GARY BETTMAN TO NASSAU: VOTE YES
NYI’s future in Nassau “hangs in the balance”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has released the following statement to Islanders Point Blank:
“The Islanders’ goal is to stay on Long Island, playing in an arena which they – and the Nassau County community – can be proud to call home. The National Hockey League enthusiastically supports the Islanders’ pursuit of that objective and encourages all to vote ‘Yes’ on August 1.
“A new arena will power the engines that are essential to economic growth while also ensuring the enduring connection of Long Island’s only professional sports franchise with its loyal fans. Plainly, the Islanders’ long-term future in Nassau County beyond 2015 hangs in the balance.”
21 Responses to GARY BETTMAN TO NASSAU: VOTE YES
NYI’s future in Nassau “hangs in the balance”
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kevin morris says:
Yay! I can like Gary Bettman again! VOTE YES!
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2011-2012 Isles says:
So nervous for this vote! But I do think that the YES vote is more motivated than the NO, and that will be the difference on a hot Monday afternoon in the middle of the summer.
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Steven says:
It would be nice for our Gov to step up. He seems to has his hands in everything else.
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peter debenedetto says:
Is Newsday/News12/Local Stations getting all of this???
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Nick says:
I mean, this is great and all but what a cookie cutter response. If the league was truly showing their support during these proceedings why haven’t they sent reps to step in? Why don’t they publicly make this an issue for the entire league, getting support from all teams? Are they waiting for this to be an absolutely dire situation like PHX?
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Bill A says:
Gary Bettman’s comment, while nice, means absolutlely nothing, unless he can forecably make the idiotic democrats see the light of day and drop their opposition.
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The "Shermanator" says:
Hey look who it is……good old Gary…the guy who pretends to care about this franchise…..uh um…revenue sharing?
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Great point 5. Gary for being an Isles Fan has not done enough. He’s been obsessed with PHX and not for a team that won 4 Cups.
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Dan says:
I would like Gov Cuomo to endorse the vote however I’m not sure this would make any difference. I think it can be like a school budget vote in May- Lots of people upset about tax increases but it will pass with a low turnout. Go vote Yes & get the word out via social media to vote YES.
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ziggyziggyziggy-oyoyoy says:
I agree with Nick #5… Unfortunately I live in NJ now so I can’t vote, but I work in Manhattan, just down the block from the NHL store. If Bettman is so strongly behind this, why haven’t they utilized that unbelievable location? Not only do hockey fans from all over the country and the world visit there, but tons of non-hockey fans pass by that spot all the time (there’s a starbucks there too!). I’m sure they could’ve benefited more from some cool event there (they do them pretty often – just last year a bunch of isles even visited with billy jaffe for a q & a session) than some rally at the colliseum while most people are at work. Many people who can vote could’ve easily participated in an event at the NHL store or at least been exposed to the issue there. There’s a part of me that believes Wang knows what’s going to happen and is prepared and has planned for everything. As much as I want this vote to go through and everything to happen as it should, if the Isles team up with the Nets at the new Barclays arena, i’d be mighty happy too…
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Tom D in NJ says:
Bettmann should have spoken lounder and sooner on this. At least he said something.
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Brother Rat says:
Nice, but who’s the audience for this? Who is he trying to convince on Friday afternoon before a Monday vote? His statement is nice but formulaic and unsurprising (did we think he’d say not to vote yes?), and it shows that the NHL did not marshal any of its considerable resources to raise awareness of this vote. Although maybe Wang told him/them to stay quiet so as not to distract voters back to the recurring concerns that this vote is nothing but a referendum that will benefit Isles fans?
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dose says:
I’m not sure how deeply Bettman is able to get personally involved in this, but his late entry with this seeming cookie-cutter endorsement makes me wonder how confident he is of this or any arena deal getting done. There are multiple parties up north of the border in several locales where success for a new franchise is a virtual certainty, and they must be in Bettman’s ear bigtime. This vote could be as important to them as it is to us.
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Jim Clark says: Gary Bettman, America’s answer to Bernie Ecclestone. Perhaps he can get some of his fellow Cornell alumni who live in Nassau County to vote Yes.
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dan says:
Let’s show Nassau county and the rest of the NHL how we feel about getting a new arena and having a successful hockey club. Please VOTE YES!!!!!!!
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mht says:
To Jim Clark,I love your reference of Gary Bettman to Bernie Ecclestone and your name is a tribute to the greatest Formula One driver of all time.
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Ray says:
Geezzz….talk about the 11th hour….
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remember bettman grew up a isles fan. i believe he grew up in queens. i only wish he came down hard on the disgraceful way wang has destroyed the franchise. if he would of, i am sure more people would have stood up for a new nvmc instead of so much indifference.
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I see how Gary notes Isles future IN NASSAU hinges in the future! Does not state Isles will be relocating to another state or canadian prov. Would be interesting if Wang did leave Nassau, I really do not think jacobs, Murray think he will ever do it! Not sure they understand how to make up $234 mill in annual revenue.
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Dean says:
Thanks Bettman master of the obvious. By far the worst and most spineless commissioner in all pro sports. Forget about Cuomo’s endorsement. He’s a democrat and would not go against his crappy party.
YES vote YES everybody.