HEMPSTEAD PREPARES LIGHTHOUSE PUSH-BACK
Also: County waits for return call from Wang
Chris Botta on Twitter
Charles Wang’s on-the-fly TV appearance on Saturday was not without an agenda. Point Blank has learned from political operatives and media insiders that the Town of Hempstead is preparing to release unflattering details about Lighthouse negotiations to some of its media favorites.
Wang may have acted surprised and faux-annoyed when Howie Rose asked him about the Lighthouse Project, but something must be understood. A major league sports team owner does not hastily request an interview on his team’s broadcast, and then go on live TV without knowing what will be asked. (Worth noting: Wang did not speak with any other reporters in the press box – those he does not have some control over – just his friendly broadcast rightsholder).
Wang knew the interview would be about the state of his team’s rebuilding project and the Lighthouse Project. For anyone to pretend otherwise – even as Wang told Rose, “I thought we weren’t talking about this” and “You shouldn’t be asking me this” – is foolish.
(Another mistake: the Islanders’ telecast was not shown on MSG, MSG Plus or even MSG Plus 2. Buried on a channel so deep that even a former team PR director took a half-hour to find it, the broadcast featuring Wang was probably seen by the team’s smallest television audience of the season).
In the interview, the Islanders owner said there have been no discussions with the Town of Hempstead since a public hearing in September. He also said he did not know if Ed Mangano supports the project because there haven’t been any talks with the new Nassau County Executive.
As documented by reporters and bloggers since September, the Lighthouse has not paid Town consultant FP Clark and communication has been primarily non-existent between the developers and the Town.
Since I’m not on the Christmas card list of Hempstead honchos Kate Murray, Joe Ra or Mike Deery, I will not get their talking points and will gladly sit out the Hempstead affair.
I spoke with a high-ranking County official late Saturday night who argued that Wang is misleading Islanders fans by saying he hasn’t heard from Nassau. “The County Executive has reached out to Wang and has not had his calls returned,” said the source. Following Wang’s edict for a media blackout on the future of the Islanders in Nassau or anywhere else, Lighthouse officials did not return my calls seeking comment.
If the Town of Hempstead was looking for a wise PR time to fire back, it has arrived now that the Islanders’ recent positive momentum has been derailed by a depressing seven-game losing streak. The life of an Islanders fan is never easy.
If there’s any good news in all of this, the darts expected to be thrown by Hempstead – and possibly returned by the LDC – sure beat the silence. Although the pacifist Islanders have engaged in as many on-ice fights in the last two months as Brandon Prust did last night (two), the gloves are coming off in the battle for the Lighthouse Project.
Even to the most casual observer it has been apparent for a long time that the developers are not going to get close to 100% of their massive project. They have their options – Queens, Brooklyn – but have been curiously hesitant to pursue them. To be sure, and with no pun intended, the next move is Wang’s.
Comments on Charles Wang, arena politics, the Lighthouse Project and the future of the Islanders here. Talk about the hockey team continues below.
56 Responses to HEMPSTEAD PREPARES LIGHTHOUSE PUSH-BACK
Also: County waits for return call from Wang
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kurvers28 says:
Getting really tired of Wang and all his antics. You made this Oct 3rd threat and then didn’t pursue any other alternatives publicly (Brooklyn, Queens). They have zero reason to take you seriously. At least he thinks that we are way ahead of schedule sitting 27th in the league.
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Kascycki's Krew says:
So what’s the truth here? I don’t trust Kate Murray for a second. I also don’t trust Wang. His record as CEO at CA,Inc. suggests that we be wary of him. Too early to make a call on the new Nassau County Exec – lets give him benefit of doubt. Keep the info coming CB.
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Ethan K says:
I don’t care at all about the Lighthouse Project these days. It’s not going to happen. Move the team somewhere else on the Island. Then put money INTO THE TEAM.
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Dreu Theran says:
Oh, it’s about time. Finally, some movement on the issue. Let ‘er rip, boys and girls. The first step towards actual construction began last night.
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eastonhockey says:
In some ways I hope Wang never gets his MINI City. If he does, he will be the Islanders owner for another 15 years. My goodness can you imagine. Ive never seen a sports owner who embraces losing like Charles Wang. Wang thinks being in last place is doing “great..everyting is on schedule”. Maybe it has to do with growing up in China, maybe in China sports is not very big, or they place a different emphasis on WINNING. But to me, Wang is happy as Isles owner cause he has players who he thinks are his friends….not to sound “mean” but the guy is simply not your typical American sports fan who gets upset at losing.
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Jason W. says:
Leave. Stay. Whatever. Both sides lose when the Islanders move away.
Get it done. Stop negotiating in the press.
I say lock them all in a small room with stale, wet hockey equipment.
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Quagmire says:
If the TOH wanted the Lighthouse to happen, they would not keep putting up all these road blocks, its as simple as that. Charles Wang should be cutting the best deal he can right now in Queens, Brooklyn or Suffolk and let that decrepit building reman vacant after the Isles leave as a monument to the gross incompetence and political cronyism of the TOH and Nassau County Republican Party.
I’m sure a new developer will get approval to build a strip mall and some crappy Class B office space – which is exactly what is not needed there, but which is exactly what is always put in second rate locations with second rate leadership.
My only worry is that you would think that if Mr. Wang were actively talking to other locales that word would have leaked by now. Since that has not happended it leads me to believe (unless smeone can tell me otherwise) that he is much more likely to just sell the team. Since any project will take years, the longer we don’t hear anything, the more liley that scenario becomes.
Sorry if this is too long, I’m just so fed up with this stuff.
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Joseph says:
eastonhockey – with all due respect – you obviously don’t recall the Milstein & Gluckstern years, if you’re looking for owners who embrace losing. How quickly we all forget.
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IslesinOside says:
Seriously? Blaming Wang? The TOH has had 7 years to either embrace this or not. Yes OR No?? They could have addressed this on Day 1 and now 7 Years and we STILL do not Officially know where the TOH stands on this. I wouldn’t pay another dime to any Commission or the TOH if I was Chuck until someone told me “We Support it in some way shape or form”. Thats All!!! Simple as that. Please leave your BS Political rhetoric at home Kate and Co.!! Tired of hearing it. You obviuosly have your sights set on building another Mall that will be empty too, or even another Senior Development so yopu can get your kickbacks!
Just pack up Charles, we’re coming with you! -
a REAL hockey fan says:
.. Ya know i just DONT GET IT with the townspeople who oppose it, i understand some concerns and maybe we scale it down and make it smaller but whats the alternative?
.. 2 lose the Islanders forever? Think about that people? They are NEVER COMING BACK if they leave! — Ok So lets think about it for a sec, you get congestion for 40 days a year, (homegames) but on the other hand you have a REAL franchise/ trademark /name – ID recognition and taxes – jobs for 365 days!!!
.. I think the 365 days REALLY outweights the concerns or traffic on the 40 days of games — Cmon people think BIG PICTURE!!! PLEEEASE!!
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MJS says:
I really disliked the silence, but I can’t stand the reality show/Jerry Springer way that basically all politics follow these days. Wang, Murray, and doubtless Magano will as well, all point to the extremes of what they want and make a big spectacle of insulting each other and making life difficult for each other. Then, of course, after leading the fan base and various constituencies around the whole summer we get nothing. Both sides have been pretty unreasonable, but I think getting down to it the town made it clear that they didn’t want the project from the beginning, hired a biased and overly expensive review firm, and became engaged in the politicization of the whole thing. Nice to see that you have to kiss some butt and change your voter registration to get anything built in Hempstead. Beyond that, and offering some massive campaign contributions, no matter what Charles Wang says or does he has little power to compel the town to do anything, for that reason even with his poor handling of media and anything that he may have said to hurt wittle Kate Murray’s feelings, the onus has always been on the town to be upfront, impartial, and professional in making a decision. They have been none of those, I don’t blame Wang for stopping payments to Clark, but that is saddening because it means taking a step back from any progress made in the summer and fall.
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d. says:
I don’t blame them for not wanting to pay the (town appointed, mind you) consulting firm. They have too many ties with the politicians who want to see the lighthouse get rejected. How is that unbiased? They’re going to charge astronomical amounts of money and then point the finger and say “hey, its not my fault, they didn’t pay”. They’re just trying to drive the project away on purpose so that it doesn’t get done and the town looks blame-free.
Oh yeah, and the ToH self-approved raises for murray and others is absolutely disgusting.
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mike says:
Let the mudslinging being. If i was Kate Murray I wouldnt take Wangs threats about relocation seriously. Cause since the Oct 3rd yes or no date what has Wang done? Has he been in the press with reps from Brooklyn or Queens or even Suffolk? Nope. Hes been in hiding. If i was Wang I would of been making the rounds with an army of press with me to show Murray i mean business. But Wang would rather talk to a sports commentator than someone from the actual media. Way to look like a tool Chucky!
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Mike Manzo says:
Yawn. Here comes another two months of back and fourth fighting in the media, followed by another 6 months of silence.
This will go right until 2015, finally when Charles will have no choice BUT to accept what the Town wants or take a hike.
Only 5 more years to go! Weee!
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therain93 -- terriers fan says:
I wonder, how much of the islanders losses can be written off? Can the team be some sort of tax shelter for Wang, thus explaining why he can ride this out for so long?
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doug says:
Wang do us all a favor sell the team and move on…
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Harold C says:
I long for the days when it was just about hockey talk. Bad ownerships one after another, a lousy SMG deal, The Fisherman, trading Palffy, trading Luongo. Now we’re going to be subjected to bickering between a politician and a billionaire over a land development.
The Islanders are like the Clippers, Browns, Pirates and Detroit Lions; loser franchises with a neverending cycle of nonsense and crappy teams.
The glory years seem so far removed, I alnmost expect them to be in black and white…what a pathetic mess our team is.
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nola says:
Kansas city bar ba que,
move detriot to the eastern conferenceI dont trust wang or the toh
wang came out last night to get fans talking about something other then 7 game losing streak
i am sure wang is having many quite backroom talks
if and when the team leaves it is going to be in the middle of the night, it going to slip out like a thief in the night
who knows were this team will end up -
rb says:
Why don’t Wang and Rechler scale down the Lighthouse Project and Nassau Coliseum refurbishment AND pursue additional development in Willlets Point too for what they can’t get done in Hempstead?
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BD Hendo says:
CW seems to owe the consulting people $$. He is holding back for a reason? Maybe he has some deals out there in other places, no sense spending more than you have to, eh? Just like the on-ice product, a tiger never changes his stripes!
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Jim Clark says: Sounds like Wang has already decided to move his team to the City of Churches and the pols don’t care. Like they haven’t cared when so many middle class families move out of Long Island. Let’s see what he and his management team can do when they have a godd lease.
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islestherapy says:
QUEENS. Make it happen.
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Craiggers says:
Call me a flip-flopper or what you may, but…….
Since all of this has started, I have fully backed Wang and the Lighthouse Project and had lost all respect for Kate Murray and the TOH government for all of their antics. I met CB at the Hofstra hearings and even spoke to board members afterward giving them a (polite) piece of my mind about there inability to do what was best for the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, and the Islanders.
After hearing Wang speak last night though, and reading everything else about the Lighthouse in the last couple of days, I fully believe now that the majority of the blame no longer lies with the TOH, but instead with Wang himself. Here we have a man willing to deal with medocrity in the team he owns, but yet is obsessed with grandour in what is ultimately a “pipe dream.” If Wang had even half of the passion for the Islanders as he does for money and his Lighthosue Project, the Islanders would be sitting in the playoffs this year. Yes, I know they are rebuilding, but if Wang really cared, he would have given Snow the right to look into legitimate free agents before this season started (Moulson was all Snow), and maybe Tavares would learned more and progressed throughout the season instead of regressing.
Honestly at this point, I personally hope that Wang sells the Islanders to someone who is truly willing to build the team into a true contender, yet fix the Colliseum and surrounding area in a way that is TRULY best for the TOH and Nassau County, not just for their own self gain.
Still though, Lets Go Islanders!
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BringBackNyles says:
Queens will never happen..how many years has ratner’s project been on the drawing board? It will take at least a decade to cut through the Queens red tape…and Wang isn’t going to wait that long.
Brooklyn makes so much sense at this point. Hey a Russian owner may actually want to win hockey games…
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IslesRock says:
I think Mr. Wang is misreading his fan base. We want a winning team first!! A refurbished arena with a few extra bells and whistles to help him make some extra money, works too. I have great respect for Mr Wang, but it’s time for him to put up or shut up. Believe me, I cannot stand the pols in the TOH, but this is the deck he knew he was dealt. Deal with it or move on and stop crying already. Sign a few “talented” free agents to help the kids while you rebuild. A winning team will only help your cause.
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Smokey a.k.a. Botta is God says:
Still don’t believe the ToH wants Wang to leave. Too much backlash. All these developers could talk and talk… they won’t have the credit to build something, and there will be no central selling point like the Islanders are. Any type of real estate they build has a HUGE risk of tanking: residental taxes are through the effing roof and nobody can afford to live here below a certain income level, businesses have no reason to go here, and the days of industry on Long Island are long finished. Plus nobody wants to pay exorbitant amounts of money to live in a dump like Uniondale.
This is probably a precursor to a smaller version of Wang’s project, if he’ll accept it that way (and he should… he’d still stand to make billions over the life of the investment). Nothing about this has made sense to me from jump street, however.
The Martin and Joensuu call-ups scream trade to me. CB, what do you think?
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Steve says:
Go to Brooklyn or Queens. In queens, the Isles will get more or less of the development they want. What does City of Churches mean that someone alluded to ?
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Danbury Islanders Fan says:
Steve Brooklyn is called the city of churches, since it has so many churches. I think they should stay in Hempstead where they started, but the public transportation option Brooklyn provides would be nice. I just hope they stay in NY
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Tony F. says:
I don’t think I could have said it better than Howard C. I’m tired of this nonsense already, it’s like the Democrats and the Republicans, they’ll make a living arguing with each other and then get nothing accomplished. Sad. This was a great team at one time.
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Mikey Pants says:
Chris,
How does a simple fan like me get an email or note to Charles Wang?
He’s becoming a joke. How can he be happy with this ream and what the Whole Islanders Experience has become with the shoddy Fill-in PA Announcer, TV Broadcast (albeit Cablevision-controlled) and the product on the Ice.
I could care less how many millions he claims to have lost. If you’re not happy with what’s going on then sell the team. I hate what this is becoming. We’re stuck in the mud with no progress. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. Rebuild my ass!!!
This guy’s proving himself to be a fake and a fink and his posturing or whatever it is, is beginning to get out of control.
Is this politics or Hockey Team Ownership? -
Merrick says:
Right now, the LH is an illusion of PR spin.
The best thing that happened to Wang was the TOH dragging its geet a few years ago. Anyone who thinks he has the $4 billion in private financing lined up hasn’t been looking at the world this past year.
There are projects like the LH (perhaps not with an arena) all over the country that are now big holes in the ground while financing has dried up.
Sure Wang wants to get approval so he has ultimate control IF the economy rebounds, but if the LH were approved tomorrow, I highly doubt any major residential or commercial development would take place soon.
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Mike from VA says:
@27 – Couldn’t of said it any better my self.
Kind of getting sick and tired of the bickering, like most islander fans. Think its time to call it quits and seriously seek our Atlantic Yards (or whatever its called). I love this team and love them being in Hempstead, but I’d rather the team be in a respectable stadium a few miles away than in the former home of the New York Dragons. I moved to Northern Virginia a year ago and you don’t see this nonsense with town goverments, because they hardly exist here. I’d be sure to bet on that there are more local governments in Long Island than there is the whole state of Virginia. Country and Independent cities, not townships, villages and other garbage.
Also Agree with #24. Although there is need for affordable housing (hence why I moved), I don’t think that people are going to be lining up to live in that dump of Uniondale.
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OJK says:
Through all the frustration, what not should be forgotten, is that the Town of Hempstead are part and parcel to the demise of Long Island. We can not survive as just a bunch of houses. Society needs Engineering and Building, and jobs for Men. It is a great responsibility to evolve, to keep moving, create jobs for Men. Town of Hempstead is not comprised of any such leaders, and certainly that should not be a surprise. I’m 41, and have been working since I was shoveling driveways and getting tips for Christmas carrolling when I was 7. I have never been without work, and when there is no work, I will follow the work. That is how Society grows and lives. My beloved Islanders are no longer a form of entertainment, nor is the TOH interested in growing.
Men like Wang do not take a breth without it being calculated. His interview last night, did not seem that of a Man looking to sell, looking to move to another state, and certainly not looking to make the Lighthouse project work. It would seem that either a Brooklyn or Queens move is in the future.
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dose says:
“They have their options – Queens, Brooklyn – but have been curiously hesitant to pursue them.”
if true this is more than curious. is it known for certain that neither option has been pursued? would anyone other than a couple or very few people necessarily know, and would they necessarily tell, or would they keep it under wraps now for very good reason, even it it meant deceiving others?
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Steven says:
To me Brooklyn is the way to go. They’ll get the media attention and numerous train stops would make it easier to get to the game. I just hope something gets decided soon. It’s not right for this circus to go on much longer. I’m sure there are villians on both sides but to me TOH is more at fault. Charles is not the only owner who could not get anything done.
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kevin fitz says:
It is starting too look more and more like Wang, not the town and county, is the issue with this not getting done. This coming from a Democrat.
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jva says:
Lets face it the media blackout was not a good p/r move. The line in the sand on 10/3/09 backfired on Wang. I think he will eventually buckle and downsize his project, I do believe part of this training camp to China is to showcase the Isles to investors. Just a hunch! Would prefer to have him tell the TOH to stick it and Move to Bklyn. As #27 said, Long Island is not the place for creating jobs or developing new industry.
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Mr. Hockey says:
Those who are talking about 5 years may be saying it in jest, but it may be true. The Asian culture is to use extraordinary patience, and they are never blunt.
Wang kind of insulted our collective intelligence last night by saying that ANYTHING is ahead of schedule. This rebuild still has a fairly long way to go.
Has one poster put it, this “mini citi” is never going to happen. Wang overshot on this one, and that’s ok. The best thing to do is to build another arena adjacent to the existing Coliseum, make it a state of the art facility, and maybe down the road, you can build a “mini citi” around it. The bottom line is this; the current building is so antiquated, that when you walk into it, you walk into the 70′s. I haven’t been in there since 2002, but are the floors in the concourse still orangey brown?
Personally, I love the old fashioness of the Coliseum, but I’m in my mid 30′s and I will never play in the NHL. Whoever the Islanders draft, will be a player born either around the time Eric Lindros was drafted, the last Canada Cup, the time when Pierre Turgeon became an Islander, or around the time Kasparaitis was drafted.
The point being that any player born in 1991 or 1992 will see the Coliseum as a dump, and won’t necessarily take the organization seriously. The meleniuls (born after 1991) know very little, if anything, of patience. It’s just the world that they were born into. I think at this point, anyone would accept something as simple as a new arena. The multibillion dollar dream has to be put on the back burner in favor of just simply getting a new building. At this point, I think the town would actually go for that. Just a simple, state of the art new building will do.
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LouD says:
Lastly we’ve been told time and time again, by people outside of the Islander organization, that if Wang were to sell the team the new owner would most likely look to move them out of state. Knowing this, why in the “h-e- double hockey sticks” are fans still screaming that they want Charles to sell and which rich MORON would buy a team with an outdated building and lease that is near the bottom of the league?
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OA PEST says:
Hello Le’ Quebec Islanders!!! Just end this shennighans already. Charles your not building it. ENOUGH ALREADY!!! Sell it so we can get more affordable (and better product) hockey in the AHL at the Nassau Coliseum.
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I think it’s unlikely that Wang is going to downsize his project to meet what the TOH is looking for. Why else would he “mislead” the fans that he hasn’t talked to TOH whereas a TOH official clamed that ” the County Executive has reached out to Wang and has not had his calls returned”. Wang probably implied that the talks involving the Lighthouse project has been stalled because the TOH is not willing to negotiate to meet at the middle ground. Also, even though Wang has stressed his goal is to remain in the Nassau Coliseum, why did he also say that he ” is actively looking at all the options” ?
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dominic says:
1st rule of business folks….Never negotiate with yourself! Wang is doing the right thing. How many of us has ever heard the TOH come out and say they support this thing? NONE!!
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(Sim)ple says:
Let the game of chess continue. We are just the pawns.
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KenMez says:
Move to Suffolk Charlie,get Levy on the horn and start building on the Pilgrim State Hospital grounds. Close to the L.I.E and the Sagtikos, plus a rail line still exsists on the property, no need to rehab a poorly designed and constructed building (best sight lines in hockey I must admit, make the call and git er dun.
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It needed to get to this point. Clever timing with NHL on break soon. Might as well…I hope we win this fight.
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Player says:
I love the ignorant fools who think there is someone else out there that would be willing to sink a dollar into this money losing pit called the NY Islanders. Long Island and the TOH are a disgrace. You soon will both get what you deserve, a vast, empty parking lot.
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TOH Resident says:
The Light House Project in Uniondale is dead done. Stick a fork in it, this project will not happen. The Republican controlled Town of Hempstead have no reason ($) to make this project happen. Wang and his team failed miserably and hired the wrong (if any) political consultants to help over see this project. Move the team to BK. Marty M is willing to build, the city is looking to build and the Light House will have a better chance. Mr. Wang, please pull all your money out of this project because Kate Murray will just string you along.
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raul17 says:
Non-story. The self imposed deadline came and went with Wang blinking. The town is calling his bluff. Even if both sides agree to a deal tomorrow, it would be three to five years before any groundbreaking occurs. Hey, let’s play hockey!!
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JT says:
The area around the NVMC is a dump. Just let them build the project. Ridiculous that the TOH wields so much power. It is an additional layer of government that is wasteful and not needed. I hope I see the wasteful an ineffective Town government eliminated in my lifetime.
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great take by #39 mr hockey up there.
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nickisles from brooklyn says:
All, If they were looking at Queens they better have done so already – the Request for Qualification date has already passed. 29 different bids were entered. I do not know if the Islanders did anything with it but I do know one of the bidding companies and it was not a hockey arena. So unless Wang comes out and says we bid in Willets Point right now, You can forget Queens. The worst thing that happened was all the positive developments before the holidays – that could have gave Wang momentum not do bid in Queens. His chance might have passed there.
The borough president of Brooklyn said something about the islanders the other day – I have been saying all along – it will be Brooklyn if they stay in NY.
In my honest opinion – they are going to pull a Colts. If Wang says – I am going to sell and move the team after next season – its going to be the longest year of his life! I think if he bails on this all he is going to do it quickly, quietly and lay low for a while!
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NYI Hockey retsore the Pride-N-Passion says:
Nice Job Botta!
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
lets face it, isles will not stay in nassau. Wang does not want to see plans reduced to just a new coloseum. No interest.
Only postive news the LHP can get is Kate Murray getting being crushed by a collapsing underspent ToH building.
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isle5 says:
CB I had no problem finding the game on MSG+2 on Verizon FIOS channel 81. Screw the Rangers & Cablevision SUCKS!
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Former Islanders Fan says:
This project is dead. Period. Even if Wang did get the okay, rumor has it he doesn’t have the financing. Aside from the fact that the town of Hempstead has their own agenda, let’s not overlook the other 800 lb. gorilla in the middle of the room. Wang’s former business partner and once co-owner of the Isles, Sanjay Kumar is doing a 12 year stretch for securities fraud, and the fed’s worked diligently to try to get something on Wang prior to the statute of limitations running out but couldn’t get anything to stick. Not great credibility. When you shake hands with Charles Wang make sure you still have 5 fingers when you get your hand back.
If the Town wasn’t just a bunch of obstructionists, this project would have started 2 years ago, and we wouldn’t be dealing with any of this.