50 years in Uniondale: Nassau Coliseum’s 5 most memorable moments

Some call it the “Coli.” Others call it “a dump.” Most call it “The Old Barn.”  

Whatever you call it, Nassau Coliseum turned 50 today. Feb. 11 marks a half-century of the Coliseum hosting Long Island events.

The arena opened in 1972, and basically put Long Island sports on the map. Widely known as the home of the Islanders, did you know they were not involved in the first sporting event at the Coliseum? That honor belongs to the Nets, who hosted the Pittsburgh Condors in an ABA contest on Feb. 11, 1972.

Over the last five decades, the Coliseum has churned out countless sports and entertainment memories on Hempstead Turnpike. Here are my top five:

Tonelli to Nystrom 

This one is a no brainer. The first of the Islanders four straight Stanley Cups came in 1980, when in Game 6 of the finals, Bobby Nystrom tapped in a John Tonelli pass in OT to give the Islanders their first Stanley Cup.

Two championships for Roosevelt’s Dr. J.

The then-New York Nets won two ABA Championships in the Coliseum with Hall of Famer Julius Erving leading the way. The Roosevelt native led the franchise to its first ever title in the 1973-1974 season. Two seasons later, the Nets won another ABA championship, the last one played before the ABA merged with the NBA.

Banner day for Billy

Another Long Islander makes himself right at home at the Coliseum. Billy Joel has a “retired number” banner hanging from the rafters to commemorate his many sold-out Coliseum shows. His “retired number” is 69. Joel, who was raised in Hicksville, also was honored with a banner for thirty-three sold out shows at the Coliseum.

The ‘Greatest Show on Earth’

On May 21, 2017,  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus put on its very last show, at Nassau Coliseum.  After 146 years of performances, the curtain closed on the legendary circus show in front of a sold out Long Island crowd. Ringling Bros. representatives said the outfit’s other productions — Frozen on Ice, Marvel Live, Supercross, Monster Trucks and Disney on Ice — resonated better with younger generations.

The last cup

On May 17, 1983, the Islanders on their home ice completed a four-game sweep of a young Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers to win their fourth straight Stanley Cup. It is the last time the franchise won the Stanley Cup. The Oilers would get revenge the following year in the finals, denying the Islanders “Drive For Five.”

Honorable mentions

The Islanders 1981 Stanley Cup championship • New York Arrows, winners of four consecutive Major Indoor Soccer League championships • New York Dragons arena football team • New York Saints lacrosse • Shawn Bates’ penalty shot • Anthony Beauvillier’s game-winning goal to beat Tampa Bay in Game Six of the Stanley Cup semi-finals in the Islanders’ final Nassau Coliseum game • Concert performances: Elvis and Paul McCartney to name a couple • WRESTLEMANIA II (Brother!)

Top photo: Facebook/New York Islanders