can vote against her. It is ashame that she cannot see what this team means to the island, not just TOH. I wish this moron would just resign from office. ugh, i am just so angry. Why the hell would Tavares, Hedman or even Duchene want to come play here..
LISTEN - I fully advocate going to Kate Murray’s rally tomorrow, and I will be there myself. However, we are playing right into her hands if we show up and act noisy and angry. Numbers will help - and keeping it respectful will show just how childish they’re acting.
sad thing is canadian media throw islanders as non hockey market, just like phoenix, fla, atl.
Every person I speak too thinks the Lighthouse is a no brainer. If a candidate gets into office and is a proponent of the project and has a big backing and gets the voice out there then can’t that change things?
I will say that something Wang has done an awful job at is promoting his project. It’s been promoted on a small scale basically just to hockey fans which in my opinion is the biggest reason why it hasn’t gained more momentum and why the town hasn’t felt more heat.
I am starting a campaign to “Out” the officials that are not working in the spirit of cooperation with other levels of government and developers on this issue. I think it should be publicized so we know who to vote out in Nov. With guidance from CB I think we can share info and rally against “the evil empire”
How amazing and painfully ironic would it be to see the Isles reclaim their former glory in Brooklyn or Queens? What would TOH think then?
The TOH will only care about this unless they think they are about to get voted out of office. Now can someone tell me why that can’t happen?
This is a very bad situation. But, there is one thing I am more perplexed with. Just finished reading an article on nhl.com, where the 2 NY state senators,Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, sent a letter to Gary Bettman saying they are opposed to the coyotes moving to southern Ontario. Their problem is with taking away money from the sabres, from being so close to them. That is a good point, but why aren’t these 2 senators having anything to say about the situation with the Islanders? How come they, or anyone else in the political ring down there, won’t put pressure on kate murray to get this project going? I know politics is a load of BS for the most part, even here in Canada, but I would love to get more chances to see my team at the NVMC.
CHRIS BOTTA FOR TOH SUPERVISOR!!!!!!
213… i’ve said that before… CB U SHOULD TOTALLY DO IT!!!
im just kind of rambling here but would it be possible to put a new arena off the LIE and sunrise highway… use two ways to get there on the lie and sunrise.. add in exits that go to the new arena… the trafic this far out isnt bad…if it does get bad add another lane to the sunrise where it goes down to two lanes right when you pass nicols road… put the new arena somehwere around where the big fire was 10 years ago.. there is nothing there… i might be completely wrong but just thought about that reading this
Anyone else find it incredible that no one has mentioned the NHL bylaw which automatically terminates a franchise’s membership in the NHL if they put the team into bankruptcy? Technically, according to the NHL Constitution, the Phoenix Coyotes’ are no longer a member of the league. The Constitution clearly states membership to “terminate automatically.”
So, who should we take in the dispersal draft?
Someone please wake me when this mess is over , Seems like a lot of crap to root for a hockey club . Sadly I have a feeling this is just the start of a huge battle.
This is really just beyond words. We need someone to do an investigative report on Kate Murray. What is her agenda? What is her motivation, or lack of? Who is pulling her strings like a puppet? WHAT THE HECK?! The possibility of the Isles actually leaving is really starting to sink in. This is sad. Kind of puts a damper on the excitement of the draft. I’ll just continue to hope that Tavares will be pulling an Islander jersey over his head, and that he will play for our NEW YORK ISLANDERS for a long time. Message to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, please get the ball rolling on a plan to get the Islanders to the old Pilgrim State grounds.
Kev -216, Unfortunatelly the league will argue that they were in control of the team in November, and that the Jerry Moyes did not have the authority to declare bankruptcy for the franchise
drive45 #181–you may have more hope than I do, and trust me, that’s saying a lot!!!
Irish, I made that post mostly in jest, since the NHL hasn’t mentioned this. They are trying to retain control of the franchise FIRST, find a Phoenix buyer second, and fight Basillie’s ownership third.
Seems to me that the NHL could be holding this for the trump card. If the court rules that IT has jurisdiction over the sale of the Coyotes, the NHL can respond with “ok, but Moyes joined the league and is aware of the bylaws. According to them, the Coyotes NHL membership has been terminated. The court is selling an independent hockey team.”
Then they could grant an expansion team in Hamilton, which would net a massive expansion fee.
I left LI 6 months ago, because I can’t afford to live there anymore. I live in las vegas now and a 1 bedroom apartment is dirt cheap and its a lot better then the 1 bedroom craphole appartments on LI. And I personally wanna burn kate murray’s house to the ground while she is asleep inside. And the people who have her on strings are the scum that own roosevelt field mall. They got her so deep in their pockets she is finding pocket lint. Nothing but corruption on that island. Kudos to the morons who voted her in not once but TWICE. And congrats LI you are still 30 years behind the rest of the country. And in response to #155, we would’ve had another 2 maybe 3 stanley cups if not for milbury f***ing up the organization.
#123 why wait til the summer why not start tomorrow at her campaign rally thing?
I wish I could get on a plane to LI right now just so I could attend that little rally that corrupt clown has going on tomorrow.
Well, well, well…..Wang’s the hero and the villain, Murray is awful and should be voted out, the team can’t survive unless there’s a small city built….
I read a few posters who prefer logic. SMG IS ALMOST OVER. UNLESS……Wang renews their lease as he plans to do upon approval.
2/3 ticket window sales, all parking, all concessions, ALL ADVERTISING….and we have a blueprint of how to get SMG moving laid out by Gutkowski (left the bidding and the team threatened to move so Westley started talking until Wang showed up) and by Super Mario (threaten a move to Kansas City). What has Wang done? Nada. He’s embracing the thieves.
Now if SMG is done, the Forbes losses of 8-12M over the past three years (not including this one) are erased and turned profitable. Add seats and success……very profitable NHL team.
Only Chuck never wanted an NHL team, just the land surrounding their home. Thus Chuck omitted the Coliseum costs/variables in the environmental report. Thus it’s been all about the housing and offices and minor league ball park and so on…..with $25M going to ease traffic congestion (a slap in the face to residents who will be stuck in gridlock trying to get home to their families.
Is it too big? Certainly, unless you don’t live within 10 miles. Can it be made MUCH smaller and Wang makes a profit, residents are not BURDONED, the water table and city grid and traffic and sewafe not taxed so heavily? Sure…..but Wang isn’t interested in making only a few tens of millions, he wants to become a billionaire again.
Maybe he can sell the team once he gets his land?
IslesHostage, please remember that Nassau County chose how big this project was going to be- NOT Wang and Rechler. If Wang and Rechler had made the project as small as you seem to want, then they would not have been chosen as the developers by Nassau County! Nassau County picked them BECAUSE of all the parts that are included. And, with all the times this has been repeated here and everywhere else, I do not understand why there is anyone who still insists on ignoring that simple fact.
The only they can save the Isles and Nassau is to SCALE DOWN THEIR LIGHTHOUSE!!!
#174
We want to know that everything is being done in good faith. When you have campaign contributing companies from upstate deciding on environmental review everything doesnt seem well on the up and up. When you miss a meeting in feb becuase you went on vacation with your family. That isn’t doing your job. The kids had off from school the week before the meeting so she took them out of school and went on vacation the day of a meeting speaking about the biggest project in the history of the island. Yeah Right!
Well I am moving to Tampa in a few months, so I guess I can become a Lightning fan when the Isles are forced to move due to the inane morons in office of the TOH.
Today I emailed Eden Laikin from newsday and asked her why Mondellos quotes werent included in the article and this was her response:
“Had the dufflebag quote in..for some reason it got edited out….probably for space…..I wanted to put in the wang quote but they said it wouldn’t be fair unless I asked the fans f it were tru and let them respond….and I didntr think to do that ystrday.
Did wang pay u guyus?”
I grew up in Connecticut,becoming a fan of our beloved Isles in ‘75, thank you JP for stiking it to the Rags on that Ot winner. I was only 12 at the time, but that was it for me. As our team grew and Al and Bill put the pieces together, even our neighborhood, that was a split between the Rags, Bruins, and Whalers started to take notice. In ‘79, we were able to get tickets thru a Rags fan, and attended my first Isles game in MSG(my hatred for Rags and their fans grew intensely from there as we were doused with beer during the game), to see them lose and witness the jubilation in Rags country. Next year at 7:11 of OT, Bobby Nystrom started the “run”. I moved to south Florida in ‘86 and have supported the Isles as much as possible, never missing a game, thanks to the Dish and now Directv. I am 45 years old and my point is this: I am sure the current Isles fan base in my age brackett can look back and have a starting point on how they became a fan and the amount of fun we had rooting for the Isles, section 313 for me. I get up to see a dozen games or so every season, and what is the current state of this once proud franchise, well, it’s down right disgusting. I hope Mr. Wang, TOH, and the politicians stalling this can come to an agreement, as I and ALL of us in Isles country, do not want to lose this team. Draft JT, make a trade for Hedman, intall a titanium knee on DP, whatever it takes, but NO KC, NO RELOCATION, please!!!! Remember how the barn sounded back in the ‘02 playoffs with the Leafs? The passion is there, the fans are there, just get this done and we will be THERE! Let’s go Islanders!