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Suffolk lawmakers join push to bring the New York Islanders back to Nassau

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Suffolk and Nassau legislators met together outside the newly renovated Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Friday to announce a joint effort to lure the New York Islanders back to Nassau County.

“We have both legislative bodies united for one effort,” said Suffolk County Legislator William Lindsay (D-Bohemia), who is spearheading the movement. “And that is, bring the Islanders back to Long Island where we all feel they belong.”

The Islanders vacated the Coliseum following the 2014-15 season after letting their lease expire in favor of Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center.  However, since the arena wasn’t built to support hockey, reports indicate the Islanders ownership has since been looking for a better suited home in the area.

Islanders ownership has eyed possible locations that include Belmont Park and land near Citi Field for a new arena, the NHL’s commissioner, Gary Bettman, told Newsday in April.

But why not just come back to home to the Barn?

That was the rhetorical question asked by Long Island lawmakers and fans Friday.

“Home is where we are at our best,” said Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead). “And where the Islanders are their best is in [the Nassau Coliseum]… the Stanley Cups that they won will always be home.”

“Brooklyn is just not the same,” said longtime season ticket-holder David Kilmnick, who travels to Brooklyn from Centereach. “Not only is the arena not built for hockey, the arena doesn’t have the same vibe the Nassau Coliseum had where we truly rocked the barn!”

Representatives from the New York Islanders could not be immediately reached for comment.

Suffolk Legislator Rob Calarco (D-Patchogue) said, “the Islanders are an institution that belongs on Long Island.”

“Their history and fan base are here and it is time they come home,” he said.

After the Coliseum’s recent renovations, the arena’s capacity was downgraded to around 13,000 seats. There are concerns over whether the arena would be large enough to support an NHL team.

According to a New York Post report from 2012, the NHL has no minimum seating requirements.

Long Island Association’s Kevin Law said that if the Islanders would commit to playing a “substantial amount” of their home games at the Coliseum, organizations (that he would not name) will do “anything necessary” to make it work, including adding more seats and luxury suites.

“Lets stop the myths, lets stop the naysayers, things can happen, lets keep the faith,” said Law.

Top: Legislator William Lindsay addresses the media outside of the Coliseum Friday. 

Credit: Nicholas Esposito/greaterlongisland.com.

Islander fans standing with Long Island lawmakers in hopes of getting their team back on the Island.

 

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