TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS: Murray and consultants will tell Lighthouse developers what they can build
As we forecasted on Sunday morning, the Town of Hempstead is ready to push back. Kate Murray explains it all to the LI Herald. She wants the Lighthouse Project scaled down and she’s keeping her consultants. The supervisor tells the paper that the LDC has “shut down their operations and gone silent.” I’m not sure it was a good idea by Charles Wang to tell his staff to share no information with his team’s fans and the project’s supporters for the last four months. Any positive momentum is long gone. Wang wanted an answer, and now he has it. Hempstead is saying, “No.” Time to move on. Comments on the Lighthouse.
129 Responses to “TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS: Murray and consultants will tell Lighthouse developers what they can build”
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Good. Screw Wang. This is all about a real estate grab.
Charles keeps saying that he “just wants a yes or a no.” Well here is his answer from the TOH board, and it’s a resounding NO. By voting to approve a new zoning that would not accommodate Wang’s LH blueprint, the board is effectively telling Wang that they will not adopt his plan. He finally has his answer and can move on. I don’t think Kate’s suggestion that Charles has “shut down operations” is hyperbole. The LI Press reported this months ago, and us die-hards tried to close our eyes to it. I don’t think Charles and the TOH want to do business with each other, and I don’t think he has the money to get it done. This has all been a facade for the past 4-5 months. Let’s just hope he has been using this time wisely by negotiating with Ratner and Prokhorov. That is our only hope for keeping the team in NY.
Well, I really don’t know why Wang came out last night and asked TOH “tell me yes or no” during his interview with Howie. Was this really an act? I really hope that he is ” actively looking at other options” such as Brooklyn and Queens (by being one of 29 bids submitting for request for qualifications). Honestly Wang should have told TOH when he bought the team he is willing to move the team to NYC.
Charles Wang needs to sell this team already to somebody that cares about the team… He has to be one of the worst owners in all of sports. First he screwed the fans by keeping Milbury like seven years too long, and made the Islanders a laughingstock of hockey for it.
He always knows best, just like with his committe general manager and his ten year contracts that are still hurting the team today.
Please sell Charles and go scam somebody else…
Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead are a small time joke. If this project was proposed anywhere else in the United States, it is already well under way. Because of the Town’s obstructionist attitude, everyone loses: Isles fans, the taxpayers, the Long Island labor force, and the Town itself. Nice job Murray you’re a disgrace and a failure as a leader. Good for you.
exactly number 3 - i hope he says he was a bidder in Queens - if not - then queens is out as well and it is just BK - I know one of the bidding parties and its not for a hockey arena although not sure what the other bidders are. that 29 number might already be cut down from my sources as well. If he did not bid in Willets Point -its BK or … sad
Weird moves from Wang–set an arbitrary deadline, after which you’ll explore other options. Deadline passes, then instead of making a big show of talking to Brooklyn or Queens or wherever else, say nothing for four months. It’s really puzzling, since I fail to see how he benefits from doing that. Does he just want an excuse to sell the team and not look like the bad guy?
CB… so what now?
I think we all knew Wang was crazy with that proposal, I do not see what the issue is with scaling the plans back a little. I still do not see why they can’t just build a new state of the art facility right next store.
Lorne: That is not how Wang is going to make his money… or money back for that matter. He needs the real estate. I wish he could come to an agreement to scale it back, however. Let’s hope Queens is the next focus.
just go to brooklyn, let them enjoy the empty lot here, and let them see how much they will hurt all the surrounding businesses…i mean the ones a little bit down the turnpike, all that surrounds this place is cement
What would you guys do IF the Isles move away from the area.. KC.. Canada etc… ?? scary.. hopefully Wang is smart enough to get out of LI and move to Brooklyn where we can start over..
wang is not going to move this team he never was i will play hard ball but will not move this team this team is going to stay in naussa it will expect the scale down and move foward with it he will cry about it and sware he is moving this team but in the end this TEAM IS GOING NO WARE
waiit if they tell him what he can build isn’t that a good thing?
#9, It might be, but knowing the Town, it will be insultingly small in an effort to get rid of Wang in favor of a more connected developer. If the Town came back with a reasonable alternative, that would be a good thing, but what’s the chance of that? Also, who knows how long the whole process will take. Knowing the Town, it certainly won’t be expeditious.
lets all sing it now “say goodbye to the lighthouse”
The Town has finally made a counter offer. Seems like a good thing to me.If they both compromise, maybe they can come to an agreement that works for both of them. I like the idea of building a minor league park next to the Coliseum. Hope they keep that.
i say just agree on something and build the damn thing
No Sleep till
Brooklyn!
Goislesgo105 … the town is putting forth something that will not be compromised over.. this will b a take it or leave it offer (expect it to be on an extremely small scale as well)
Hmm. Just don’t move them out of state
Wonder if there will be any lighthouse commercials on Tuesday..
i think the hotel a re done coliseum some housing the sports technology center is just fine lets hope wanger see’s it that way
This isn’t a big deal. It’s the town’s counter offer. Just a normal part of the give or take of negotiating.
mike on 8, what makes you think that the Isles will stay even though the TOH has slapped their face over and over?
just take what they say be HAPPY and build it! lol
Wang said he would be down for a scale down project. He has said it several times. He said on Francessa’s show. I am sure the TOH will play games and scale it down a lot. I am sure they will play more games. Why wouldnt they? Thats all they do! And steal TP money. BUt its on Wang now. The guy doesnt want to leave nassau county its obvious. He better keep his word. He said he just wanted a yes or no a scaled down project is still a yes. Interesitng to see what happens now, but a lot of this is on Wang now like it or not.
I can’t believe that the town is turning down a 100% zero out of pocket establishment that will generate tons of tax revenue, that is supported by the towns residents.
GO TO QUEENS OR BROOKLYN. This proud franchise does not deserve this. The uniondale area will be nothing but a desolate dustbowl with out the team. Good riddance TOH.
We’re screwed. This franchise is done in New York.
this could be good or very bad we’ll have to wait and see….
At this point, if I’m Wang, I move the Islanders (and get the development deal in Queens, hopefully) then still keep the bid in Hempstead just to spite Murray. Drag her political career into the mud as 15 years from now, the Coliseum property is still an eyesore and swamp and the Islanders prosper in Queens/Brooklyn, and everybody’s wondering “hey, why wasn’t that us?”
I dont figure this to be a really bad thing, but I will hold my final opinion until the town actually releases what they want scaled back. The way the TOH has been I wouldn’t be surprised if they only approved the coliseum to be renovated. It probably wouldn’t be knocked down because of it memorial status. Eventually Wang has to negotiate this deal and has to come out of silence.
There goes the last Long Island franchise. I’m dissapointed to say the least. Dissapointed at everyone from Murray to Ra to Wang. Wang mismanaged this thing from the get-go, culminating in the (not Frost/Nixon) interview with Rose the other night. Too bad we won’t see Tavares and Okposo bring a cup to the Island. It’s a sad, sad day for all of the “Country”…Although I’m not sure if Wang feels the same way judging by how he’s handled it.
good, I hate the Uniondale ghetto. Once the Isles leave there, the surrounding area will be eaten up like cancer. Time to move on.
Gotta wait and see - I just read the article in the Herald. Trying to stay optimistic…similar regarding the Isles season.
i am giddy. the government is gonna get involved in planning something. it will be well built, come in both on time and under budget. the project will be run in a fiscally responsible manner, and kate get her daddy a job again. dont forget public financing. glad i live out east, you folks in nassau are gonna get hosed.
your a good man charles wang. move the team, and give those that voted for murray what they deserve. still love the team.
FINE!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!! Queens or Brooklyn…Get it done. SCREW EM. Just dont leave NY
I don’t understand why we’re declaring this the death knell. God knows, nobody hates the TOH board and its supervisor more than me. But she does make a reference to not wanting this to go down the drain, and she is going to throw out an alternative. But my fear is that it’s something that would make Safety Village at Eisenhower Park look large. Let’s see what the rest of the day brings.
Let’s not jump off the bridge here about them moving out of state. I know gary bettman is a putz. But do you all think for one second he’s gonna let a team move out of the New York market. No freakin way. I’d say wang should hook up with the wilpons and get something done at the iron triangle. And boom wang gets his arena and wilpon can finally call a team the dodgers
Move the team to Quebec (assuming they will build an expensive new arena that Gary Bettman loves to have built while he talks about how great it is to play outdoor games in 100 year old ballparks). They deserve a blossoming young team that they were denied when the Nordiques left.
Kate Murray will offer just enough to make herself look good when Wang turns it down “See, I offered him a good deal yet he wanted more”. The Cover-Your-Rear-End,
used to great effect by all politicians.
If wang is serious about this getting done and not as stubborn as we all believe him to be, this has to be viewed as positive. If he is actually as stubborn as we believe, then we’re screwed
Why can’t we just have a Stadium like every other team? i don’t get the need for a mall and movie theater to be built down the block from Roosevelt Field Mall (which is HUGE) and 3 different movie theaters. housing complexes that are across the street from…. housing complexes. and why do we need a Canal? is the team going to practice on it when it freezes? there are office buildings ALL AROUND that stadium that are barely being used. why knock down the Marriot just to build another hotel?
JUST MAKE A STADIUM FOR THE TEAM TO PLAY IN!!!! like the fancy pants one the devils have.
Hellooooo Brooklyn!
The ball is in your court, Wang. Don’t double-dribble.
I say move to Queens or Brooklyn. At least it’ll keep the fanbase intact and possibly recruit some more along the way.
Wonderful - if you read the Newsday piece on this, it says that the new zoning plan to be written by the “consultant” for the TOH “should” be ready by summer. Which means shovel in the ground is still years away - far too long. IMO, Wang should call a press conference today to say the following: “We asked for a yes or no, and today we finally received our answer. Good luck to the TOH with their development of the NVMC site. The NY Islanders will now begin the process of searching for a new home in a financially viable building upon expiration of the current lease in 2015. Any questions?”
If they wanted to say no they should’ve said no on Oct. 3. Why the delay? They knew they weren’t going to agree the whole thing. Both sides are in the wrong in my opinion, but the timing should’ve been better.
Chris, don’t you think you’re being a little ridiculous here? Kate Murray does not say she wants nothing to do with Wang.. she is simply saying that they want to help Wang, but it has to be a smaller project. She is finally coming forward with what we all kind of new from the beginning. How does that kill all positive momentum? If Wang is serious, he’ll work with Kate and meet here halfway. Period.
Wang has run the LH just like he’s run the Isles ,trying to re-invent the wheel and we all see the results. Both have been a failure. He’s not a hockey guy and he’s not a savior! He’s become the looser!
Up to Wang now. All delays are on him now. He got his NO answer and will find out what he can build as he asked “If it’s no, tell me what you want.”
This is just basic negotaiations - Wang never expected to get all he originally proposed but it will be bigger than TOH really wants. The trick is to see if these 2 groups of egomaniacs can compromise. And if Wang can even get financing. Or if TOH just wants to give the project to another connected developer.
If QUEENS/BROOKLYN haven’t been considered yet or certainly now after this then Wang is crazier than he appears and that’s saying something.
Bad news for Long Island on all counts. I think Wang underestimated the big fish in the little pond that was Kate Murray by a long shot as did a lot of islanders fans. Seems crazy that it comes down to one little bureaucrat but that’s where we are.
Good luck gang and good luck Long Island.
…Kate Murray and the TOH now want to jumpstart the process!!! They do this by rezoning the area. Brilliant. That pig and the rest of the board have effectively driven the Islanders out of Nassua county. Which in the end is probably best for the franchise.
I never saw the lighthouse project getting done so I am not surprised. It was so much bigger than hockey and without much support outside of the organization it was doomed to fail. Wang has said in the past that the time for negotiations has passed. If the TOH wanted to scaled it down they should have proposed it years ago. We asked for a YES or NO and we finally got it. There are no winners here. We all lose. The TOH loses a professional hockey team and will soon find themselves with an empty building. The Islanders lose an opportunity to play in a state of the art facility that this franchise deserves. The fans likely will lose their franchise as I find it hard to believe that this team will stay in New York. Rebuild or no rebuild the team likely wont be around for us to see it come to fruition. Sad day for a once proud franchise.
Scale it down Wang - meet in the middle - everyone has to give a little…even you
communication is essential for this to move forward–Not returning phonecalls, playing politics as the TOH is famous for and now starting a whole new zoning study just shows that control by govt is what has the general public so mad at their representatives….err..elected croonies
Im sure Wang is frustrated but he should be speaking to the newly elected county executive–Its so obvious that the TOH “new” plan will not look like anything close to Wangs 100% financed project—It would have been so much easier to just have the TOH make a counter that they want this, but not this etc. to scale the project down 15%–Which would help ssome of their concerns and also have Wang make his profit which is totally acceptable since hes footing the bill and the county bring no $$$ to the table–This team is moving
Long Islanders should be in an up roar over the fact that Murray is employing a company in Rye instead of a Long Island company. I find that to be a conflict of interest and an out right disgrace to LI.
Wang on the other and seems to be backing out. I’m disgusted with him as well. I wonder if he will stay silent. I hope not!
The only hope I have is that Gary Bettman will fight to keep the Isles in NY in the same way he fought to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix. Charles Wang may be an astute billionaire but this guy needs a refresher course in Public Relations.
cb, im dissapointed that you arent going udner the rhetoric of building a scaled down version of the project and are misleading the fanbase by saying the TOH has said no….they will build the project…just not a mini city….the truth is wang doesn’t have financing for the project. this thought has been echoed by those in the know for some time know…this is all a plot to save face and move/sell the team….im as big as any die-hard out there and i think we will all be best served if wang sells this team….delete this post if you will but you and i both know thats the truth!
Both sides are disingenuous.
Wang thinks the rules apply to everyone but him.
Murray is a hack politician who thinks its the 1970’s.
NIMBY to the first degree.
But at least - we are one step closer to resolution. Kate Murray is showing her cards. Charles - you are on deck.
Simple game of business here. He is playing the TOH perfect. Wang proposed a gigantic mini city that he knew damn well would never get passed by the TOH. He knew a counter offer from the TOH would come and when it does it will be either what Wang knew he could get away with or perhaps more. By proposing the ridiculous size of the LHP he left a ton of negotiating room which he knew he needed with the TOH.
If a scaled down version allows Wang and Rechler to be profitable and the Lighthouse group fails to work out or attempt to work out an agreement it would be a failure. I know I wouldn’t accept that as an Isles fan. Hopefully now that Wang got some sort of answer he can move forward in a positive direction with the Town to work something out. Probably wont happen though.
When the Islanders find another home, and the rezoning occurs, Kate can get her wish and have a low impact mall named after her on the former NVMC site. I know I won’t be patronizing the 99 cent store, the mega-Popeye’s, or even the check cashing facility at the Murray Mall.
Long Islanders say goodbye to your hockey team… With the amont of mony that the teams looses every year, it will gone afer it’s lease expires in 2015. Sad, but nevertheless, it now appears evident.
Not sure what Wang’s motives are in going “dark” and not sure if he has any back room handshakes with Queens or Brooklyn. If he is smart—he does.
How much of a campaign contribution did FP Clarke make to the party of no and that POS Murray to get the contract?
I think the best thing the NY Islanders can do is move out of that location. It has been a GOP playground since its inception. The only people making money at the NVMC is the Nassau County and Hempstead party of NO.
Guess I’ll become a Devils fan now… oh well.
Wang screwed himself on this one. He shut down the LDC in hopes that Suozzi would have gotten relected and finish coming to the Islanders rescues instead of pushing Murray to get a deal done or simply putting the PR pressure on her and the GOP. How amazing would it have been if Wang’s PR machine would have done to TOH when Schmitt came out with the approved pay raises by saying if they can inflate their own pockets during this economy why couldnt they inflate ours by creating the construction jobs needed for the Lighthouse. Move to Queens Charles!!!
Queens needs to be seriously looked at. You will keep the fan base—and pick up a few along the way. Nassau county is run by a single dimentional political party. They get a rigid idea in their head and they don’t budge. We were trying to sell my mother-in-law’s house, the town of Hempstead effectively delayed the process until all their ridiculous demands were met. Translation: depleting an 80yr old woman of much of her funds–to be used for their cronnies. What is sadder is that they got voted in again. I think I’m moving to Canada!
The first few quotes from Murray after the fold are pure gold:
——–
“The board understands that this piece of property is too important to be sort of lying in limbo and threatened with a development that goes down the drain.”
“We want to jump start the process,” the supervisor added.
——
I’m usually pretty good at reading between the lines of your writing, CB, and I hope I’m reading this one wrong. =\
Is anyone a lawyer out there? Can we sue the TOH? They are obviously not doing what they were voted in to do. How else do you explain such a delay for the LH when we had thousands of people, many, pilars of their community support this project, and yet they still ignore it. I’m not saying Wang is 100% blameless, but The toh’s way of thinking is screw the people. We do what we want. It always has been.
Hey CB, I’m sorry but I don’t understand why it’s a “no.” Wouldn’t just a new rink be fine? Why do we need all that other stuff for Wang to have a profitable team?
I don’t understand the mixed signals. If Wang was truly waiting for fruitful negotiations, why would he stiff the TOH consultant he owed $200,000? I know it must really suck to pay someone you know is working against you, but he knew that was part of the process long ago.
On the other hand, why make a deadline, then wait 4 months of silence (as CB said, it definitely sapped momentum).
All we can hope for was during the media blackout, he truly was talking to Queens and Brooklyn, although I don’t know how that wouldn’t have leaked, nor why he wouldn’t have wanted it to leak!!!
#42 is right!!!
LI = pure idiocy. The Lighthouse project was chosen by the county government, and now the town government overrrides what the county (who OWN the frickin land) wanted and voted for.
For everyone who keeps asking “why not just build a new rink” please go to lettherebelighthouse… Nick explains very clearly and thoroughly WHY that is not feasible at all. If you really want an answer to the question you keep on asking, go there and read it. Otherwise, why keep asking?
suddenly a seven-game losing streak and complete reversal of momentum (if not a collapse) is an afterthought.
i hope the town of hempstead CHOKES on that land!!! islanders will flourish in queens or brooklyn and hempstead will be the crack slum dump it has been moving towards for the last 10 years or so. congrats kate murray, you saved poverty and destitution for years to come on long island!
With or without the Lighthouse, which I totally support, the franchise would be so much better set for the future with a move to Brooklyn. Can anyone even compare the economic state and clout of a franchise playing in New York City rather than in some field in Nassau County? I grew up on LI, but you put the Isles in Brooklyn…while still accessible to pretty much the entire fanbase excluding those living way out east in Suffolk, they would draw millions of potential new fans by playing smack in the middle of the largest (and richest) city in the world. C’mon…is there any question? If the owner of the new Brooklyn-based Islanders is Wang, Prokhorov, or some new 3rd party, how can it be said that moving to Brooklyn is a bad idea? Immediately…IMMEDIATELY…the New York Islanders, our Islanders, are one of the biggest market teams in the league. Not completely on par with the Rangers market share, but certainly bigger than all but maybe 3-5 other teams. It ensures our viability more than anything put up in Uniondale. I know it sucks if you’re from Nassau and you’re used to a 15-minute drive to the games, but please…you know a move to the city saves this franchise.
people underappreciate what Wang has done for us. Without him, we would have lost isles for very long time. He has every right to make money in a real estate vision he had. LI needs a destination.
Scale down a bit yes, Scale down to just the Coloseum. Sorry, I side with Wang on that one.
is this going to be online or tv someware to watch the 11 olock meeting
I am quite sure Wang has already made a scaled down version of the LHD, he’d have been foolish not to. While we all may disagree about his approach to an NHL franchise, the man is not some vapid, empty suit - he’s smart, calculated and prepared.
I am actually in favor of a scaled down project, I really didn’t want a mini-city built as a trade off for a renovated NVMC…that said, I still think this project happens.
more political posturing and it is always darkest before dawn…i say a deal gets done!
#65, you are correct. Wang put all his cards in Suozzi and it came back to bite him.
I’d like to see a formal statement from Mangano on what he wants. He has already stated he is in favor of the LHD, but we need to know his position now that his is in control.
To those who suggest that Murray has done something wrong, you need to get into the real world. She is doing her job, plain and simple. Just because she refuses to acquiesce to Wang’s demands does NOT make her evil.
Wow. I guess I will have to be Florida Panther fan now. Wow my hockey life is now CRUSHED! Eventhough I have been hard on the Islanders, I still love them! I woke up to this and still 25 inches of snow in my condo complex, Darn.
Brooklyn Islanders.
Chris, I am very troubled by the 7 game losing streak in this respect. For the good part of the year the islanders were a 500 club, but they always came out strong and often played there best at the start of the game, and faded toward the end of games. Over the 7 games which is 420 minutes, they have held the lead for a grand total of 8:17 . that is unbelievable, i bet that has to be a team record, very poor indeed. We have not been competitive at all.
“The other shoe has not dropped yet”, the shoe belongs to Wang and after 4 months of silence he is either going to go for months more of Bull, bail out, or pull the BKLYN switch which he may have been exploring all this time. My bet is that the team stays in the greater NY area - my reason, CW doesn’t do the China thing if he is about to sell the team. and PS I don’t think he would move the team out of town and keep ownership because he is definitly a LI guy.
There’s no guarantee a move means Queens or Brooklyn. It could be anywhere, especially if Wang decides to sell the team. Funny how all of this news breaks in the middle of a horrible slide when fans are already venting some frustration at ownership/management. I’m sure it’s all a coincidence after months and months of total silence.
Just build an arena adjacent to the existing coliseum… I don’t know what’s so wrong with that. I’m sure TOH would approve that.
Everyone- Charles Wang has asked for answers, maybe now he is going to get them and they can work from there. The bleak “OMG we’re doomed” mentality is not going to help anything!
The arena isn’t the teams biggest issue..the bigger isuue now is tis fanbase has eroded to the point that i don’t think they would even fill a new building on weeknights even if it went up tomorrow
Can people stop saying Wang is building a “mall” there. The shops and entertainment are a very good part of the project. This is the way so families and residents living at the project can walk, not drive all the time. This is the most eco-friendly way to curb gas usage. It works in Celebration, Florida and it would work here too
I do not feel good about being right on this one. Wang’s “other options” were to wait out the town 90, 120 and 150 days. The town knows that there has to be a better solutions for that land… and they don’t include 17K very temporary residents with no access to mass transit. COME ON PEOPLE.. the emperor has been naked for ten years! He needs to step up and focus on the hockey. Give Garth a budget so he doesn’t have to continue rushing prospects.
Eric #27 and beatlebailey #80 FTW.
Why would Wang & Rechler pump millions into something only to walk away?? It makes no sense. As long as there’s a chance to make money off a scaled back Lighthouse, Wang will/should do it. Everyone has to remember, the TOH wants to scale back from the basic starting point, not from something that Wang has scaled back several times (not including the actual Lighthouse building).
Just for the sake of equality, though. Kate and the TOH should’ve done this years ago. It’s ridiculous that it took till now –> Summer to give Wang a true answer. They really are corrupt.
BringBackNyles 87 - They’ll NEVER fill a new or old building on a weeknight without mass transit. (Except playoffs).
This fanbase has deteriorated to a precious few.
MOVE TO QUEENS OR BROOKLYN!!! A TREE/FANBASE GROWS IN BROOKLYN!!
I wonder what part of “eff-off and die” does Chairman Wang doesn’t understand?
Kate “The Hutt” Murry and her friends has made it loud and clear what the answer is?
No, cold shoulder, declension, declination, defiance, disallowance, disapproval, disavowal, disclaimer, discountenancing, disfavor, dissent, enjoinment, exclusion, forbidding, interdiction, knockback, negation, nix, nonacceptance, noncompliance, nonconsent, option, pass*, prohibition, proscription, rebuff, refutation, regrets, rejection, renouncement, renunciation, repudiation, repulse, repulsion, reversal, thumbs down, turndown, veto, withholding and as they say in Brooklyn: NYET!
Specking of Brooklyn, they would take the Islanders in a heartbeat as opposed to the flatliners in Nassau.
This is the FIRST good thing Murray has done. I am actually glad this is happening. Just tell Wang what he can build and make HIM say yes or no. She is turning the tables on Wang. This is just good politics from a professional politician (even though I would never vote for her or her party). The whole time Wang has been trying to get the town to give them a yes or no, so HE wouldn’t have to look like the bad guy. But now they are giving him a “Yes, but….” and now he will need to agree to it. And believe me, he will. He does not want to be the guy who let the Isles leave LI.
More depressing news. Oh well, at least I got to experience the dynasty, and the build up to it
I can’t believe after all this time how ignorant some people are here on this project. Still asking why not just renovate the arena. Why this whole project. Holy crap this is what Nassau County wanted & approved. The town is now screwing with the whole thing because the NIMBY out there don’t give a rats a$$ about anything. How come after all these years there is no direct rail line to Coli because the tracks would run through NIMBY Garden City. That’s why the taxes on LI are so high. Everyone bitches about them but when a solution comes up no it will affect me can’t have that. Charles just move the team to Queens or Brooklyn. At least the politicians there want you. Screw TOH let them get what they deserve. I was talking to a Security guard who makes his living at the Coliseum. Lives up the road there and he told me he doesn’t want it built. So a guy will lose his job because he’s a NIMBY. That in a nutshell is LI
The problem is, outside of a couple of hundred loyal Islander fans and bloggers nobody on LI cares! There is no outrage over this dragging on!Build it great, don’t build it who cares. Nobody is championing the cause and showing the real value to the LI public. Newsday headline yesterday is “Mangano is having Fun” in his new role as CTY Supervisor!Right now the LHP isn’t even on his radar. No hard decisions being made there!Like it or not, the Isles are under lease till 2015. Murray figures that this becomes a real issue in 2013 or 2014. She will be long gone by then. Till then , let the Isles and their fans twist!
Should be interesting to see how this soap opera will end. I do find it funny how Kate’s alter cocker ( Yiddish- an older and complaining person) supporters find their way to this blog.
Sell to Mikhail Prokhorov (if he would take them) and move them to Brooklyn with the Nets. At least the Islanders would be the better of the two teams. This way they follow the Capital’s plan of young talent, a downtown stadium with a shared tenant and an owner that has money to burn. Long Island will get rid of Wang and his evil land grab and preserve the town of Hempstead.
Or scale the lighthouse back to nothing and just have the County refurbish their stadium in the middle of a big concrete lot. The Isles as the team with the least revenue in the league can keep spending to the cap floor, lose millions while doing it and listen to fans complain that the owner won’t spend any money on a good team. Then force out the current owner so that we can find a new owner among the Milsteins and Spanos that will do right by this franchise.
Hope for Brooklyn so I don’t have to pay the taxes on the new building….
Hockey 1919, I don’t think it is a question of whether Prokhorov would take the Islanders. If he already has the Nets, he would love to streamline is operations with an NHL team. Practically speaking, the Islanders are the only team that would have the ability to move into that arena. The Rangers would probably demand a heavy toll, but it is probably a number that won’t scare him off. With young talent and a huge payroll, the Islanders would become an instant contender and as I have stated in previous blogs, foot traffic within a mile from Atlantic Yards is probably enough to fill the building 10x over. Add to that the LIRR terminus and the subway hub at Atlantic and Flatbush, you are talking simple access without cars for millions, something the NVMC or LHP will never offer. This is above and beyond the huge influx of corporate customers that the Islanders never had. Plus the ego boost of being the first major Russian owner when the KHL is attempting to eat the NHL’s lunch (with little, if any, success.).
NC & TOH have spoken. It wouldn’t even surprise me if Bloomberg’s people were already in Bettman’s office laying the groundwork for a smooth transition into NYC. Despite the Dolan’s posturing, this deal would not hurt the Rangers a lick. They are almost always at capacity. The Dolan’s already control the Islanders broadcast rights until something like 2030 if I am not mistaken.
If they go to Brooklyn they will no longer be a Long Island Team. Brooklyn is part of NYC. Even though geographically it is on the island it would not be a LI Team. I suppose you all think the Mets are a LI Team.
Why does everybody think when the Islanders move away (which they will) it will spell the end of the Coliseum. Let Nassau County sell it. Let MSG buy it renovate it (new roof, seats blast out the concourse and new scoreboard). AHL hockey will in my opinion draw very well on the Island. A family of four would be able to see a game without breaking the bank. The AHL would love to have a team in the #1 media market. There are alot of team in the next few years that will need affiliates. Especially the Rangers.
Brooklyn will not be a opition for the team. The arena is being built with basketball in mind. If they do configure it for hockey it will probably look like America West in Arizona or the Orlando Arena (solar bears of the old IHL for hockey). Queens will be hassle also cause you have to move those car repair shops to another location and pray to god that there is no contamination under that area.
Islander fans the only person you should be blaming for the nixing of this project is Charles Wang and nobody else. Not the TOH or special interests groups. It’s the wrong project for that area. You were all drinking his kool-aid (and me too for years) and I have said enough. He is the new Karmonos of the NHL.
Wang - Cut your losses and bring this to Willets Point, where you’ll be wanted.
You guys just dont get it, do you? Wang wont move the team to Brooklyn or Queens because this has been all about a land grab from the start. Wang doesnt want a new stadium, he wants to make hundreds of millions on a sweetheart residential real estate development. Im not saying the town is blameless either… Once way or the other, though, Wang will now sell the team.
Since the Repubs took over again, D’Amato became the most powerful man in Nassau. In 2001 he initially had given Wang the green light for his land grab… until stupidly Wang wouldn’t kick back by hiring D’Amato’s brother. Even more stupidly, Wang flew to the Suozzi Dems for protection, cutting all his links to the republicans. Since then, D’Amato and Mondello have been determined to torpedo Wang and when Mangano won, that was it for the Lighthouse and for Wang. Its over- the land grab will never be allowed to happen under Wang, who is now a political enemy. Kate Murray is a mere pawn in this game.
Face it, if Wang really cared about the Isles as his top priority, he would call the town’s bluff and agree to a new stadium without the rest of his mini city. The Devils dont need a mini city to be successful and neither should the Islanders. If it were about hockey, Wang would already be involved in Brooklyn. This whole charade is about a back room politically connected real estate deal gone wrong, not about the Islanders. The only chance the Isles remain in NY is if Wang sells to a local buyer… which I doubt he will do out of spite.
Hey Chris,
We keep hearing Murray say that Wang has not responded to her traffic planning questions but Wang seems to make it known that he has addressed these issues. Can you help us understand what this beleaguered point? I thought that you blogged something about this at the public meeting back in September and if I remember correctly there was a “traffic expert” there to help Wang resolve some issues with the TOH.
Mr. Wang,
Please move the team to Willets Point and I personally guarantee you two full season ticket purchases.
Regards,
Angelos
I feel like I am beating a dead horse. They still need to look at http://www.arenadistrict.com and see the similar concept being one of the most successful and redeveloped areas in Columbus. John H McConnell Jr RIP (late Team owner) will always be enamored in Ohio for this vision he had. Let there be Lighthouse already.
Let’s Go Islanders!
I think Isles fans need to remember that Wang saved this team when it was at an all time low. You don’t have to agree with his way of trying to get the Lighthouse project done but you can at least be thankful for him saving this franchise and bringing back a fanbase. This is a guy losing $20 million a year by owning the team. He’s trying to build a state of the art facility for a team that has been known as a mockery in the NHL.
If the project gets scaled down too much then I can’t blame Wang if he says no. It’s not just the arena that needs to be rebuilt but the whole area or we’ll never be able to draw any free agents. Renovating just the NVMC would be a waste.
Fred- There are a number of teams that don’t necessarily play where their team name is. If in Broklyn, they would stil be the “New York” Islanders as it is obviously part of NY. They can still be LI’s team or whatever we want to say. Honestly with all this BS LI doesn’t really deserve to have a team, so it seems. (I’m a LIer btw)
Giants in NJ, Washington Redskins in MD, etc. It is what it is, and it sure beats not having them local at all. We could probably just hop on the LIRR (and maybe a subway) to it which would be cool also.
I’m just so sick of all this already and want this nonsense to be over with. It would be nice to have a good team as well, but that’s another story for another time.
looks like the chances of this team moving just increased…
Totally agree with you CB, the answer was NO, time to move on. If Wang doesn’t like what TOH demands then move somewhere else. If he doesn’t do something quick the rebuild will be all for naught…who would want to continue to play in that joke of an arena that has bad ice and floods with sewage at least once every season. If TOH just wants to renovate the arena, goodluck, Wang will move the team and they will have a huge dilapidated flea market like the old LI ducks arena was for so many years. That is until it has to be knocked down for safety concerns…What a depressing end that would be for a place that should be treated like a museum.
CB - whats your GUT feeling here - what do you think the end result will be?
To Brian from Albany…IF and thats a big IF the Islanders goto Brooklyn they should change their name to the Brookyn Islanders or even the Brooklyn Americans. The merchandising money that they would make would be insane. You put Brooklyn on anything and it would sell. Hopefully the Nets will be smart and just have Brooklyn on their jerseys.
Pretty sad day. I dont feel doom and gloom yet but this is going to continue to drag. TOH will now consult and look to scale back. WTF. If they really wanted to get something done you sit down in a room. You take Charles’ plan and you have your cronies and say - ok. This this and this has to go. Too much. This can stay and that can stay. Whats up with this crap that 7 years later we will have our consultants review and propose a new scaled down project. If that was the case, why didnt Murray start this already - days, weeks, months, years ago. When and if the Isles leave it wont be left an empty field. Murray will add another mall, Lowes, Movie Theatre, Gap. More shopping that we cant support that will eventually be an empty shell like the Source Mall has become. Can one media outlet, writer anyone put some pressure on to get the facts and call those out who need to be called out. Nobody finds it off that Ratner mentioned the Isles last week at his press meeting??? Why would he even be thinking about the Isles if something hasnt been discussed. Charles is wayyyyyy to smart to just be sitting silent waiting for TOH. There is a story in all this and our Newsday, Post, Daily beat writers just ignore. Newsday at the very least should have been all over this for years. Just goes to show that political powers rule Nassau and everyone must be afraid to write the facts for fear of retribution. Wang got screwed because he didnt play the game with one particular person who now has it out for him. The same guy who built a giant home in Lido beach and screwed his neighbors. WHy….because he is a political power and could. If TOH wanted this done and local gov’t we would have been sitting on Murray’s golden ass seats in a renovated Kate Murray Is A God Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5 years ago. So badly wish I could ditch Nassau but my wife wont let it happen - and my love of the Islanders
Let me get this straight.
Back in August, hundreds of people - TOH citizens, heads of corporations and schools, union officials and clergy, very influential and well regarded people – all came together at a time and location appointed by the TOH in order to voice their feelings with regard to the TOH approving the zoning for Wang’s project.
99% of the people who spoke at this hearing, not including hundreds who wrote, expressed their desire to have the TOH approve the zoning and do whatever was necessary to bring this project to fruition.
To put it in plain English – the TOH said there would be a meeting and we could all tell them how we felt about the project. Their next step would be to approve the zoning so it was important for them to get our input. We came. We told them we thought it would be good for all involved. We urged them to get together and make it happen somehow. Then crickets from the TOH.
Nothing at all was done by the TOH and now 5 months later the TOH is suddenly saying “oh, we want to do some zoning so we can get this thing going”. FIVE MONTHS LATER PEOPLE. And 99 percent of you posters are okay with this and are placing blame for the delay solely on Charles Wang.
I can’t even believe that. Seriously.
I think Long Islanders should be in an uproar over the simple fact that Murray has employed a Rye based company as apposed to hiring a Long Island based company? Aren’t there and consulting firms on LI or is this because of the donations she received from the Rye firm? How does she get away with this and LI’ers voted her back in? For what? So she can employ everyone else besides the people she’s supposed to serve? Back in the day, like in the old west they called it what it is, bribes. Wang isn’t looking good but Murray is a scoundrel. This is an outrage on both sides but more on the thieves we call politicians.
Fred, where is Long Island College Hospital? Long Island University? Up until the Citicorp building was built in Long Island City (Queens), the Williamsburgh Savings Bank (which will cast a shadow on Atlantic Yards) was the tallest building on Long Island. What about the LA Lakers? Where are the lakes? Or the Utah Jazz, that rockin’ bebop swing capital of the Rocky Mountains? Its just a name, and in light of other examples its just as cogent and clearly more practical than nthe latter examples. Last time I checked, there are no trolleys to dodge anywhere near Chavez Ravine. And this whole Brooklyn controversey could have been avoided had they just built the “new” Dodger Stadium at the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush those 50+ years ago.
Let’s Go (to Brooklyn) Islanders. The joke was on Brooklyn then, it will be on TOH next go round.
Anyone who thinks Wang is in it for his love of Long Island and the Islanders is sadly mistaken. He’s in it for the money, and uses the Islanders and its fans to help him get what he wants. It’s never been about the Isles, but rather the real estate that just so happens to encompass the arena they play in.
#115, right on the money. Why all the meetings with thousands saying yes-yes–yes. Then everything goes black. Who is listening to us! These pols work for us! Class action law suit, Who’s in?
I could see what Murray is trying to get at, mainly she doesn’t want a massive hub pop up in the middle of her town. However something like this has far more benefits than risks and it’s imperative that she does her part because like it or not Nassau and W. Suffolk will be more like NYC in the future so a retail and entertainment hotspot will be fruitful for the next generation
TAKE A WALK WANG !!
Hey Bob:
As an owner, you own the Yankees, the Cowboys, etc for the love of the game. For most of the other teams, its all about business. Its about making money. You need the ancillary stuff to make a difference and the colisuem has one of the $hittiest deals going for the tenant. One of the earlier posters also noted turning the Colisuem into a minor league operation. What are you talking about, it already is? Mr Wang is making every effort to bring the coliseum, the islanders and NC into the 21st century. TOH, NC and the GOP seem to have other plans. Mangano’s election just re-confirmed that its back to business as usual in NC. While Suozzi look to the future and the way to deal with things as we get there, the GOP dreams about the past and promises to take us their without any vision. And what about Schmitt’s raise? Maybe if we generated a little tax revenue off of LHP, the raise could have been justified. A$$ES.
I hated Kate Murray and the TOH for playing this game. Now I feel vindicated reading it was WANG all along. I said it before and I say it again, he wanted the team for the lighthouse and now everyone sees the truth
Wow now everybody has stopped drinking the kool-aid and seeing what type schyster the “savior” has been. How this guy skipped going to jail with Sanjay Kumar is beyond me.
A pox on both their houses. Leave the dump of the Coliseum behind and have the county spend the money tearing it down. And sell the team to someone who will make a hockey club out of it, whether that person be in Hamilton, Kansas City or Saskatoon. It’s a damn shame what has happened to this once-proud team, but everything Wang has done with this team has been wrong.
Islanders and Mets in Queens or the Islanders and Nets in Brooklyn. Either one sounds much better then the Islanders and nothing but a dump in Uniondale. Cut your losses Wang and get out of there.
Make a deal somewhere already! Do it now. Our team will be great by the time the team moves into some new arena 2 or 3 years from now.